“It Is
More Blessed to Give Than to Receive”
When a congregation is transformed by the biblical message that “it is more
blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35), what does it look like? What
happens when we are guided by biblical generosity? What happens in our personal
lives when we view everything as HIS?
A few results of a “HIS” mentality look like this:
• We begin to understand that God owns it all, and we are his money managers.
• When “the light bulb comes on” it changes the way we live.
• We smile and our church has an atmosphere of joy.
• We are not fearful because we trust God.
• We are less often consumed by stress and worry.
• Ministries and attendance grow.
• We ask, “What could God do with this money?” not “What could I do with this
money?”
• We give in response to vision rather than from guilt or compulsion.
• We have a heart for giving that is reflected in time, talent, and resources,
not merely in our checkbooks.
• We give joyfully, not resentfully.
• We look for opportunities to give.
• We give above and beyond our capacity, not within our capacity.
• We give our lives as an offering instead of guarding our lives.
• We see giving first as an act of worship rather than an act of obligation.
• We focus on personal generosity instead of mere “tithing.”
• We understand that God is the one who moves hearts; we don’t need to
manipulate
people to fund the kingdom.
One great truth from this “HIS”
emphasis is that “My” must never again be attached to the noun “wealth.” It’s
NOT my wealth. This idea could really launch a revolution, don’t you
think?
From
Frazer UMC,