Quality vs Quantity

Proverbs 15:16

Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.

Proverbs 4:23

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

It doesn't matter how "much" you have, it is the heart from which it comes.

Thinking this through…🤔

The widow's small offering - it bought her so much more in Heaven than the giving of the wealthy, religious people (Mark 12:41-44, Luke 21:1-4) 

Question Challenge:  What "small" thing are we able to offer in honoring our Father (…stirring up the gift of God -- 2 Timothy 1:6)?

-Ear? - stop and really listen to our children, spouse, friend, even acquaintance we may not quite understand, trying to share some part of themselves with us when we are "rushed" and "running behind"

-Time? - volunteering to help those in need - caring for the widows and those who can't help themselves, at a shelter, at a church, even an animal shelter

-Tithe? - giving to God the first fruits of my labor to help further the message of Jesus' love and desire for relationship, and help those in need, again, caring for the widows and those who can't help themselves

-Heart? - having mercy, with loving forgiveness, to those who strike our core

Faith as the grain of a mustard seed - it can move a "mountain". (Matthew 17:20, Luke 17:6)

Question Challenge:  What happens when we "offer" any of these things out of even a small amount of faith, intentionally with our heart?

When I heed the commandments of the Lord, I will always be on top, never the bottom. (Deuteronomy 28:13)

When I commit my way to the Lord, trusting Him, He will bring it to pass. (Psalm 37:5)

Have you ever run or seen the baton race, where one passes off a baton to another?  I see Jesus waiting, anxiously, cheering us on, "come on, you can do it, just get it to Me, put it in My Hands"…so that He can finish strong for us, our "race" - because when I commit my way to the Lord, trusting Him, He will bring it to pass. (Psalm 37:5)  When I acknowledge Him in all my ways, rather than trusting my understanding of what I see, He will direct my path (Proverbs 3:5-6)

In everything - every breath, every encounter, every decision, every opportunity, every triumph, every challenge, every fear - there is a choice --- prepare yourself, armor yourself…take your heart, and get it to Jesus, whatever amount of time you have, be intentional with it and designate it for Him, invite Him to join you, make that time quality time - He will make it more than you even imagine. 

Understand this, no matter the state of our mind or emotions, God is not changed by them - He is not limited to our understanding of who He is, He is so much more than we can understand.  Who we are does not change who He is, it is we who can be changed by who He is - when we choose Him, with intention, with our heart.  What is the state of your heart?  Are you diligently guarding and keeping your heart right, as everything you do flows from it, and directs the course of your life (Proverbs 4:23)?