READ: LEVITICUS 27:30-34; MATTHEW 6:19-34; 2 CORINTHIANS 9:7

Have you ever looked at someone, maybe in youth group, and thought, “I wish I believed like they do” or “I wish I loved God and church as much as they do”? First of all, comparing our walk with Jesus to someone else’s is rarely helpful because we can never know what is going on in another person’s heart or relationship with God. However, the desire to grow closer to God, to be more in love with Him, and to be more committed to church—those are good things!

If I’m honest, when I was a teen, sometimes I didn’t feel that desire. But that’s when Matthew 6:21 caught my attention: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” And Jesus is the ultimate treasure! If my heart follows where my treasure (or my money) goes, that means the opposite is also true. I can choose to put my money into what I want to love.

This was a game changer for me. Obviously, as a high school student, I wasn’t making a lot of money at my weekend job, but I began to budget with my heart in mind. I decided to tithe (which is the biblical Old Testament principle of giving ten percent of your income to your local congregation), and I picked an additional percentage of each paycheck to give to Christian missions and causes that piqued my interest. I even decided to spend some of my fun money on Christian books and Bible translations.

Over time, I began to feel more connected to God, to His heart, and to His plan unfolding in my life, in my community, and around the world. Even now, when I feel distant or far from God, my knee-jerk response is to check my budget. I make sure I’ve done my giving this month, and I consider if I’m becoming too stagnant or routine and need to increase the percentage I give.

It’s important to remember that, once we’ve put our trust in Jesus He is always with us, whether we tithe or not. But putting my money where my mouth—or my faith—is has truly deepened my relationship with God and my sense of His presence. • Abigail Aswegen

• As Christians, we follow an incredibly generous God. He gave us this earth, the loving people in our lives, and the very breath we breathe. He loves us so much that He even provides the way to be saved from sin and death and live with Him forever through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection. If we know Jesus, His Holy Spirit lives in us and moves us toward generosity and giving to others to help with their needs. Consider spending some time in prayer, thanking God for His generosity and asking Him where He is calling you to give in this season of your life.

[Jesus said,] “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21 (NIV)