Habits of a Thankful HeartSample

Generous Giving

A fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. (Philippians 4:18)

Sometimes we need a special reminder, a day of Thanksgiving, to prompt us to be generous. Thanksgiving is a time when many churches hold special collections for ministries or missions, and it’s also the time when food pantries collect a majority of their donations for the year. But Paul encourages us to be generous no matter what our circumstances or the time of year.

The Macedonians are poor; they themselves could use aid. But they give generously to support Paul. Why? They have learned to hold onto material goods loosely because their ultimate security is found in Christ. Their generosity is one of the things that most endears them to Paul because it is a sign of their love for the gospel. Paul is clear that it’s not the size of the Philippians’ gift that is important but the spirit with which they give. This is why Paul describes their gifts as “a fragrant offering . . . pleasing to God.” The Philippians give because they are passionate about spreading the gospel by funding Paul’s ministry. Their generosity reflects their priorities.

The Bible is full of examples of people who give seemingly big gifts but do it for the wrong reasons, such as to impress others, or even to impress God. While attention-seeking generosity may fool us, God sees the heart.

Reflect: Take time today to reassess your finances. Does your giving really reflect your gratitude to God?