“Jesus talked about money more than any other topic!”
Growing up, my dad issued this statement every time he spoke about stewardship. I have no idea if he was actually right—I have never tallied up the passages myself—but Jesus was, without a doubt, concerned about our possessions. Between His parables and His one-on-one interactions, Jesus often addressed wealth, greed, investment, and stewardship. Whatever the precise frequency may have been, Jesus talked about money a lot.
In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul seems to have picked up where Jesus left off. He was bold and unashamed in instructing the Corinthians to give. His tone was straightforward, and He seemed totally unembarrassed by the indelicate topic of money.
The combined witnesses of Jesus and Paul remind us of an oft overlooked truth: how we talk about money matters. God doesn’t simply want us to give; He wants us to do it for the right reasons and to think about our finances in a holy way. Along those lines, Jesus and Paul both steer us away from two common errors in our language about finances.
The first error is thinking of our finances as our own. When it comes to money, many of us have a hands-off approach; we don’t want to be told what to do with it because it belongs to us. Money is a touchy subject, and as a result, pastors can be skittish about discussing it. Some even apologize to their congregations on the rare occasion that they do address finances. Paul, on the other hand, is unapologetic. He does not mince words when he warns, “The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,” (2Corinthians 9:6). Based on passages like this one, it’s impossible to read Scripture and conclude that God is ambivalent about our wealth. Instead He lays claim to it, so we cannot balk when we are invited to be generous.
The second error in our thinking about money is that of the prosperity gospel. This error gives inordinate attention to wealth, and it worships a transactional god whose grace is something we earn. The prosperity gospel interprets Paul’s words in a materialistic way, promising that if you give your money away, you are guaranteed to make much more in return.
Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 9 seem especially vulnerable to the distortion of prosperity preaching, since he promises “the person who sows generously will also reap generously” (v.6). However, what distinguishes Paul’s message from the prosperity gospel is motivation. The prosperity gospel is motivated by material gain whereas the “cheerful giving” that honors Christ is motivated by gratitude. Put another way, we express our gratitude to God by being generous with others, just as He is generous with us.
What is interesting about these two errors is that they produce the opposite effect. One discourages us from talking about money while the other over-emphasizes it. But Scripture offers a third option. We can and should talk about money but in the right way and for the right purpose: to the glory of God, the love of others, and the good of the world.
In truth, our finances are really not our own. They are God’s resources, which we are called to steward well. “And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work” unto Him and for His glory (v.8).
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51 thoughts on "Motivations for Giving"
I want to be a more cheerful giver. I don’t want to allow wealth to change me, or make me place my dependence on the wealth, instead of on Jesus.
So good and right on time.
What an amazing experience it is to be the daughter of an abundant and generous kingdom. Thank you Heavenly Father for building in us the heart set to please you and bring you glory. I try my best to sow in different ways using my resources. Sometimes it’s money, sometimes it’s time, sometimes it’s wisdom, sometimes it’s forgiveness and grace, sometimes it’s by planting seeds. Stewardship has been difficult for me to understand but I’m excited for this journey as I become more confident and bold as I obey Christ.
My mother when she would give would always impart wisdom and teach others how to become fishers for their own good and abundance. I want to be like her.
Hello Shes
Once more, dinked by the devotional.
Gratitude should underlie my giving, not a “gimme”.
It’s not a transaction. It’s about trust.
So help me God.
My friend, Debbie, just text me letting me know that she is going in for PET and CT scans today. Please pray for her this morning. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Praying with you
Traci, just now seeing this but joining in praying for Debbie- for good imagrs and an accurate and encouraging diagnosis/prognosis. ❤
Our money is God’s resources that we are called to steward well. My husband and I are always trying to figure out how we want to give. We have done several different types of giving. To those truly in need and then to our families who have less. I really enjoy when we sit down and get a plan for this. I do struggle though with giving to those that will squander. I know that is not for me to decide…
So many great comments from you ladies this morning. I’ve really struggled lately because Steve and I aren’t attending our old church (various reasons). We take turns going to different churches where our kids and grands attend. So I’ve gotten out of the habit of tithing. And Steve is applying for long term disability now. Looking to sell the shares of our business to the two men who have been running it since Steve got so ill. So many things happening.
But several of you reminded me…we have experience God’s grace and mercy. We should be sharing with others.
I guess I’m just trying to figure out where to give now.
BTW, we had one of the grands all last week so I’m behind on all the reading. Interesting that this is the one I start back on.
GramieSue, at my church, we remind people, you give what you can and if you are financially in a difficult place, give of your time. Bless you and Steve.❤️
One last thought…Hosea 10:12 reminded me of a prayer I pray every Sunday morning, for everyone who walks through the door of our church – including me…that God would “break up the fallow ground” of our hearts, so that it is prepared to receive the seed of the Word, and that it will take root and grow, making us more like Jesus. ❤️
❤️ the prayer, asking God to break up the hard packed ground of my heart, to make it ready for the seed to be planted, for it to take root and grow. My heart needs to be ready for whatever seed God wants to plant in me. Too often I want to skip over the part where the ground needs to be broken up first, it hurts too much. But only through that processes can the seed take root.
