Giving

Why does giving feel like a bill I owe rather than something I want to do?

The Macedonians were being persecuted and were desperately poor, and still they begged for the chance to give. Paul holds them up because their generosity did not come from having extra or from being pressured. It came from a heart that had already been changed.

Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia, how in a severe ordeal of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their generosity. For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord, begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints. This was not as we had expected, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.

2 Corinthians 8:1–5

Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:7

They came, everyone whose heart stirred him up, and everyone whom his spirit made willing, and brought Yahweh’s offering for the work of the Tent of Meeting, and for all of its service, and for the holy garments. They came, both men and women, as many as were willing-hearted, and brought brooches, earrings, signet rings, and armlets, all jewels of gold; even every man who offered an offering of gold to Yahweh. Everyone with whom was found blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, rams’ skins dyed red, and sea cow hides, brought them. Everyone who offered an offering of silver and bronze brought Yahweh’s offering; and everyone with whom was found acacia wood for any work of the service, brought it. All the women who were wise-hearted spun with their hands, and brought that which they had spun: the blue, the purple, the scarlet, and the fine linen. All the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun the goats’ hair. The rulers brought the onyx stones and the stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate; with the spice and the oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. The children of Israel brought a free will offering to Yahweh; every man and woman whose heart made them willing to bring for all the work, which Yahweh had commanded to be made by Moses.

Exodus 35:21–29

What would have to change in me before I could give like that?

Paul says the Macedonians gave themselves to the Lord first, and the money followed. Their offering was not the sacrifice; it was the overflow of a life already laid down. The pastor points to that order as the reason giving looks so different in a life that has not been surrendered.

This was not as we had expected, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.

2 Corinthians 8:5

Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:1–2

He looked up and saw the rich people who were putting their gifts into the treasury. He saw a certain poor widow casting in two small brass coins. He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all of them, for all these put in gifts for God from their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, put in all that she had to live on.”

Luke 21:1–4

Can money really become a master over me without my noticing?

Jesus says no one can serve two masters, and he names money as one of them. The pastor's point is that a resource can quietly turn into a ruler. Judas held the money bag and it held him back.

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon.

Matthew 6:24

…for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:21

But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

1 Timothy 6:9–10

Then Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, one of his disciples, who would betray him, said, “Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it.

John 12:4–6

Does God actually need what I put in the plate?

The pastor answers no, and points to the God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills. The earth and everything in it already belong to him. What he is after is not the money but the posture of the heart that releases it.

For every animal of the forest is mine, and the livestock on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains. The wild animals of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.

Psalms 50:10–12

The earth is Yahweh’s, with its fullness; the world, and those who dwell in it.

Psalms 24:1

The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands. He isn’t served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath and all things.

Acts 17:24–25

The king said to Araunah, “No, but I will most certainly buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to Yahweh my God which cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

2 Samuel 24:24

What does my giving actually do for anyone else?

Paul says the collection does two things at once: it supplies the needs of the saints and it overflows into thanksgiving to God. The pastor's hope is that generosity would make people thank God for this church. The gifts travel further than the need they meet.

…you being enriched in everything for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us. For this service of giving that you perform not only makes up for lack among the saints, but abounds also through much giving of thanks to God, seeing that through the proof given by this service, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the Good News of Christ and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all,…

2 Corinthians 9:11–13

All who believed were together, and had all things in common. They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need.

Acts 2:44–45

You yourselves also know, you Philippians, that in the beginning of the Good News, when I departed from Macedonia, no assembly shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my need. Not that I seek for the gift, but I seek for the fruit that increases to your account. But I have all things and abound. I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, a sweet-smelling fragrance, an acceptable and well-pleasing sacrifice to God. My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:15–19