When many think about worshiping God, they think about praying, singing worship songs, or attending a service at their church. These things are undoubtedly essential ways that we can worship God, but they are not the only ways we can worship Him. One of the ways that we can worship God that many do not think about as often is to give back to Him a small portion of what He has blessed us with. This practice of giving goes all the way back to the Old Testament, where God instructed His people to make giving a part of their regular rhythm.
Deuteronomy 14 records the Lord's instruction to the Israelites to give regularly. In this passage of Scripture, Moses instructed the Israelites on behalf of the Lord, saying, "You must set aside a tithe of your crops—one-tenth of all the crops you harvest each year. Bring this tithe to the designated place of worship—the place the Lord your God chooses for His name to be honored" (verses 22-23a). This practice of setting aside a tenth of their crops became a regular rhythm for the Israelites. As they did this, they remembered that everything they had belonged to the Lord, and they demonstrated trust in Him to take care of them.
Still today, we are called to practice giving back to God out of the abundance He has given us. The apostle Paul expounded on the kind of generosity that Christ followers are to demonstrate in 2 Corinthians 9. In this passage of Scripture, he wrote, “You must decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully’” (verse 7). When we give, we are to give cheerfully, eager to give back to God because He has been generous to us. This, my friends, is the attitude which we are to approach giving. Paul continued his teaching about giving with a promise, “And God will generously provide all you need” (verse 8). God has generously provided for you and taken care of you, and He will always provide you with all you need. Will you trust Him and His provision enough to give back to Him?
Take some time now to reflect on your own generosity. Is your giving a duty or a delight? What step can you take to honor God by being a cheerful giver? After answering these questions, take that step to honor God through your giving. Ask Him for help as you seek to do this.
1 I really don’t need to write to you about this ministry of giving for the believers in Jerusalem. 2 For I know how eager you are to help, and I have been boasting to the churches in Macedonia that you in Greece were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was your enthusiasm that stirred up many of the Macedonian believers to begin giving.
3 But I am sending these brothers to be sure you really are ready, as I have been telling them, and that your money is all collected. I don’t want to be wrong in my boasting about you. 4 We would be embarrassed—not to mention your own embarrassment—if some Macedonian believers came with me and found that you weren’t ready after all I had told them! 5 So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly.
6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. 12 So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.
13 As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. 14 And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you.