I, too, love that prayer and practice, Sharon! It reminds me that we are (I am) so focused on planting seeds in others that we/I can forget to allow God to cultivate the soil of our hearts. Thank you! ❤
This was a nice reminder of how we are to think of and talk about money.
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“What is interesting about these two errors is that they produce the opposite effect. One discourages us from talking about money while the other over-emphasizes it.” This rings so true! I know from our own ministry that in the past my husband has often said, “I hate preaching about money.” He feels like it would be asking for money, and not wanting to sound like some other churches that are always hounding people to give, (and not for the right reasons) he tends to avoid it. This might be a good opportunity to bring the subject up with him.
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“And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work” unto Him and for His glory.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 …Let’s not skim over or read this to quickly lest we miss the part that says…”always having everything you need…”
Sometimes we confuse our wants with our needs. God always supplies our needs, and sometimes – He gives us our wants too!
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It is because of God’s faithfulness in always supplying what we need, that I can trust Him with our future needs that sometimes we just can’t see how it could possibly work.
I speak of the fact that as a full time ministry couple, we have been in our ministry for 30 years. All of these years spent living in a parsonage. We have never owned a home, and have only been able to save sparingly as we have helped our children through college whenever we could. And accounting for covid, losing members of our church for various reasons and taking a substantial pay cut two years in a row — we don’t have as much saved up as we had hoped. Then throw in the ridiculous way the prices of buying a home have sky-rocketed, some days I think, “we’ll never be able to afford a home whenever it is that God calls us out of this ministry.”…But God! He is always faithful, He always has been and He always will be! I trust that we will have all that we need – at all times! …And that gives me hope, just like the Psalmist had!
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Sorry if I rambled! Have a blessed Monday – may His grace overflow to each and everyone of you today, in every way! Love my SRT sisters! ❤️
❤ love you, sister!
Lay it all at the altar, Dear Sharon.
I just have to share the Hosea passage in NLT. It really stood out to me this morning. We so need revival in this world!
I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love.
Plow up the hard ground of your hearts,
for now is the time to seek the Lord,
that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’
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And this from Wiersbe:
We must not be “sad givers” who give reluctantly, or “mad givers” who give in response to pressure, but we should be “glad givers” who cheerfully share what we have because we have experienced the grace of God. “He who has a generous eye will be blessed” (Prov. 22:9).
~ It helped my understanding to be reminded in commentary that Paul was collecting money for the church in Jerusalem – an act of connecting the two churches. What an act of love and sacrifice! Lots of good food for thought as usual!
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Blessings and prayers, sisters! ❤
❤️
Thank you for sharing, Cee Gee! ❤️
❤
It has been said that if a person can surrender their finances you God, then they truly have their heart surrendered to God!
“Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.”
Hosea 10:12 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/hos.10.12.NIV
This verse has resonated in my heart because It is the time to seek the Lord and to break up our unplowed ground. Soften our hearts and yield to God. This is about surrender and not about possessions or what we can get but what can I give. I will say that we are proof that you cannot out give God. God had always been faithful to my family and provided us. How can I do any less than yield when He asks me to give or serve Him?
Amen!
Good Morning Beautiful She’s!! May you feel and dwell in God’s Presence and Peace!!!
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Wanted to share my notes from today… be BLESSED!!! Much love and prayers as always!! Xoxo
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Hosea 10:12 Sow righteousness for yourselves
and reap faithful love;
break up your unplowed ground.
It is time to seek the Lord
until He comes and sends righteousness
on you like the rain.
*Amen!! Let us be bold Lord!! Let us stand up and out!!! Not letting fear run us but FAITH!!! A mustard seed is one of the tiniest seeds, yet it grows into one of the biggest most majestic plants… (Mathew 13:31-32) let us be like it!! Let eyes and ears be opened and truth brought forth!! Let us display You in ALL we do!!! Amen.
-29th
Psalm 126:5-6 Those who sow in tears
will reap with shouts of joy.
6 Though one goes along weeping,
carrying the bag of seed,
he will surely come back with shouts of joy,
carrying his sheaves.
*thank You Lord for this!!! May we grab onto sorrow and suffering with JOY in our hearts, KNOWING what You have in store!!! Thank You Father, Your faithfulness is beyond what we can fathom, let alone what we deserve!!! We honor and glorify You and are extremely grateful!!!
