Building Block #6: Giving

Why do most people give? And why do you give? When it comes to the Lord and His Church, there can be a variety of reasons. You may give out of Love for the Lord, or because you want to see the Kingdom of God move forward. It could be you are giving to a Vision or a Cause, or because you believe in a certain Leader or Ministry. On the other hand, some may give out of Duty or Tradition, because of Guilt, or to receive some personal Benefit.

Talking about Giving can often be controversial and uncomfortable. But interestingly, Jesus talked more about money and giving than anything else in the New Testament. What did He say about it? He said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35)

He stated, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21).

He told us that if we give, "It will be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over." (Luke 6:38). Jesus is not focused on the amount, but on our hearts and attitudes. He describes a loving generosity, putting other's needs above our own.

John echoes those words in I John 3:17, "But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?" Paul agrees with this in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, he who sows bountifully will reap bountifully; God loves a cheerful giver. God is able...that in all things you may have an abundance for every good work."

But Giving does not only involve our finances. In order to grow as a Christian, God is challenging us to Give to Upbuild His Kingdom "TEAM" in 4 Key Areas:

T: Time: Personal Time spent with Him in Prayer & Scripture, Quality Time with our

Family, Ministering at the Church, and Serving Others in our Community

E: Effort: Investing our Energy, Thoughts, Creativity and Enthusiasm for God and People

A: Abilities: Using the Gifts, Abilities and Resources God has supplied us to Care for Others

M: Money: Examining the Amount, the Sacrifice Involved, and our Motives and Attitudes

God is inviting us to become involved in His Work in our World, but we must invest ourselves and all we have if we want to see God use us to impact others for Christ!

Are you serious about Growing Spiritually, but hesitant in this area of Giving because you're not sure God will follow-through? He says in Malachi 3:10: "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. And try Me now in this...if I will not open for you the windows of Heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." We cannot out-give God! He will never be in debt to any person! When we give, we are developing our Partnership with God, Growing in our Trust of Him, and Giving Him More Opportunities to Work in our Lives! Give Him Your Best!