NCF Heartland

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Every day, we help givers just like you send more to the causes they love. Together, we've mobilized over $18 billion for 90,000 charities at work here in our community and around the world.

Wise wealth: A biblical model

Every Christmas, whether it’s through story or song, the three wisemen and their gifts to baby Jesus make an appearance. However, the greatest gift the magi gave Jesus wasn’t found in the tangible gold, frankincense, and myrrh–it was found in their worship and obedience.  

See, Jesus didn’t need those three gifts then and He doesn’t need them now. The truly wise men gave all that was precious to them (Matthew 2:10-11 NIV): their time (traveling), talents (navigating the stars), testimonies (falling down in worship), and treasures (gold, frankincense, and myrrh). In doing so, they showed God that Christ is more valuable to them than what they are going without. Luke 12:34 tells us, 

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” 

Sharing the treasures of our hearts is an act of worship and obedience far more valuable to God than tangible gifts alone. 

The men that journeyed to meet baby Jesus didn’t save until they had “enough wealth” to offer Him. They gave from what God had already entrusted to them. Where does their wisdom and ability to produce wealth come from? Same place ours does–God. If you’ve been around NCF for even a short period of time, you’ve likely heard us say that everything we are and everything we have is already His. 

Deuteronomy 8:17 backs this thought up, 

“You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.” 

And we can understand wisdom as it’s defined in Proverbs 9:10, 

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” 

Considering  that wisdom and wealth come from God, I challenge you to ask yourself: Like the magi, how am I being wise with my current wealth? 

At NCF, we focus on the financial aspect of wealth with a mission to mobilize resources by inspiring biblical generosity. We understand that we all have the ability to give differently, according to our circumstances. As 2020 draws to a close, NCF givers are finding themselves facing a variety of giving scenarios. Considering the year we’ve had, that’s no surprise to us. To help you make wise decisions with your wealth this holiday season–and every season–we’ve outlined Four Key Giver Scenarios as a resource for you.. 

  1. Want to give without depleting cash?
  2. My business is doing well.
  3. My investments are doing better than expected.
  4. My business is not doing well.

If you don’t see yourself in one of these scenarios, I invite you to have a conversation with us. We’re happy to help!

This Christmas season, think about all God has entrusted to you. I encourage you to talk as a family about how you can wisely and willingly give to God the treasures that are already His in worship and obedience. 

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