-29th
2 Corinthians 9:10-15 Now the one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will also provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the proof provided by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone. 14 And as they pray on your behalf, they will have deep affection for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
*this passage of scripture makes me think both of the parable of the sower (Mathew 13:3-8 & 18-23) and the parable of the 3 servants (Mathew 25:14-30)
..the parable of the sower talks about seeds and ground and the state of our hearts.. are we producing good seed? Are we planting and cultivating those seeds & plants well? They shall know us by our fruit… what does our fruit look like, good or bad? There is no inbetween!!! Very aligning & convicting. …the parable of the 3 servants talks about a master entrusting his servants with money while he is gone… 2 were bold, confident and faithful, and 1 was fearful, not wanting to disappoint or displease, he stayed in a safe comfortable place. Am I investing boldly while being confident and faithful? Or am I huddled in fear, too afraid to act? I ask myself these questions daily!! On my own, I know I am bound in fear and that the seeds/ground in my life aren’t good or long lasting.. BUT with God!!! He makes and prepares the Way, we just have to be OBEDIENT!!! Let us STEP OUT, be BOLD, humbly CONFIDENT, TRUSTWORTHY and FAITHFUL!!! Let us align ourselves to God alone!!! Let our choices SHINE BRIGHT with the Life and Light of God so others may see, recognize and be drawn to Him!! Amen.
-29th
Amen! ❤
Amen!
Thanks
I think of myself as a generous person … and I am to an extent. Where I trip up is when I either think or see first hand that the recipient isn’t appreciative or not a good steward of what’s been given to them (by me or someone else). In reading today’s Scriptures and others, I’m reminded that the willingness to give is on me, and stewardship is on them … The Lord is the judge, not me.
The end of vs 6 in Ps 126 of course reminded me of a song I haven’t heard in maybe 40 years … Bringing in the sheaves … we shall come rejoicing!
Catching up again … have been going through comments and praying for the requests, especially LYNNE FROM AL, MICHELLE P, LAURA, KELLY (NEO)
Amen! I remember singing that song, too! ❤ Great to have you back!
the willingness to give is on me, and stewardship is on them
Fantastic
Our money is not our own, and our lives are not our own. It’s all God’s! The sooner I rest in this the more peace and contentment I have!!
I have found that even when money is tight and I tithe & give generously – God always provides over and beyond what I need! It’s an incredible exercise of faith!
I so agree! God is forever faithful!
Amen
“The prosperity gospel is motivated by material gain whereas the “cheerful giving” that honors Christ is motivated by gratitude.” Say this louder. It is always a red flag for me when pastor or other Christian use the ‘prosperity gospel’ as the foundation of their faith, because it is distorted and dangerous. That emphasis on material gain is not what brings glory to God. And my worry is that individuals who center their faith on this and do not get ‘wealthy’ as they expect, will be discouraged and turn away from God because of this distorted view. It feels very conditions-based faith. We must pray that their hearts and eyes be open to the true nature of the Gospel and that their motivations for giving are first and foremost for God’s glory.
Yes and amen!
Amen!
Amen
“And God is able to make every grace overflow to you” can I get an Amen!!! What a lovely reminder this Monday. Also thought I would share Psalm 112 with you guys.
Psalm 112
1 Praise the Lord.
Blessed are those who fear the Lord,
who find great delight in his commands.
2 Their children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
6 Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
7 They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8 Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
9 They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,
their righteousness endures forever;
their horn[c] will be lifted high in honor.
10 The wicked will see and be vexed,
they will gnash their teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.
As my husband is starting a new job and we are unsure of what our finances will look, giving will be a constant. It’s an act of faith and of generosity. It can be a struggle. I admit to not always being a cheerful giver, but I know God continues to work on me.
Having the right heart posture, that is really what it’s all about. In everything. I don’t feel like I get this right very often. I want a generous heart and a grateful heart for all that God has blessed me with. Seeing everything we have as a blessing from God and then therefore, giving generously out of that blessing is where I want my heart to be.
I am really grateful for Paul and his bold words. I have never had a pastor who was willing to be so bold and preach the hard truths of scripture. And honestly, I need the straightforward style of preaching. Hit me where it hurts, please. That is the only way I will ever humble myself and grow.
I was out of town last week and had trouble keeping up by just using the app. I missed reading the comments. It is amazing how much of a community this group has become and how much I think of each of you – just like the ladies in my in-person group! God is so good! I am going to try to catch up today.
Great to see you back, Laura! I feel the same way about this community. ❤
Amen to all you said Laura!…and yes, good to see you back!
Our pastor preached from Luke on the feeding of the 5,000 yesterday. I so needed to be reminded that all I have belongs to God. He knows my need and already has provision. In order to receive I must keep my hand open!
It’s far too easy to focus on my needs, wants and not on being generous with the resources, opportunities and time the Lord has granted me to be His steward!
Father, work in me to be a good steward of all Your mercy and provision in every area of my life.
Blessings for a new week, sweet sisters!
Wow Linda. My preacher preached the feeding of the 5000 yesterday too from Matthew! When I read this today, I felt like I was getting smacked in the face with the same message. He said there are always people in the crowd who are just there for the blessing, but the disciples were serving, and at the end there was plenty left over for them. I keep just hearing, God is a God of abundance, if we looked at our money like the loaves and fishes, a miraculous gift, then we would have no problem sharing it.
❤
Same sermon yesterday too!❤️
Yes, Sister Shes
We’re reverberating from the same Sunday scripture!
We lack nothing in the Lord.
Remembering the Lord is the source of everything–our abilities as well as our earnings–helps to keep a healthy perspective on money. We are nothing and have nothing without Him.
Amen!
Amen! ❤
Amen
Amen