As a church leader, you desire that the congregation be recognized as a truly generous church. You desire the members of your church to be renowned for their open-handedness. This aspiration is driven by the understanding that this not only benefits the individuals themselves but also furthers the cause of God’s Kingdom within your community and across the globe.
So, what vital insights should your church know about generosity?
1. Generosity is anchored in identity.
Frequently, the choices we make are shaped by how we perceive ourselves. Consider a scenario where a 16-year-old cashier at your preferred grocery store suddenly redefines their role from a cashier to the store’s owner. This transformation would likely alter the teenager’s actions and decisions, likely conflicting with the actual owner’s intentions and objectives.
In the realm of finances, deviations from scriptural teachings often stem from misconceptions about our identity. Through Jesus’s Parable of the Three Servants (Matthew 25:14-30), we come to see our position in relation to money. God is the rightful owner, while we function as stewards or managers. As managers, our purpose is to execute God’s plans and purposes for the resources He has entrusted to us. Owners ask, “What do I want?” Managers ask, “What does the owner want?” The Scriptures reveal that we are entrusted with resources to exhibit generosity, utilizing money to advance God’s Kingdom. Your church needs to know that generosity is anchored in identity.
2. Generosity reflects trust.
The Bible underlines four foundational principles of generosity. Firstly, Proverbs 3:9 highlights the importance of making giving a priority. Second, Malachi 3:10 underscores the concept of proportional giving, aligning our generosity with the resources God has bestowed upon us. Thirdly, 2 Samuel 24:24 showcases sacrificial giving, demonstrating that true generosity might not always be comfortable. Lastly, 2 Corinthians 9:7 encourages cheerful giving, emphasizing that God values a joyful giver.
These principles aren’t provided by God to boost a heavenly financial portfolio. Instead, they pose the question, “Do you trust me?” These principles exist to foster a deeper trust in God. In 1 Kings 17:7-16, the story of Elijah and the widow illustrates God’s encouragement to trust in His provisions. God is doing the same thing with your congregation, encouraging them to trust in His provision and not their own self-sufficiency through the act of generosity. Your church needs to know that generosity reflects trust.
3. Generosity is a form of worship.
Do your congregants understand the essence of worship? If asked to define worship, many might limit their understanding to music and singing. However, as a church leader, you recognize that worship extends beyond vocal expressions.
Romans 12:1 urges us to present our lives as acts of worship. This includes our financial generosity. While many perceive the offering time as a brief interval between singing and a sermon, it’s vital for your church to recognize that giving constitutes an act of worship. Do your church members know that giving is an act of worship? When the give, do they see themselves as the woman in Luke 7:36-50 who lavishly poured out expensive perfume on Jesus’s feet while cleansing them with her tears and hair? Or do they see themselves as the person who just paid the light bill? Your church needs to know that generosity is a form of worship.
4. Gratitude propels generosity.
Throughout history, the generous nature of Christians has been a defining trait. This is not surprising. Generosity is fueled by gratitude. Once one realizes they are entitled to nothing, they become grateful for everything. Scripture teaches that we are all sinful and deserving of nothing but death (Romans 3:23). Yet, due to God’s boundless love, we receive everything (John 3:16). Out of this gratitude for an undeserved gift emerges lavish generosity.
This narrative echoes in the accounts of Zacchaeus, the woman who anointed Jesus’s feet, and the women supporting Jesus’s ministry in Luke 8:1-3. A lack of gratitude can signal a sense of entitlement to present and eternal blessings. A reluctance to give may indicate a failure to grasp the magnitude of God’s unmerited gift. Your church needs to know that gratitude propels generosity.
5. Generosity echoes into eternity.
God extends an invitation to financially participate in His mission—reaching every corner of the world with the gospel. Does He rely on our finances for His mission’s success? Absolutely not. This invitation isn’t about extracting from us; it’s about gifting to us. Picture a father inviting his young son to help repair a fence. Does the father require the child’s assistance? No, the invitation aims to strengthen their bond and nurture the child’s growth. Similarly, God’s invitation for financial participation is an opportunity to deepen our relationship with Him and allows us to be a part of something much bigger than ourselves.
Although God doesn’t depend on our contributions, He invites us to partake in His mission. When we respond to his invitation affirmatively by giving, we become part of transformative change that extends into eternity. Beyond utility bills, your church members’ contributions impact lives profoundly—restoring marriages, getting food to the hungry, and guiding individuals toward faith in Jesus. By participating in such life-altering experiences, they witness their generosity aligned with God’s work in ways beyond imagination. Your church needs to know the generosity echoes into eternity.
What should your church know about generosity? Your congregation needs to understand that generosity finds its roots in identity and trust. They need to recognize that generosity is an act of worship driven by gratitude. Most importantly, they must understand that generosity goes beyond immediate impact; it leaves an eternal legacy. Generosity transcends being a financial transaction; it’s a declaration of war against the darkness of our age. This is what your church needs to know about generosity.
Art Rainer is the founder of Christian Money Solutions. He writes and speaks widely about issues related to finance, wealth, and generosity. He is the author of The Money Challenge: 30 Days of Discovering God’s Design for You and Your Money. You can read and hear more from Art at ArtRainer.com.
