We have to retrain our thinking about what is important in this world and in this life. God wants us to have material things, but he wants us to be willing to give things up too. He wants us to put him first. If we give our things and our lives up to Him, he will add all things back to us.

Verse 22 tells us to trust God in all things, not worrying about provision. Look at the lilies and how they grow – they are not worried that they will be provided for. Verse 32 says do not be afraid for what you have or need. Sell what you have and give it to those who are in need. Store up your treasures in heaven because the purses in heaven have no holes in them. We have to keep our priorities and perspectives straight when it comes to wealth and possessions.

Haggai 1:6 – Haggai was sent to Israel at a time when the country was very wealthy. He asked the people why are you living in luxurious houses while God’s house lies in ruin? You have planted much but harvested little. We can have lots of material wealth and possessions, but they will never content or satisfy us. When people try to fill the holes in their life with material things, the holes are never filled. You can never get things that are big enough or nice enough to fill a hole in your heart.

We need to always put God and His house first. Let’s build the temple. Then God will take care of our house. God says “When you build my house, and I will build yours.” He isn’t just talking about our physical house, but our entire lives.

Giving is one of the most powerful intimate moments you will share with God. The apostle Paul calls it pure worship. There is no closer heart to heart contact with God then when we are giving Him something – serving, worshipping, tithing. Materials are fleeting – they just come and go. It’s just life. Things happen. What God is looking at is how we interpret these circumstances in our heart. Do we trust in His divine provision?

God planted seed in the ground to plant trees. We can’t have fruit without trees and we can’t have seeds without fruit. God created this cycle and this principle when He created the first seed.

God planted beautiful trees in the garden, and in the center of the garden he placed the tree of life. Jesus – Jesus was meant to be in the middle. “I am the vine and my Father is the gardener.” Christ is the vine, we are the branches, grafted into the vine as we connect to Christ. His seed is planted in us.

God wills it that we all should prosper, multiply and be fruitful. He has given us the ability to bear fruit. Part of the fruit that comes from and is released from our life comes from giving. Our gifts are like seed. When we sow, we create a field of righteousness in our lives. By putting seed in the ground and creating our own garden, our gifts of giving put Christ at the center of our life – our garden. The Bible says where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Our attitude towards giving demonstrates very clearly what is at the center of our garden – our world.

When we plant in the soil of our lives and Christ is at the center, God multiplies our seed. But if we aren’t planting, how can we be fruitful? If we don’t plant, God has nothing to multiply.

Jesus said if you don’t understand this parable – you sow, you reap – you won’t understand any of the other parables or principles of the Kingdom. When we give, we are giving to Christ, the head of our church, the high priest, the center of our garden. The result is fruit and blessing in our lives, as we become fruitful and multiply.

Jesus replied, why are you so worried about having no food? Why won’t you learn or understand? Can’t you remember what I just did (referring to the miracle of feeding the 5000)? I wasn’t talking about bread – I was trying to give you a revelation.

But the disciples missed it, because their minds went straight to the food. If all you think about is what you have, you can miss the revelation of what you really have – what you have in God. Things are different when you get them in the hands of Jesus. God will something small and transform into something that is huge. It looks small to us when we think that is all we have. But that’s not all we have – it’s all we have if it stays where it is and we keep it – we have to get it into the hands of God.

This is especially true with tithes and finances. It may not seem like a lot to you, but if you get it into the hands of God, it has multiplying power. What you have in your hand is like your life. Jesus says stop worrying about what you have – I have proven to you what I can do with a little – I have proven to you that I can transform a little into abundance, as with feeding the 5000. What you have will only ever be what you see as long as it is in your hands. When you give it to Jesus – the high priest – it can be something else. Every time we give – we tithe, give to building fund, give offerings – we take something that is finite, that is tangibly in a boundary, and we break the boundaries over whatever that thing is. In the hands of Jesus, it becomes miraculous. It can multiply and do things that it never could if it stays in your hand.

I never want to be in God’s house and not participating on every level – involved spiritually, physically and financially. I want to always have my heart engaged. Jesus is always teaching us something. He wants to get us involved in our miracle – wants to grow us, not do it all for us. Between lacking and abundance there is a plan that God wants to bring forth in your life so he gets you involved.