Kevin Simmons

Heart

Givers and Takers: The Heart of the Matter

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GiversAndTakers

Our church is in the middle of a series of talks I’ve entitled “No More Tombs”. We’re basically reflecting on the resurrection of Jesus to recognize that when Jesus walked out of the tomb, he invited us to walk of the tomb with Him.
We still live in tombs, though.
We’ve let our relationships, our time, and our finances become tombs, so that while Jesus invites us to life, we too often choose death.
One of the subtlest, but most significant, tombs that we build is in the area of our finances. God has a plan to bring life to our finances, but we create our own plan and our own plan will always lead to death.
God’s plan is quite simple: that we be givers, not takers.
I thought I’d take a few days and share some of the important differences between givers and takers, because it’s so important that we understand God’s heart in this.
God wants something for you, not from you. And so do I.

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“Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” –Jesus (Matthew 6:21)
There’s nothing that affects your heart more than being a giver.
Where we choose to allocate our treasure will have a significant impact on the trajectory of the affection and attention of our lives.
The simple choice of where to allocate our treasure is a lot like the planting of seeds. The seed may start very small, but over time it will grow and produce fruit. Where we give our time, talent, and treasure may seem like small decisions right now, but over time the collective decisions we make have huge implications.
If we sow seeds in the right place, it will bring life to our hearts and to the rest of our lives. However, if sow seeds in the wrong places, in sinful ways, it can produce only death and destruction. (Galatians 6:7-9)
God’s plan for our finances is simply this: we be givers and not takers.
Think about that for a moment: givers… not takers.
Why would God, over and over and over again through scripture redirect us towards being givers?
Why would the God who owns everything and needs nothing ask us to give?
It’s simple… because it has profound affect on our hearts.
So does being a taker.
As much as being a giver aligns our heart with God’s heart, being a taker aligns our heart with our own plans and schemes, which are always going to blow up and end in death.
Takers are always asking the question: “What do I get out of it?”
What happens when we ask that question? Our perspective shifts and is solely focused on ourselves. There’s no concern for others. Ultimately… no consideration of Jesus.
I was riding down the road with my friend Dan the Banker a few years ago talking about Jesus. Dan lends people lots of money, and he’s pretty good at it. He likes to talk to me about Jesus, but he’s not sure about the claims of Christians about Jesus. He unsure of Jesus, be he sure does enjoy making fun of me. But… you know… who doesn’t?
So Dan and I were talking about Jesus in the light of other religions of the world. I told him that the significant difference in the claim of Christianity is that it is remarkably selfless.
Let’s face it: karma is self-centered. Do good and good will happen to you. Do bad and bad will happen to you.  Most of our world religions are built on this principle.
But Jesus… He’s the opposite of karma. Get it perfect and the world will kill you.
After a moment of silence my friend Dan the Banker says: “I guess Jesus going to the cross to carry the sins of the world is probably the most selfless thing ever in human history.”
Yeah. You get it.
And that’s what being a giver is all about, letting the selfless heart of God become our heart.
We all know John 3:16. You know it says we can have eternal life through Jesus. But revisit that verse…
“God gave his one and only son…”
God gave. That’s how this story started, and it’s quite possibly where our story starts too.
What if we started giving without concerns about what we’ll get?
What if we started giving to God’s kingdom generously and joyfully?
What would happen to our hearts?
And… how could that bring new life into your old bones?
 

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Givers and Takers: What's Inside Matters

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GiversAndTakers

Our church is in the middle of a series of talks I’ve entitled “No More Tombs”. We’re basically reflecting on the resurrection of Jesus to recognize that when Jesus walked out of the tomb, He invited us to walk of the tomb with Him.
We still live in tombs, though.
We let our relationships, our time, our past, and our finances become tombs. Even though Jesus invites us to life, we too often choose death.
One of the subtlest, but most significant, tombs that we choose to live in is in the area of personal finances. God has a plan to bring life to our finances, but we create our own plan and our own plan will always lead to death (Romans 6:23) .
God’s plan is quite simple: that we be givers, not takers.
I thought I’d take a few days and share some of the important differences between givers and takers, because it’s so important that we understand God’s heart in this.
God wants something for you, not from you. And so do I.

*   *   *   *   *

The first significant difference between a giver and a taker is what’s happening on the inside.
Everything we do happens before we do it (Luke 6:45, Matthew 12:34, and James 1:15).
We choose, we believe, then we act… it’s really that simple.
You’ll often hear me say this: you do what you believe. We don’t have a behavior problem, we most often have a belief problem.
You can spend a lot of time analyzing the behavior, but if you don’t spend time understanding it’s motivation all you’re doing is treating a symptom without treating the disease.
So… Where does a giver start? Where does a taker start?
A taker starts with one simple decision: I’m first.
I’m first, so my needs come before anyone else. I’m first, so I deserve that before anyone else. I’m first, so I should have that position before anyone.
I’m first.
Takers are sinfully self-centered. Their needs matter more than anyone else. Their progress is more important than anyone else. Their happiness is more important than anyone else. They are the center of their own universe.
Givers understand on simple truth: we make a bad center.
Whatever is at the center of your life is functionally your god, and let’s just be honest… we make a poor god. Sure, you might be happy (for a while), but nobody else is if you’re your own center. As a matter of fact, they’ll start to resent you, even hate you, if you try to make yourself their center.
Givers start with this simple decision: I cannot be first.
If others are first, you’ll give… naturally. You’ll give because you care about their needs. You’ll give because you want them to be happy. You’ll give because you simply recognize them as being valuable.
That’s simply not enough, though. If others are you center, you’ll live to please them and you’ll live empty because you cannot please them. You’ll never be able to give enough to satisfy the needs of others.
So… where should a giver start?
A giver should start with the recognition that Jesus is first.
When place Jesus at the center of everything in our lives, He takes the lead in our finances just like everything else.
With Jesus as our center we give out of obedience. We don’t assume ownership over the time, talent, and treasure that God has so richly blessed us with. We recognize that Jesus is the owner, and he has invited us to be stewards of His blessings in our life. We don’t follow our own plan, but in turn, follow His.
A giver gladly, joyfully gives because their greatest delight is found in following Jesus.
It all starts on the inside.
So… what’s happening inside you?
What’s leading you to be a giver or a taker?
And… most importantly, what needs to change if you’re going to follow God’s plan to be a giver?
 

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Heartbeat: A Story

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In the letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul says in verse 1:17 “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance.”
As I prepare to become a Father, there are moments that sober the whole experience. Expecting a child is exciting and new for me. There are, however, moments that break through with such clarity, substance, and conviction that I am sure the presence Jesus is manifest in the room with us.
The moment we heard our babies heartbeat was one of them.
A heartbeat is more than a noise; a heartbeat is proof of a heart & a beating heart is proof of life.
What has already come alive in our little baby, is at the center of all of our struggles, joys, and pain: our hearts. Paul prays for the church in Ephesus, not to just see, but to see with their hearts, because the heart is central to the struggle.
Jesus said in Luke 6:45: “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his hearthis mouth speaks.”
Life happens on the inside, and then oozes its way to the outside.  If we allow the good things God has given us to make our hearts beat, they will find their way out of our hearts and into our lives.  However, if we allow sin and brokenness to be at the center of our hearts, it will work it’s way out … breaking & messing up stuff on the way out.
The heart is where the battle is.
What’s winning the battle in your heart?
When people hear your heart beating, what are they hearing?
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Also … I will post a video tomorrow that shows our visit to the doctor and you can hear the heart beat!!!!