Daily Devotional: Money Follows the Heart
- David A. Case
- Jul 19
- 3 min read
By David A. Case
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21, NKJV)
Finances must be submitted to God. How we spend money tells us about our spiritual life, but where we spend money can also lead us spiritually. Jesus said that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. That means money does not merely reveal the heart. It also pulls the heart.
Money represents many things. Power. Comfort. Security. Desire. Freedom. Status. Control. Fear. Because money touches so many heart issues, it can be difficult to submit to God. We may want God’s blessing while keeping financial control for ourselves. Yet if God does not have our money, there is a real question of whether He has our whole heart.
The first rule is God first. God asks for the first and best, not because He needs our money, but because we need to be free from the rule of money. Giving to God trains the heart to trust. It declares that God is the source, not self. It makes room for Him. It breaks the illusion that I can secure my life through possession.
This can feel hard. A tenth of what we receive can seem like too much, especially when finances are tight. Yet God is able to bless what remains when we put Him first. The issue is not a formula for getting rich. The issue is lordship. Do I trust God enough to obey Him with what represents security, comfort, and desire?
The greater good also matters in finances. In the early church, believers cared for one another in radical ways. They brought what they had and shared so needs were met. That level of trust is not always safe in every environment, because even believers can mishandle money. Acts shows that financial issues surfaced even among the early disciples. Still, the heart posture matters. Money was not merely private. It was connected to love, community, and mission.
Good financial management sets priorities. Give to God. Provide food. Keep a roof overhead. Meet responsibilities. Step by step, money is used on the highest priorities until it is gone or until some can be saved for the future. This kind of order is not merely practical. It is spiritual. It trains the heart away from impulse and toward stewardship.
Debt reveals the time side of money. When we buy things before we can afford them, we borrow from the future. Then we have to adjust our lifestyle for years to pay for past desires. That is a hard lesson, but it is also an honest one. Those who spend everything now rarely build more than survival. Those who submit money to wisdom over time create margin for generosity, stability, and peace.
What I hold on to holds on to me. If I hold on to money as my source, money will rule me. If I submit money to God, it can become a tool for love.
Reflection Question
What does money represent to me: security, comfort, power, control, pleasure, or something else?
Prayer
Father, I submit my finances to You. Show me what money represents in my heart. Teach me to put You first, live by wise priorities, resist impulse, and use what I have for love and the greater good. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Obedience Step for Today
Review your spending from the last seven days. Circle anything that reflects impulse, fear, or self-indulgence. Then choose one financial step that puts God or the greater good first.
This devotional was inspired by the book Heart Change Handbook by David A. Case. If you found it helpful, please consider it for your own self-study and suggest it to your church small group or recovery community as a basis for small group study.
If this message has encouraged you to pursue deeper transformation, I invite you to continue the journey through The Heart Change Handbook. It provides a practical, biblical path for spiritual growth and is an excellent resource for church small groups and recovery communities. Consider getting your copy today and introducing it to your group as a guide toward meaningful heart change.
👉 Learn more about Small Group Resources from Heart Change U.
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