Is Giving to the Lord Worthwhile?

⁸ 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.  2 Corinthians 9:8

You should expect God to bless you abundantly, in all things, at all times. The purpose of God’s financial blessing to you is to meet your needs. However, it’s not just to meet your needs, and certainly not to meet your greeds! He gives so you will abound in every good work.  My pastor used to say, “If God can get it through you, he will get it to you.”

Why Do We Give?

We have a problem if we just give to get. Giving to God should not be a selfish proposition that appeals to our materialism. We do give to get… but only to give again. God’s will is to help us focus on the good that he has called us to do. We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works that he prepared in advance for us to do. God promises to give us all that we need for every good work. Yes, that includes taking care of your family, but if all we care about is our own family and our own financial well-being, we are in trouble spiritually. We should actually WANT to gain more for the right reasons. John Wesley said: “Earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can.”

This is not just about finances. It is about being financially generous, but what we reap is far more: 

⁸ 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. ⁹ As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” ¹⁰ Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹ You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:8-11  

Giving Brings Riches

These and the next verses speak of both blessing others and bringing praise to God. These bring richness to our lives! As we give, we become more and more like God because he is a giver. That’s his nature. He’s a rewarder!  The whole world is pretty much divided into two categories: givers and takers. Be a giver!  

When I attended Oral Roberts University, my first week in Tulsa, I went to a church that was running a building campaign. Within just a couple of weeks, I really felt God told me to give $300—an almost impossible amount for me at the time.  

The financial aid package for seminary included work study. When I matriculated, the financial worksheet showed the pay in terms of a reduction of expenses, so I assumed that my pay was being automatically applied to my tuition. During that semester, my finances were so tight that I ate out only one time—at McDonalds. I lived on cornbread and beans, and sometimes the cheapest meat I could get, like chicken livers and cheap ground beef, occasionally a whole chicken. I actually liked what I was eating and was keenly aware of God’s provision, and each meal was a celebration of God’s goodness.  

At the end of the semester, one of my coworkers in the office where I did my work study asked if I had picked up my check yet. “What check?” I asked. “Your paycheck for work study,” he responded. “We’re supposed to pick up our checks?” I asked. “Yes, in the financial aid office.” I went, and what did I have in my file? A whole semester’s worth of checks totaling about $1000! I was rich!

Not only did I have enough for my $300 commitment, but I had a classmate who was going on a mission—one of the Billy Graham evangelist training events he held in Europe. I also gave that classmate $300. Little did I know that I was investing in the ministry of the classmate who would become my wife!

But really, the gift I gave was not to her—just like that building fund to my local church, I was giving to the Lord. I didn’t care that I gave away over half the money that I had received. In my mind, God had simply supplied to me what I wanted to give. Did it cost me? Of course it did, it cost me a lot. But it was all worthwhile; giving to God always is.

Hear the rest of this message on the podcast at https://edcrenshaw.com/podcast