In one of the most explicit and extended teachings on giving in the New Testament, Paul writes to the Corinthian church and tells them that he is sending some of the brothers to come collect the gift they promised so that they will have time to ready and prepare it. He reminds them the necessity of giving out of cheerfulness and generosity - not reluctantly out of compulsion. He reminds them that God is the Giver of all things, and therefore, giving generously as he instructs is also the wisest course of action for handling one's stuff. We reap what we sow. Jesus taught this in Luke 16 saying that the one who was faithful in much would be given much. Paul tells the Corinthian church that God has given freely and generously of his grace to them. This should motivate their giving. Generous giving produces thankfulness, and its blessings are far-reaching and shared. It also produces deep affection among believers.
We do not want you to be uninformed about the WHY behind our giving. There are many misconceptions about the money given to churches. Some perceive that this is just a cash grab - a scam run by big religion to take honest money from their unsuspecting sheep. Some regard giving as merely an obligation - a standard percentage that needs to be legalistically enforced and dutifully adhered to in order to receive good marks. Others may have rejected both of these and simply concluded that giving is no longer something to take so seriously - just an old by-product of past, stuffy days in the church. Besides, talking about people's money is kind of cringe.
All of these miss the point. God invites us to give (particulalry to give of our money) as an act of care for our souls. Our possessions tend to possess us. Giving regularly, generously, and cheerfully keeps our hearts from becoming entangled and bound to the idolatrous allure of riches. Similarly, it also guards us against the swing to the opposite side of the pendulum - an ascetic rejection of all "stuff" as fleshly and dirty. When we watch our gifts support and enable God's good work in the world, we can't help but remember that this stuff he has given to us is, in fact, good when it is used properly. Giving shapes us and forms us into good stewards - good caretakers of the world with which we have been entrusted. It helps us to feel and take ownership of the ministry God is doing through our local body, rather than seeing it as someone else's job. It forces us to depend on his provision rather than pursuing self-reliance. We think about "giving" as gifts that we give to God. And this is true. But first and foremost, it is a gift that God gives to us - because he knows just how desperately our hearts need this healthy practice!
