Heart Attitude #6 - Support The Work Financially -Reflecting God’s Heart Through Giving

Bible Passage: 2 Corinthians 9:6–8, Luke 16:10–12, Luke 6:38, Matthew 10:9–10, Matthew 10:9–11

What does it mean to participate in ministry? It could look like teaching Sunday School, leading a bible study, serving as a greeter and usher, leading singing during the worship service, being a prayer warrior to support others in ministry or giving of money to support the work of the church and missionaries everywhere. More than likely it could involve several of these things.

Participating in ministry isn’t necessarily a comfortable topic to discuss. Often we think that we are too busy, we don’t have any talents or abilities. Maybe we think that participation applies to the person next to us. We might rationalize that, “I put $20 a week in the offering. I have done my part.”

I am not going to stand here and assume to judge any of you. But rather provide a bit of perspective.

I believe that “We mirror the love of Jesus when we use our time and finances well and give of those resources cheerfully and generously.”

In Christ, we find the ultimate expression of generosity. His life and sacrifice serve as the greatest example of giving—where He provided salvation without reservation. This ultimate act of love redefines our understanding of what it means to give generously, ultimately glorifying God.

1. Sow Generously, Reap Abundantly

2 Corinthians 9:6–8 (NIV)

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.

Let’s take a closer look at the second half of verse 6 where it talks about sowing generously and reaping generously. To do that I would like to read a reference from The Tony Evans Bible Commentary where it says, - “In spite of what some health-and-wealth gospel advocates may say, Paul is not promising that giving generously to gospel ministry will result in earthly, material prosperity and the elimination of all your problems. Anyone who says that doesn’t know what he’s talking about and is claiming biblical support for false teaching.

…clearly there’s a principle of sowing and reaping here that’s not to be ignored. If you give generously to a legitimate need from sincere gospel motives when it is in your capacity to do so, God will give you his blessing. A blessing is the God-given capacity to experience, enjoy, and extend the goodness and favor of God in your life. Regardless of what God provides to you, he will bless you with his presence and the ability to use what he provides.”

Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2019)

God could bless us materially and He may. That is not really the point. If we give cheerfully, we honor God. Then His true blessing is that molds our hearts gives us a deeper love for Him and His people.

What is meant by the term “cheerful giver”. Let’s look at a reference from Charles Spurgeon in his notes from The Spurgeon Study Bible. Here it says - “God loves a cheerful giver.” What is meant by “a cheerful giver”? The rest of the verse tells us what is not meant and so helps us to see what is intended. “Not reluctantly or out of compulsion,” not giving as though we wished we could avoid it, and therefore giving as little as possible. Not counting the pennies and reckoning them to be as precious as drops of blood but giving with ease, spontaneity, freeness, pleasure—this is a cheerful giver. To be this cheerful giver, we must give proportionately as the Lord has prospered us.

Charles Spurgeon, The Spurgeon Study Bible: Notes (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017)

God doesn’t want our time or money, if we give it grudgingly. I would argue that he doesn’t honor gifts that are given out of out of reluctance or resentment. We show gratitude and faith in God’s provision when we can give freely of our time and financial resources. Moreover, generosity is a form of worship that enriches both the giver and the receiver. It encourages us to cultivate a joyful heart toward giving. God delights in cheerful givers and will provide for our needs as we serve others.

2. Faithful Stewardship in Small Matters

Luke 16:10–12 (NIV)

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

Let’s dig into these verses a bit more. To do that I would like to read an excerpt from Tony Evans Bible Commentary again. “Jesus spoke a principle that we often see demonstrated in life. Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much. Likewise, the one who is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much (16:10). If you aren’t dependable in small things, you are not likely to be dependable in more significant ones. So if you are unfaithful in your use of worldly wealth, who will trust you with what is genuine? (16:11). You must be trustworthy with what God has loaned you in this life if you expect to receive anything of true value in eternity.”

Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2019),

There is something key here that the author mentions that I think we often forget. Anything that we have has been given to us by God. It is on loan to us. What we do with our time, abilities and resources indicates whether we can be trusted with more.

To illustrate this let’s turn to Matthew 25:14-30

The Parable of the Bags of Gold

Matthew 25:14-30 (NIV)

14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28 “ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

God honors our stewardship. In the Branch Exposition of the Bible, Michael Eaton writes:

“We are not meant to be identical to anyone else. We all have different abilities. We are all weaker than others at some points, and stronger than others at other points. We are to serve God to the full measure of whatever abilities we have. We do not have to do things we were never designed to do. But God does expect from us what we have been enabled to do, and everyone has a destiny shaped for them. God entrusts every one of his servants with a portion of his grace, and he expects some return from what he has given us. Like the two good servants of the parable, faithful servants of God will receive a reward.”

Now let’s look at actions of the third servant, or rather the inaction.

“The master calls this wickedness and laziness (25:26)! He expected some interest from what had been given as capital (25:27). The result of the servant’s sin is that he suffers serious loss. 28 So take the bag of gold from him and give it to him who has the ten bags of gold. Not only does he not go forward, he goes backward. Not only does he have nothing more, he even loses what he has.”

If we don’t use the the resources that we have been intrusted with, God won’t give us more and he make take what we have away. This could apply to finances but also talents or skills that we have. God gave us all these things and invites us to come along side Him and use the for His glory.

3. Measure for Measure Generosity

Luke 6:37-38

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

In The Holman New Testament Commentary, Trent Butler provides this perspective.

“Perhaps you had a different job description in mind when you decided to follow Jesus. You would join him in judging the world. You would point out all the evil people to God so he could give them what they deserve. God’s ways are different. You experienced them from him. No judgment. No condemnation. No heaping punishment on others. Forgive! Give! Use fair, generous measuring cups to sell something to someone else.

Yes, be generous in what you give to others. God will give you the same kind of measure you give others.”

Give generously. Give as you would like to be given to. Be generous in the same way that God has been generous with you. When I think of generous giving I can’t help but think of my Father and mother-in-law, Dennis & Darlene Korneychuk. They have been missionaries for more than 50 years. During that time they have raised their own support by through the generous giving of friends and acquaintances they have meet through ministry. If it were not for those faithful supporters they would not be able to use their gifting in construction to provide free labor to the churches and christian camps that they do work for. Because they recognize that their financial support is a gift from God, they have always used it wisely and in turn tithed to support the local church and other missionaries.

In short, giving is more about the posture of our hearts rather than the abilities we have or the amount we offer. God’s richest blessings often flow through our willingness to just share what we have. If we only willing to step out in faith with the offering of our time and tithes, God can transform our heart leading us to share freely and cheerfully; reflect on His generosity, find true fulfillment in giving and you will bless others as you yourself are blessed.