Devotion #6: Financial Giving
There is a common narrative about the church that some people repeat, “All the church ever wants is your money.” While there may be some truth to this sentiment, it is important to recognize that not all churches or ministries are guilty of this. The issue often arises when individuals ask you to send in $100 for “healing water” or a “magic prayer” that promises to make everything better. If things do not improve, the response is often, “You just lacked faith.” Anyone peddling this kind of narrative is most definitely after your money.
In response to these money-hungry peddlers of untruth, many people react with the opposite extreme, “We will not give.” While this may not be everyone’s reaction, if you have been scammed in the past, it is understandable that you might feel defensive about the subject of giving. However, the instructions to give are clear in Scripture. It is not a mystery that requires a doctorate or a master’s degree in theology to understand how God desires His people to respond in giving.
The instructions to give were established as early as when God instructed His people through Moses. It was clearly outlined in the Law of God that a person should pay close attention to their heart and attitude toward giving. You can read this for yourself in Deuteronomy 15:7–9.
The summary is this: Do not harden your heart against your fellow brother or sister in need. Just as God has given freely to you, you should also give freely to the poor and needy in your towns, cities, and land. If you harbor an evil or unworthy thought against your brother or sister and choose to take a grudging stance by withholding from them, you will be sinning against God.
This is where the instructions for giving to the poor might have originated, and it has been lived out throughout the centuries by those who have had faith in Christ. From the Old Testament saints to the modern church, the message of how we are called to care for one another is clearly articulated in Scripture.
In Acts 20:35, it is recorded that Jesus Himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” This is why we see, in the early church writings of Paul, the very actions the church took in response to giving. Romans 15:25–26 says, “At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem, bringing aid to the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.”
It was obvious to the early church what the proper response to giving should be. We have received such great blessings from God - most notably the free gift of salvation - that when we see a brother or sister in need, we should help without hesitation.
The heart with which we approach giving can reflect the heart of Christ. Just as Christ willingly gave His own life, knowing the sacrifice it would cost Him, He gave intentionally - for you and for me, individuals who are spiritually poor. He gave richly so that we could be saved. Imagine if we all gave the way Christ gave! Examining our hearts’ attitude toward giving should lead us to reflect on the heart of Christ.