May 13, 2024 Devo

I love the old story about a wife who had been on the phone with one of her girlfriends. Her friend wanted to see if they could meet for coffee and catch up on the latest gossip. The wife told her friend she needed to check with her husband and see if he’d watch the kids while she was out. Her husband was in the family office going over their finances and writing checks to pay the bills. The wife came up behind him, wrapped her arms around him, and said, “Honey, how much do you love me?” Her husband, knowing some “ask” was coming, smiled, handed his wife the checkbook, and said, “How much? Here, you add it up!”
While the checkbook doesn’t tell the true measurement of love, it does hint at the things of our hearts. Our time, efforts, and energy are also telltale markers. This becomes important in light of what Jesus teaches us in this passage today. No matter what we SAY is important, it’s how we INVEST ourselves that shows our true colors. For instance, if I tell my wife that she’s the most important thing in my life, but I spend all my free time engaged in my hobbies, my words of love don’t mean a thing. If I tell my kids that I’m always there for them, but I refuse to go to their games, concerts, or events because I want to sit in my recliner and watch TV, they know I’m lying. If I tell people that God is FIRST in my life, and yet I spend little to no time in His Word or in prayer to grow in Him, I don’t serve in the church to help advance His Kingdom, and give Him a “tip” rather than a tithe of my money, I’m just kidding myself. Jesus says, “Where our TREASURE is, THAT’S where our heart is!” Words have no value if they’re not backed up by actions.
How about YOU? Are the bulk of your treasures (time, energy, effort, and money) being given to the things you say are most important? If your ledger doesn’t add up, it’s time to make a change. Make sure you’re investing yourself in the things where you want your heart to be. That way when you get asked, “How much do you love me?” the checkbook of your life will tell the tale! That’s God’s Word for you today.