Originally shared at Peace Lutheran Church

Have you ever been caught off guard by that simple question at the grocery store checkout: “Would you like to round up to support…?”

It can feel awkward—you’re just buying milk, and suddenly you’re being asked to help fund global change. But here’s what I’ve discovered: those tiny moments of choice have the power to transform us in ways we never expected.

Where Your Treasure Is, Your Heart Will Follow

Jesus understood this long before we had checkout counters and round-up donations. In Luke 12, he shares a profound truth: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Most of us think we give to causes we already care about—and sometimes that’s true. But Jesus flips our thinking completely. He suggests that our hearts actually follow our investments. When we start giving to something—even if we don’t know much about it at first—we begin to notice their stories. We start to care more deeply. We feel more connected.

This isn’t just about money. Jesus is talking about training our hearts to live in God’s kingdom right now, today.

Living Without Fear: God’s Kingdom is Already Yours

In Luke 12:32-40, Jesus begins with words of pure grace: “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

Let that sink in. God wants to give us the kingdom. It’s not something we earn or prove ourselves worthy of—it’s already ours by grace.

But here’s where it gets interesting. Because the kingdom is already ours, Jesus offers some countercultural advice:

• Give away possessions
• Stay ready and alert
• Live with joyful anticipation

This isn’t a guilt trip about money or a fear-based call to perfection. It’s an invitation to live differently because of what we’ve already been given.

Breaking Free from Scarcity Culture

Let’s be real—kingdom living isn’t easy in our modern world. We’re surrounded by messages that tell us to consume more, protect ourselves first, and stay distracted. Every day we’re encouraged to scroll instead of serve, buy instead of give, worry instead of trust.

But Jesus invites us in the opposite direction—toward compassion, generosity, and eager anticipation of God’s reign.

The Power of Small Beginnings

The beautiful thing is: transformation doesn’t have to start big. Remember those round-up donations? That’s exactly what we’re talking about.

What if you decided to “round up” in other areas of life?

• Round up to compassion instead of scrolling past someone’s need
• Round up to kindness instead of rushing past someone who needs directions
• Round up to service by sharing your talents instead of keeping them to yourself

Small, intentional choices create emotional connections and genuine care over time.

Imagine Your Heart One Year From Now

Here’s what I want you to picture: What would your heart look like one year from now if you started making these small “round-up” choices toward God’s kingdom?

You won’t become a completely new person overnight—that’s not how transformation works. But there’s something powerful about the gentle, persistent change that happens when we start investing our treasure (time, attention, energy) in kingdom work.

Just like those checkout counter causes that gradually capture our hearts as we give to them, our capacity for love grows to fit what we’re investing in.

Ready for God’s Kingdom—Not from Fear, But from Joy

The passage in Luke includes imagery about staying ready for the master’s return. But this isn’t about fear—it’s about joyful anticipation of fully realizing God’s kingdom.

We measure our readiness not by fear of not having enough, but by how eagerly we’re investing in God’s work right here and now.

Your Invitation to Kingdom Living

Dear friends, here’s what Jesus offers us today: The kingdom is already yours by grace.

The beautiful invitation is to direct your treasure toward it—your time, attention, and small daily choices. Watch your heart grow to fit the size of God’s love.

Maybe the next time someone asks if you’d like to round up, you’ll smile and think, “Actually, I’ve been rounding up all along—toward a kingdom that’s already mine, and a heart that’s learning to love like Jesus.”