If you’ve ever felt a twinge of discomfort or uneasiness when the offering plate came around to you in church, you’re not alone. Religion has subjected us to wrong teaching about money and financial generosity. The result is that we misinterpret and misunderstand any mention of giving or wealth from the pulpit, and we’re therefore afraid to give. However, not only is it okay, but it’s also biblically based.
Understanding financial giving in its proper context changes our whole perspective: it’s not about loss, but about living the way God lives. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). This becomes our foundation. God loves us so much that He willingly gave the most precious thing heaven had—His only Son. Thinking about this helps us stop gripping so tightly to what we think belongs to us and turns giving from pressure into a powerful expression of trust.
Fear is the real enemy we’re dealing with. Fear will always try to convince us that if we release something, we’ll never see it again. It comes from the devil and was the motivation behind the rich young ruler’s refusal to part with his great wealth and follow Jesus. It grieved him to think about putting anything first before his material possessions (Matthew 19:16-22; Mark 10:17-22).
This fear of giving is still prevalent today; sadly, many churches exploit this because not even the church leaders themselves understand giving under grace. Paul made it clear that our giving has purpose, and it always points outward to others. The right way to give is planned and intentional; gratitude and thanksgiving are the right motives behind it. “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come” (1 Corinthians 16:2). We’re to give out of what we have, not out of what we don’t have.
One of the biggest lies of the enemy is threatening people with curses if they don’t give ten percent every Sunday. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with tithing, but it’s an Old Testament concept. Never once did Paul mention tithing in the New Testament; he instead taught to give as an expression of gratitude for all the blessings we’ve received because of God’s extravagant generosity. “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7, NIV).
Paul also taught that working with our hands in an honest profession is one way we can help others less fortunate. Most people wouldn’t think that God blesses them with a paycheck so that they can give generously, but it’s in the Bible. “If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need” (Ephesians 4:28, NLT). This is why increase matters. When we see ourselves as channels and not owners, generosity becomes natural and consistent.
Sometimes the struggle isn’t financial, but emotional and rooted in what we’ve experienced before. We may have given in the past and not seen immediate results, so doubt tries to creep in quietly. We fight that fear by reminding ourselves that God isn’t mocked and He’s not a liar. Trusting that He’ll take good care of us when we care for others deepens our understanding of the power of grace-based giving.
