The Right Heart in Giving

Walking in the Spirit vs. Walking in the Flesh

Galatians 5:16-17 - "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish."

Motives Matter More Than Actions

It is not what you do that matters to God but the motive, the reason you are doing it. There is nothing so special that a man can do that God cannot do without.

Every time you give, it is not the substance given that matters most to God but rather the heart from which the substance is given.

Instead of thinking of what will be gotten as a result of giving, we give because He gave too. We give for the advancement of His church.

God needs to see your seed as a product of faith worthy of acceptance before Him.

The Widow's Heart of Priority

Luke 21:1-4 - "And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, 'Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.'"

The widow thought God worthy to be given unto despite having every logical and understandable excuse not to give. She has a heart that prioritized God in spite of her lack.

2 Corinthians 9:7 - "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver."

Christianity's True Purpose

Thinking Christianity to be a tool for more comfortable earthly success and living is a mistake and error.

Everything we do on earth as Christians is to please and honour God.

Desire Precedes Capacity

Acceptable giving is characterized by a desire to do. Before capacity to do, you must have a desire to do. Many do not give because of the consciousness of their lack which never breeds the desire to give in the first instance.

2 Corinthians 8:10 - "And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago;"

If God can identify you as a verifiable and charitable giver, then He will make you a conduit for giving in the vicinity of need.

2 Corinthians 8:11 - "but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have."

If there is a genuine desire in your life, a season will come when the capacity to do will become a reality. Desire is a prayer and God is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we can do or think.

Ephesians 3:20 - "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,"

Following Christ's Example of Humility

Greatness should not be a motivation in serving God. Jesus embraced the pursuit of God and rejected the ambition for greatness.

Philippians 2:5-11 - "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

All correct interpretation of scriptures is in the light of Jesus.

We must lose our need of always proving who we are through demonstration of power to men.

God's Standard of Acceptance

2 Corinthians 8:12 - "For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have."

Conclusion

The right heart in giving is characterized by willing desire rather than reluctant obligation, by motives that seek to please God rather than impress men. And by faith that trusts Him with our sacrificial offerings regardless of our circumstances. Like the widow who gave her last two mites, God values the heart behind the gift more than the size of the contribution, and He transforms genuine desire into divine capacity when we approach giving as an opportunity to honour Him rather than a transaction for personal gain.