Read: James 1:16-18
Why give?
That’s certainly a valid question. We want to be sure we’re spending our money wisely. At the very least, we want to be sure we’re not wasting it. That’s why we check out businesses before we sign a contract. It’s why we read product reviews before we go out and buy something. We want the assurance that something is worth our hard-earned money.
So, why give? Specifically, why give to the church? Why give to God?
While there are any number of reasons people might give to God (a sense of obligation or even guilt, for example), there’s one reason in particular that really sticks out to me. In my opinion, at least, this reason should be our primary motivation for giving. Just like so many other things in the Christian life, this reason is based not on who we are, but on who God is.
Why give? For me, the answer to that question is easy:
We give because God gave.
The Bible tells us that God has given us so much. Indeed, it’s difficult for us to even begin to catalogue all the great things our God has given us.
For starters, God gave us life. The book of Genesis tells us that nothing would exist were it not for the creative work of God. Everything we see exists because God put it here. That includes us. As Genesis says:
Genesis 2:7: “…the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”
We would not be here had God not chosen to create us and give us breath. The fact that we are here at all speaks to the generosity of our God.
But, God’s generosity didn’t stop at Creation. God designed the world in such a way that it would provide for our every need. This planet has water to quench our thirst and food to satisfy our hunger. Surely, we recognize this more than some. After all, we live in a country with tap water and pantries to hold our excess food. We know firsthand how abundantly God has provided for us. The apostle Paul summed it up in this way:
Acts 14:17: “Yet He has not left Himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; He provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”
Today, most of us won’t have to worry about what we’re going to eat or drink. There will be food on the table and water from the sink. This day will not end without us knowing God’s provision.
Moreover, the Bible also tells us that everything we have is a gift from God. In Psalm 24:1, David said: “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” Everything that exists on this planet belongs to God. That means the things I call “mine” really aren’t mine. They belong to Him. I’m just borrowing them for a season. If we have anything, it’s because God gave it to us. That means everything your house, your car, your workplace and everything in them is something that has been given to you by God.
Yet, even this pales in comparison to God’s greatest gift. Our Father’s generosity, it turns out, isn’t just about physical things; it also has a spiritual dimension to it. You see, though we were powerless to save ourselves from the grip of sin, God did something to help us. In the greatest act of giving, God gave us His Son. As the all-too-familiar words of John 3:16 remind us:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
God gave us His Son so that we might have life. To say it another way, He gave us His Son to give us hope, to give us life. We can only hope for eternal life because of God’s great generosity towards us.
When you think about it, God is the ultimate Giver. Not a day goes by when we don’t receive something from Him. Our lives—both now and in eternity—are a result of God giving us something we didn’t deserve. God has shown us what it means to truly give.
For me, that serves as the highest motivation for giving. We give because God first gave to us. If we want to be like Him, then we have to be givers, too. We have to leverage all we have (more appropriately, all we’ve been given) to help others. We have to be generous because God has already been so generous with us. Our giving is rooted in how much God has already given us.
So, why give? Give because of what’s been given to you. Be generous because of how God has been generous with you. After all, no matter how much we give, we will never out-give God.
Questions to Consider:
If someone asked you why you give to the church, what would you say? How is your generosity rooted in God’s generosity?
Read I Timothy 6:17. What does God provide us with? What does this mean you should give to Him?