Selfless generosity is a core value of Christianity. People all over the world have had their lives dramatically changed by what their brothers and sisters were willing to give. Giving has always been an essential part of God’s design for community. He is glorified and His name is spread among the nations by the charitable acts of His people.
It is obvious why giving helps others, but how does giving help us?
Giving means sacrificing. Typically, we sacrifice our time, skills, money, or a combination of the three. When we sacrifice, we are giving up something of value. Giving up such gifts allow us to see them exactly as they are …. gifts. Everything we give comes from the Father. This forces us to rely on Him more and on these gifts less. The blessings will come and go, but the Father remains faithful forever.
Giving happens in community. We cannot be isolated and still meet the needs of our church family. We must be actively looking and listening for opportunities to share our blessings with others. We must put the needs of others before ourselves. This humbles us. By being in community, we see we are a small part of something much larger. By loving our neighbors through giving, we see how God uses His people to spread His glory.
Finally, giving is following our Savior. Jesus humbled Himself by coming down from heaven to sacrifice all He had for people who rejected Him. Jesus used everything at His disposal to point people to the Father, and He did it with love. When we look at the cross, we see how much Jesus was willing to give for us. He gave up everything, including His life. If our goal is to become more like Jesus, then giving must play a major role in our lives.
Giving is not an obligation but a work of love. We show God our love by trusting Him. He has blessed us with many gifts and these gifts are meant to serve Him. As we serve God through giving, we learn to rely on Him more.
I encourage you to trust God more through the discipline of giving.
Proverbs 11:24: One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.