When we think of giving resources, we mostly think of our money. But we often have many other resources we can give or allow others to use that will benefit the body of Christ, like our time, our possessions, our home, our talents…anything we have that God can use for His work and glory.

WHY GIVE?

There are many reasons to give of our resources:

Giving keeps us from being materialistic. Read 1 Timothy 6.17-19.

Giving strengthens our faith because it teaches us to rely on God, not ourselves and what we have. We can experience how God will provide all our needs.

Giving blesses us! Read Malachi 3.10. While this shouldn’t be a motivation for giving, it certainly is a benefit!

Giving makes me more like God. In the same way that God gave His Son on the cross for us, we can sacrificially give our resources for others.

Giving shows we love God more than anything else. Read 2 Corinthians 8.7-8.

Giving helps us recognize that God gave us all we have – we’re just stewards of it.

HOW DO I GIVE?

We are to give God the best and first part, not our “leftovers.” Read Proverbs 3.9-10.

We are to give willingly and cheerfully. Read 1 Corinthians 9.12 and 2 Corinthians 9.7.

We are to give sacrificially and what God has placed on our heart to give. Read 1 Corinthians 9.7 and 2 Corinthians 8.3-4. There are no rules about what we are supposed to give, so we each need to find out what God wants us to give.

Get your finances in order. There are many good resources to help you get out of debt and establish a budget, which are both necessary parts of being able to be generous in giving.

"Shop" for ministries and organizations to give to. In the same way that you spend time "dreaming" for new material goods, spend time looking at the many opportunities to give.

Read The Treasure Principle or Money, Possessions and Eternity by Randy Alcorn. Both will challenge your perspective on giving. The Treasure Principle is a mini-version of Money, Possessions, and Eternity