Having A Genuine Heart

Text: Mark12:38-44
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Sermon:

• Last week we discussed Jesus’ teaching on loving your neighbor and how we should also

love all our neighbors. This week we have two different stories that have an interesting
connection.

• First, we have Jesus’ teaching against letters who are extremely showy in front of their

congregation. The second story is a poor woman that was giving so much of her money
in church.

• So, how are these stories connected? As I investigate the two stories, I see Jesus

displaying the importance of having a genuine heart in our faith.

• First, Jesus warned us against trying to make a good impression just for personal gain.

These teachers of the law were religious hypocrites who had no love for God.

• True followers of God are not distinguished by showy spirituality, Reading the Bible,

praying in public, following church rituals, and even doing church work can be phony if
the motive for doing them is to be noticed or honored. Let your actions be consistent with
your beliefs.

• Now, looking at the second story:
• This widow gave all she had to live in, in contrast to the way most people handle their

money. Jesus was admiring generous and sacrificial giving. As believers, we should
consider increasing our giving-whether of money, time, or talents-to a point beyond
convenience or calculation.

• The value of a gift should be determined not by the amount but by the spirituality which

is given. A gift given grudgingly or for recognition loses its value in the eyes of God.
When you give, take heart-small gifts are more pleasing to God than large gifts when
they are given out of gratitude.

• So, here’s the connection of the two stories: In the first story, we see the religious leaders

giving money out of their wealth and it seems that are doing it solely for people to see
and lift their status. We also see this in the way that they dress and present themselves in
the churches.

• In the second story, we see a woman who has no resources, yet she gives what she must

support the church and support the community. When Jesus sees her offer, Jesus honored
the woman’s offering. Jesus reminds us that the woman was giving out a genuine heart of
faith and by doing that we give more of ourselves. As opposed to those that only give out
of wealth or for those that only give so that they can get recognition for the amount that
they are giving.

•  When we perform in church simply to show our status, we are the ones that are honored,not God. Those who are giving out of wealth and out of obligation, we often wear it as a

badge of honor.

• When we give and worship with our heart, we honor God. When we give out of our

generosity, it is our humility that we wear as a badge of honor.

• When we attend church or take part in religious traditions, we need to focus our attention

on our intentions: are we taking part in the traditions for status? Or are we genuinely
taking part in these traditions?

• When we live a life of genuine faith from a genuine heart, our focus moves away from us

and our focus on the needs of others. The churches and groups of people that are fighting
to ensure that all people have equal rights, and equal opportunities are groups that bring a
positive change to the world that I believe best demonstrates Jesus’ teachings.

Conclusion: Let us be people who have a genuine heart for their faith and have a heart for
others.