Called to give (part 2)

The biggest thing that holds God’s people back from giving is fear. But perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18). Often, we’re afraid of not having enough to give, falling short of what others need, or having to go without ourselves. Sometimes, we think we have enough, so we don’t trust God as the provider to be the one who provides.

ASK YOURSELF THIS: What scares me about being generous?

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus preached that we should not fear because God is generous, and we should be generous too (Matthew 6:25-34).

ASK YOURSELF THIS: Am I living with a scarcity mentality?

Paul says God promises provision (all you need) and abundance (leftovers to share) (2 Corinthians 9:8). But if you have a scarcity mentality, you’re holding too tightly to your past provisions. A life of generosity is marked by trusting in tomorrow’s provision and giving today away. This principle is one Jesus emphasised when He taught His disciples to pray (Matthew 6:11). He reminded them to pray daily for daily bread. If you have enough for today, don’t worry; God will always provide for tomorrow. Trust Him with your today. The daily bread principle sometimes means we give away more than we can ‘afford,’ trusting God WILL provide for us tomorrow.

Warning: This doesn’t mean giving till we have an empty bank account, but it does mean having the freedom to do so, remembering that God gave all we have in the first place.

ASK YOURSELF THIS: Do I make time to make the right decisions when it comes to giving?

We need to spend the time contemplating our commitments to give BEFORE the ask comes because being unprepared can leave us feeling pressured or reluctant to give just because we aren’t ready to decide. But that’s on us – be prepared! If we have an attitude of generosity, a decisive set of values based on our faith and core values, when the call comes or the opportunity to give presents itself, we’re ready and free to give in the moment.