The Heart of Giving
By Annie Yorty
“You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.’ And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” (2 Corinthians 9:7-8 NLT)
Denial. Disbelief. Delay. As a young Christian, I confess that when I learned about God’s prescription for giving, my reaction did not exude faith. I denied God expects His people to tithe. And if it were true, I couldn’t believe offering ten percent of my gross income would ever be possible. As a result, I delayed acting on the Holy Spirit’s conviction to give.
God pursued my heart despite my stubborn attitude. My mind tussled with the impossibility of donating a chunk of my income to God. I recalculated my expenses time and again. A baby with special needs, a mortgage, car payments, student loans, utilities, and everyday costs expended our entire take-home pay. We didn’t even make enough to replenish the savings we had just spent to buy a home, much less give money away. Didn’t God understand our dilemma? Looking back, I imagine my heavenly Father shaking His head at His little girl trying to figure out this financial puzzle. I suspect I may not be alone in my limited understanding of God’s desire for generosity. In the Old Testament, God commanded His people to give a tithe—one-tenth—of their income to Him. This law led to our common understanding that we should give God ten percent of earnings. Most don’t realize God also commanded additional giving, so a tenth is merely a starting point. In the New Testament, Jesus pointed to a destitute widow who exemplified the type of giving God requires.
“I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on” (Mark 12:43-44 NLT).
Later, the Apostle Paul further explained the heart attitude that pleases God. He removed the requirement of a specific percentage. Instead, he allowed each person to decide how much to offer God in response to His incredible gift of salvation through Jesus. How should we respond to the One who sacrificed His precious life so we may live eternally? He put His own Spirit within us so we may enjoy God’s continual presence. We revel in the blessed assurance we have an eternal home with our heavenly Father through Jesus. God’s generosity toward us never ends.
After my husband and I discussed the “impossibility” of giving to God, we took a baby step in the right direction. We decided to sacrifice a small percentage of our salary each month and see what would happen. Looking back, I wish we would have jumped, rather than eased, into obedient generosity. Nevertheless, I think God was pleased by our small sacrifice. Before long, we experienced God’s provision as He guided us to change our financial priorities. We learned to compare the short-lived satisfaction of the newest gadget we wanted to the eternal joy of offering to God. He revealed He will always supply enough to give back to Him. Now dependence, delight, and determination characterize our financial outlook. We learned to depend on God’s provision. We delighted in our ability to contribute to God’s work each month. We became determined to give more and more.
Friends, the amount of your giving is a matter between you and God. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, examine the heart of your giving. Is the amount intentional or random? Does He receive your best? What material desires do you give up for God? In Malachi, God says we may put Him to the test on generosity. His generosity to you will always outpace your offering to Him. When we consider the extreme sacrifice of Jesus and the daily outpouring of God’s blessing and future hope, our mindset about giving should change. Instead of calculating the minimum we must give, we challenge ourselves to discover the maximum we can give.
Intersecting Faith and Life:
What financial offering is God leading you to make to Him? How do you express your joy when you present your gifts to God?
Further Reading:
Photo Credit: ©Pexels/Miguel Á. Padriñán
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