Why is it important to joyfully give to God?

Talking about finances and the allocation of our money can sometimes be an uncomfortable topic. If you’re anything like me, there are times when money can be tight and you’re not looking to spend it anywhere that’s not absolutely necessary.

But I think you’ll find that giving to your church that you attend is not only necessary but also very rewarding. Giving with a joyful heart will help facilitate missions, supplies, programs (etc.) both locally and around the world for the advancement of the gospel…….and I think you’ll find God will be faithful to you and your giving as well.

In my own life, I have seen his faithfulness firsthand. Some of you may know that I work in the sports journalism field. While the job certainly has its perks and it’s difficult to complain about getting paid be around sports, the pay isn’t great.

A couple of months ago I felt a calling to begin giving to my church, Long Hollow Baptist in Hendersonville. My parents have been faithful in their giving for years and I’ve seen the difference it’s made in their lives. At the time, I was searching for another job to go along with my current one at the NHL because I didn’t have any steady money coming in after the season was done, but I wasn’t having much luck in finding one.

One day in late June I just made the decision to give and give joyfully and let God do with that money what he saw fit. I wasn’t in a good spot financially, but it didn’t matter to me. I decided to put my trust in the Lord and just do it. It’s funny how God provides. A couple weeks later I found another job as a groundskeeper at a property management company, and the best part about it is that it’s a job that I can still do even when hockey season returns in a couple of weeks.

I’m not saying to give to the Lord just because you’re expecting him to return the favor to you and provide. I believe your heart has to be in the right place when you give. It can’t be a burden for you to do so. But I also believe that if you give with the right heart and with the right intention, God will provide for you.

Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-21:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” 

Jesus is not against you having money or being wealthy or earning a comfortable living. However, I do believe Jesus is against money consuming you and being what drives you. Jesus says in Matthew 6:24 says “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Again, that’s not saying you can’t have money and still serve God. It’s saying you can’t be consumed by money and greed but also by God at the same time. It’s just not how it works.

The bottom line is this: Whether you want to admit it or not, nothing you have is truly yours. It belongs to God. So why not give back to God some of what he’s given to you and trust that he will use that money better than you ever could.

Give consistently. Give with no reservations. Don’t let it be a burden. If you tithe 10%, or whatever your percentage is, trust that you can do more through God with 90% of your money than you can do on your own with 100%. If you do this, you’ll find that God is faithful and that He provides.

If you don’t give at all, consider starting today. Whatever amount you decide to give, do so joyfully and see what God can do with it. Giving is a form of worship. Here’s a link to a video from Robby Gallaty at Long Hollow discussing this topic more at length:

https://longhollow.com/media/an-investment-plan-that-is-recession-proof/