Staying Committed to Giving Even in Difficult Times

As Christians, we know that giving is an act of faith, worship and love for our God.  My wife and I haven’t always been consistent givers in the past but thankfully today, this is very much a part of our relationship with the Lord.  We’ve even extended our giving more recently by stretching our faith and love for the Lord for a new church building project.

After making the commitment we recently found that we’re going to have some family medical bills each month for the exact same amount.  This isn’t exactly what most Christians expect to encounter when extending giving to the Lord, but we don’t doubt God will provide as long as we stay committed to Him.  It would be easy for us to stop this additional giving and manage the money our way.  But, our choice is to stay committed, faithful and continue to give out of our love and trust in God.  God will provide!

There are a few verses from the Bible that can help remind us of having importance of having a proper attitude in giving.  This is what it’s all about!  I thought I would share these verses with you today.  They’re on my heart right now given our current situation, but I also was able to share them with a couple I’m working with in my financial coaching ministry.

If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,but do not have love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:3 , NIV)

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7, NIV)

These scriptures say that giving without a heart of love is of no value to us, the givers.  The proper attitude in giving is crucial.  I don’t think God wants us to give if we’re doing so grudgingly or under compulsion.  Remember, it’s all God’s money anyway.  He has all He needs, but He really desires a loving and trusting relationship with us!  Giving is a great way to grow this relationship.

How do we make sure we have a proper attitude in our giving?  A valuable tip I’ve learned is to give each gift to Jesus Christ Himself out of worship.  The next time you write your check, give to your church online, or even place money in the offering plate, remember you are giving to Jesus.