The Heart Of A Giver

God blesses us so we can be a blessing. Today, at Motor City Church, we are commiting to a vision that God has revealed to us for 2024. Let’s look closely at giving to better understand how it works. 

In Proverbs 11:24-25, the Bible says: “The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.” According to this proverb, the more you give, the more you have. The links between financial well-being and charitable giving are strong.

In 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 (AMP) we find powerful giving principles, “Now, brothers and sisters, we want to tell you about the grace of God which has been evident in the churches of Macedonia [awakening in them a longing to contribute];  for during an ordeal of severe distress, their abundant joy and their deep poverty [together] overflowed in the wealth of their lavish generosity. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave voluntarily, begging us insistently for the privilege of participating in the service for [the support of] the saints [in Jerusalem].  Not only [did they give materially] as we had hoped, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us [as His representatives] by the will of God [disregarding their personal interests and giving as much as they possibly could].”

Just as we see in the lives of these early Christians in Macedonia, giving should move us personally and corporately. I see three ways that giving touches the life of the one who gives according to this passage:

• Giving should cause us to CELEBRATE. 
• Giving should be an action that is COMPELLING.
• Giving should demonstrate our COMMITMENT. 

1. In verse 2, the Amplified Bible says, “for during an ordeal of severe distress, their abundant joy and their deep poverty [together] overflowed in the wealth of their lavish generosity.”

1. The Macedonians gave joyfully. In 2 Corinthians 9 we learn, "God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed." The grace of God is directly connected with giving. When we fail to see giving as a grace it becomes a burden instead of a blessing.   
2. They gave willingly. We don’t have to give, but we get to give! The believers in Macedonia "gave of their own accord." They weren't forced into giving and they didn't wait to be asked. They saw a need and responded voluntarily. They weren't drafted. They enlisted. We’re not forced to give. We have opportunities to give.
3. They gave eagerly. Read the full account and you'll see that it was the people, not the pastor begging them to support the saints who initiated the giving. They were eager to give because it was a privilege.  

We see that with their joyful, willing and eager giving, their giving became a CELEBRATION!

1. The next ‘C’ of giving is that our giving should be a COMPELLING force in our lives. In giving we grow. By giving we become a part of something together that is much bigger than what we could ever do alone. This is the remarkable irony about giving: You only keep what you give. By this I mean, at the end of your life, what will last? The love that you give, the influence you have, and the kingdom work that was done by your giving are some of your treasures that are stored in heaven. That is what remains, what you take into eternity - what you give away.

Our giving compels us to be bigger than ourselves. 

1. The Macedonians in 2 Corinthians gave supernaturally. They gave "beyond their ability" because their giving was empowered and enlarged by God.  The fact is, you don't have to possess large sums of money to be a large giver.  God's spirit makes it possible for you to give far beyond your natural ability. In fact, as you raise the standard of your giving, God will raise the standard of your living.
2. They gave unexpectedly. Paul implies his own reluctance to encourage the Macedonians to contribute since he knew of their desperate poverty but they gave in spite of their poverty. Giving supernaturally through God’s grace always has an element of the unexpected.

1. Our giving demonstrates our COMMITMENT.  In commitment, we see a mindset that results in an action. First you give your heart, then your hand. Commitment is what caused the Macedonian believers to be compelled to give and to do so with such celebration!

1. They gave sacrificially. Somehow, even in their sparse circumstances, they found a way to give. They weren't able to do much, but they gave all they could.
2. They gave personally. The Macedonians "first gave themselves to the Lord." They knew that God wanted their gifts, and their giving to others was preceded by their giving of themselves. When God owns us, He owns all we have, making it easy to give because it is all His.

Luke 6:38 says, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

I challenge you, make willing, generous giving a habit. Be like the Macedonian believers and give with the three C’s. Give with CELEBRATION as your own COMMITMENT causes you to be COMPELLED to live out your faith. When we do this, the vision of Motor City Church will be accomplished.