Back in my landscaping days, I used to sit down with all kinds of clients for design consultations. I quickly noticed two very different kinds of people.
On one side, you had the dreamers. They’d show me magazine clippings, saved Pinterest post, sketches, and big plans for their yard. They’d talk about waterfalls, stone patios, outdoor kitchens, and gardens that looked like something out of a resort brochure. Then I’d ask about their budget.
“About $5,000.”
I had to break it to them—$5,000 wasn’t going to get them a backyard paradise. Their vision was huge, but the resources weren’t there.
Then there were the big spenders. They didn’t really have a vision. They’d shrug and say, “We just want it to look nice.” No magazine clippings, no backyard dreams, just a willingness to write a check. And write a check they did. Some of those projects were $100,000 or more.
Here’s what I learned:
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Big dreams with small investment often lead to disappointment.
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Big investments without vision don’t always feel satisfying either.
And it hit me—that’s not just landscaping, that’s life.
In our faith, sometimes we dream big but don’t put much into it. We say we want God to use us, we want deeper prayer, we want to know the Bible better, but we give Him our “spare change” of time and attention. Then we’re disappointed when we don’t see much growth.
Other times, we do the opposite—we give, we serve, we get busy in church programs, but we don’t have a vision for why we’re doing it. We’re “spending big” but not aiming at the kingdom. And just like those clients, we can end up with something that looks good on the outside but doesn’t satisfy the soul.
Jesus said it like this:
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21)
God isn’t just asking for our money or time—He’s asking for our hearts, our vision, and our willingness to trust Him with both. The sweet spot is when our vision for God’s kingdom matches our investment of time, energy, and resources. That’s when transformation really happens.
So here’s my encouragement:
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If you’ve got big spiritual dreams, ask God to grow your faith to match your investment.
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If you’re investing a lot already, pause and ask God to refresh your vision.
Because in the end, it’s not about the size of the budget—it’s about the alignment of the heart.
