“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: ‘They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.’ Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”—2 Corinthians 9:6–11 (NIV)    

If there’s one thing that makes people cringe about church, it’s the topic of money. For so long, people have seemed genuinely upset when churches talk about giving, tithes, or anything of that sort. Why? Perhaps it’s because of the thoughts that may pop into our heads and linger in our hearts when this subject is broached.

This is my money. I work hard to have nice things. God doesn’t need my money; I do. How will I pay for rent or food without it? I already don’t have enough. He understands I need to take care of myself and my family. I’m not a rich person. Let the rich give! 

When it comes right down to it, we think of this resource as ours. So, to part with our hard-earned money and not immediately get something tangible out of it—like a pizza, a shiny car, or a new piece of tech—is a hard pill to swallow. 

Well, there are two things to say on this subject, which I myself have certainly pondered:

1. It’s not our money; it’s His. The Bible clearly states, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1 NIV). We don’t own anything. Instead, we’re stewards—caretakers of what belongs to the Lord that He’s entrusted us with. When we shift our mindset from owner to steward, it becomes a lot easier to be obedient to the Lord in the area of generosity. Why? Because every resource isn’t ours; it’s His.
2. Giving is much more about how we give rather than how much we give. It’s about the kind of heart we exhibit with our giving. Today’s passage tells us, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

You see, our attitude and willingness to be generous with the resources we’ve been given are indicators of the condition of our hearts and the practicality of our faith. And when we remember that a) it’s all His and not ours, and b) He promises to take care of us when we’re obedient and faithful, we can gain an entirely different perspective on giving. But with that promise also comes a flipside: “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” 

Consider the example in Luke 21 and Mark 12. In these chapters, Jesus  watches as rich people drop their gifts in the tithe box. But then a poor widow comes along and drops “in two small coins” (Luke 21:2 NLT). Seeing this, Jesus calls His disciples over to teach them a valuable lesson: “This poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has” (Luke 21:3–4 NLT). 

You see, generosity isn’t about quantity—it’s about the quality of our devotion and obedience to God and our faith in Him. In this example, we see this revealed. The rich gave a small percentage of their wealth implying they gave what they had to spare. It’s what we call “disposable income.” So, while it may seem like a large gift to the untrained eye, it was merely their leftovers, their last fruits. However, the widow gave all she had—not just her first fruit, but her entire supply of fruit. She held nothing back from God because she knew it was His to begin with, and she had faith He’d keep His promise and provide all she needed. 

God deserves our best and our all. May we remember this truth and cheerfully give back to the God who gave it all!

Pause: What’s the difference between an owner and a steward?

Practice: Just as we did with availability and gifts, take stock of the resources God has blessed you with. Create a budget sheet that shows how much you spend on what. And then consider what your spending habits say about your heart. And then pray about anything you see that needs adjustment. 

Pray: Father, thank You for all Your wonderful gifts. I know everything I have and everything I am is a precious gift from You. I thank You for the greatest gift of all: Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, in whose name I’m able to come before You. Help me Lord to align my heart to Yours so I may give You my first, my best, and do so with a heart of joy, knowing You will use what I give to glorify Yourself and advance Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.