Money — Week 2 - FRIDAY
TODAY’S VERSE
2 Corinthians 9:7
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (ESV)
Last summer, my son Riley started his very first job. He was hired at the Chick-fil-A in front of the Lexington campus. (Say “hi” to him if you see him over there working.) As with most jobs, he had worked there a few weeks before his first paycheck came in. He uses a Venmo debit card for his purchases, and it’s not tied directly to his bank account. So when he got his first pay stub, he asked me to send him his pay amount from his bank account to his Venmo account.
Within seconds of me sending him his money, he let me know that I didn’t send him enough money. He said he was about $50 short. And that’s when he got his first lesson on taxes. And now he knows that it’s something that has to be paid whether he likes it or not.
Too often we look at tithes and offerings in a similar manner. If I have to withhold 30% of my salary in taxes, then I need to withhold an additional 10% in tithes. We see it as an obligation… a bill… something that has to be paid whether we like it or not.
But that’s exactly the opposite of how God wants us to view giving. I don’t know a single person who loves taxes. But I know lots of people who love giving to the church. Why? What’s the difference?
The difference is the motivation behind the giving. When we begin to view our money and possessions as things that have been entrusted to us, our outlook on giving begins to change. Giving is no longer an obligation but a way to say thanks. It’s a way to honor and worship God. And it’s exciting to see what God does with it!
Giving should never feel like paying a tax to God. It should be an act of worship. It should be something we do willingly and joyfully because we recognize that everything we have came from God in the first place.
When we give, we aren’t simply handing over 10% of what belongs to us. We are returning a portion of what God has already entrusted to us. It’s our way of saying, “God, I recognize that this is all Yours, and I trust You with it.”
That doesn’t mean giving is always easy. There are times when the budget is tight, and giving requires extra sacrifice. But even then, our attitude matters. God doesn’t want us begrudgingly writing a check like we’re paying another bill. He wants our giving to come from a grateful heart.
And when we begin to see giving that way, something changes. Instead of asking, “How much do I have to give?” we begin asking, “What can God do with what I give?”
Your taxes may never bring you much joy. But giving can.
So the next time you give, don’t treat it like another deduction from your paycheck. Take a moment and remember where that paycheck came from in the first place. Thank God for what He has entrusted to you, and give back to Him as an act of worship.
APPLICATION
The next time you give, whether it’s a check you bring on Sunday or a transfer you authorize digitally, pause. Take a few moments to let God know you’re thankful for what He has entrusted to you. Ask Him to take what you are giving and use it for His purposes and for His Kingdom. Then give it to Him with a cheerful heart.
PRAYER
God, thank You for everything You have entrusted me with. Help me to give with a cheerful heart. As I give to You this week, I pray You use it for Your purposes to extend Your Kingdom on earth. I love You, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to worship You in this way!