It’s a little strange. We expect to grow in all areas of discipleship: knowledge, maturity, and holiness. We expect our church to teach about every dimension of discipleship: giftings, prayer, and evangelism. But there’s one part of discipleship we pastors are a bit embarrassed to talk about, and some Christians are a bit frustrated to hear about.
Yet, the Bible is clear. If we aren’t growing in this dimension of our discipleship, it’s quite likely we’ll be stunted in every other dimension.
I can’t help but wonder whether the chronic anxiety, deep sins, and relational turmoil that beset many followers of Jesus is—in at least some way—rooted in our failure to take this one area of discipleship seriously: money, greed, and generosity.
The Hole in Our Holiness
Jesus spoke about no topic more than money. Why? Because he believed that money was the best barometer of the human heart. He said in his most famous sermon,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21, emphasis added).
Where is your treasure? In a bank account? Tied up in investments for the future? Accruing for your next purchase: a house, a car, a whatever? Of course, the answer for most of us is “Yes” to all of the above. But do you see what’s missing? Is your treasure in the kingdom? Are you giving to your church?
The Bible is clear that if our heart treasures God, we give—not just to nonprofits and on a whim—but consistently to the church where we are spiritually nourished so that its kingdom ministry, worship, and evangelism can carry forward (1 Chronicles 29:6-9, 16-17; Deuteronomy 12:5-6, 14:22-23; Matthew 10:9-10; 23:23; 1 Corinthians 9:9).
In fact, God tells those who refused to tithe to their place of worship, “You rob me” (Malachi 3:8-12). But on the other side of things, God promises his blessings, his power, and his transformation to those who do give.
I don’t write any of this to guilt you. Giving is a process just like every other part of discipleship. God is gracious and forgiving. My hope is that you won’t stall out on your discipleship because you didn’t realize how important this journey was.
For you, this might mean taking a first step: giving once. Or a second: giving consistently. Or a third: growing your giving to at least a tenth of your income, and eventually more.
To that end, here are five truths from the Bible that I’m praying will deeply motivate you to start your giving journey, continue it, or grow in it. All for the glory of God and to experience his joy in your life.
- You are a steward, not an owner.
Before there was sin, there was a man and a woman, and a garden called “Delight” (literally, the Hebrew for Eden means Delight!). God gave Adam and Eve an abundant garden to cultivate and spread (Genesis 1:28, 2:8, 15-17). He made them stewards of its produce and beauty. You are no different. Everything you have has been entrusted to you by God. He wants you to steward it all for his purposes in the world (1 Peter 4:10; 1 Corinthians 4:2).
- Living on less makes you more.
Then sin entered the picture, and with it came fear and insecurity. We fear not having enough. We believe the lie that if we have more, then we’ll be secure and happy (Proverbs 11:28, Ecclesiastes 5:13-15). The trouble is that the more you hoard, the more you’ll love stuff, not God (Matt. 6:24, Heb. 13:5). And the more you love stuff, the more miserly, miserable, and materialistic you’ll become (Proverbs 11:24, 15:27; Ecclesiastes 5:10; James 5:1-3). Your life will shrink to the size of your fears and anxieties.
But Jesus invites you to a different path. He said, “Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15). Life consists in Jesus, and the path of Jesus is the path of radical generosity.
- You give because Jesus gave to you.
Jesus didn’t just talk about generosity (Acts 20:35). He lived generously. On the cross, he gave his life to rescue you (John 3:16). You give because you know that you were given the most precious gift in the world (Galatians 1:4). Thus, when you give of something far smaller—your material wealth—you proclaim to your soul and to the world that Christ is more precious than your bank account (Matthew 6:21). Giving is worship.
- Giving changes you and changes others.
When you do give, God uses your generosity to make you more like Jesus (2 Corinthians 9:6-11; Luke 6:38). More joyful (2 Corinthians 9:11). Less anxious (Matthew 6:24-34). More abundant (Luke 6:38). Less proud (1 Timothy 6:7-18). More blessed (Proverbs 22:9). Less empty (Proverbs 19:17). Giving trains you to trust God and enables others to meet him. This is because Jesus changes the lives of others through the ministry your gifts enable (Deuteronomy 15:11). Just think about it: you’re following God today because someone else gave to the ministry that changed your life. Now it’s your turn.
- God gives you in heaven what you gave on earth.
Jesus is clear: we can’t take our material wealth with us into the resurrection. This is why he calls the man who stores up his wealth in this life a “fool” (Luke 12:13-21). Instead, Jesus calls his followers to “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:2). We do this by giving. God rewards those who give with eternal rewards, goodwill, and blessing (Proverbs 19:17; Psalm 112:5; Matthew 10:42). So the question is whether you’ll invest primarily in the 90 years you have on earth or in your eternal life—a life that will make this life look like a pin prick on an incomprehensibly long line.
A Final Thought
God isn’t holding out on you. So we shouldn’t hold out on God. Giving to your church is not a burden. It’s a reflection of his gift to you.
After all, if we become the kind of church where everyone gives generously, we’ll also become the kind of church that can bless and transform our city. Both because we can give more and do more ministry as a church, but also because (and perhaps this is more fundamental) our hearts will be transformed by our giving such that we can be vessels of God’s self-giving love for the world around us.
Looking for more resources on generosity and giving? Check out The Crossing's sermon series, Giving, Greed, and God, to hear more.
Topics:
