Luke 21:4 says, “For all of these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had”.  What a statement!  We see the admonition that was given, how we’re to give as we’ve purposed in our own heart.  And this woman purposed in her heart to give all she had.  “Well, so what?  It’s so little!”  Hey, all is all!  Amen?  Let the blessings of God make us rich and add no sorrow.  Let’s learn from these passages.  We don’t give to be seen giving.  We obtain nothing to ourselves.  The rich young ruler had to walk away sorrowfully hanging his head.  Ah, to gain the whole world and lose your own soul!  What a bad choice he made!  The disciples asked, “Lord, we’ve left all and followed You.  What’s in it for us?”  Jesus said, “There’s not one man that’s left everything that he had, but that he will receive in this life one hundred-fold and in the life to come eternal life” (Mark 10:29-30); amen?  I wonder how many people really believe that?  Think back.  Have you ever seen it done?  Who do you know that’s left everything and started that journey?  Well, one thing we know is you’re starting that journey without any weights and sins hindering you; amen?  One thing we do know is that you’re starting this journey trusting God.

Luke, Chapter 8, speaks of the Parable of the Sower.  I like the rendering here in Luke because it makes a statement that speaks to me so loudly.  The Word is being sown into different conditions of our heart.  Our heart conditions can vacillate; can’t they?  How many of you are in better shape spiritually sometimes more than other times?  You’re more ready to hear; you’re more ready to do.  And then, there are times when we’re a little dull of hearing.  And God’s going to have to love us through some chastening.  But we need to look at this passage and see how we are responding, you and I, personally.  And wherever we are in this walk, let me remind you, we haven’t finished this race yet.  As Jesus is teaching this parable, we see the stony ground.  Satan comes immediately for the Word’s sake and will snatch that thing out (Luke 8:12).  We know there are those that are destroyed instantly, having heard the gospel, and it’s instantly removed from them.  Then there are those who have heard it with gladness, and it grows quickly but there’s no root in them, and when trials and persecutions come for the Word’s sake, they forsake the Lord.  And then, there’s the thorny ground, and I believe the thorny ground is something that people along the way are dealing more with when you’ve been serving the Lord for a few decades.  It’s not that immediate attack on our decision to go on with the Lord.  He makes this statement in verse 14, “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.”  The pleasures of this life.  “Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.” We’re to enjoy our God-provided prosperity.  But remember what Jesus said.  “It’s hard for a rich man to get into heaven.”  Don’t let that go out of your mind or your heart.  It’s hard for a rich man to get into heaven.  Why?  High-mindedness.  Proverbs 28 speaks about the wealth and prosperity that brings conceit.  We all know what a conceited person is, and this has to do with that same aspect of placing false worth upon yourself.  Your position in life doesn’t make you any better than anybody else.  But everything you and I are looking at, as Christians, has to be what the Word of God reveals to be true concerning this subject; amen?  And the truth is, God will not bless you to your own destruction.  And when God, through His wisdom, knowing the condition of your heart, backs off a little bit, that is when Satan comes in to offer you what you’ve now set your heart upon.