Reprinted from the Great Bend FCC Newsletter.
It is all about your heart … everything we have is a gift from God and in return we should respond with gratitude.
What is the most awkward gift giving experience you’ve ever had or seen? Maybe you or someone you know got busted re-gifting, or the gift wasn’t something the person wanted at all.
When it comes to giving gifts, the point is not the gift itself. The point is the heart of the giver.
In Genesis 4, we meet two brothers, Cain and Abel. Cain begrudgingly gave the leftovers from his harvest, but Abel gave the most valuable animals of his flock. Abel’s gift came from a love and desire to please God. Cain’s did not.
God gave Cain a chance to change his heart and warned him of the sin waiting to overcome him, but instead, Cain grew angry and allowed jealousy to consume him. Cain murdered Abel, which condemned him from God’s presence.
Giving is a heart issue. God doesn’t want us to give to Him so we can check off a task. He also doesn’t want us to give less than our best. God wants us to give from a faithful heart that desires to please Him. God doesn’t need our gift; He wants our hearts.
Think about:
- Are you giving to a local church? Why or why not?
- Are you or your church giving to the regional or wider church? Why or why not
- What is your motivation for giving?
- Do your reasons for giving reflect a heart that loves God? If yes, how so? If not, what needs to change?
Note: this article was edited from its original printing by Kansas Messenger Editorial Team.