WHY WE GIVE
Giving shows he is Lord of our lives.
First and foremost, God wants us to give because it shows that we recognize he is truly the Lord of our lives.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17, NIV)
Believers ought to give according to their income.
On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. (1 Corinthians 16:2, NIV)
We are blessed when we give.
... remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' (Acts 20:35, NIV)
God wants us to give because he knows we will be blessed when we give generously to him and to others. Giving is a paradoxical kingdom principle — it brings more blessing to the giver than to the recipient.
When we give freely to God, we receive freely from God.
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Luke 6:38, NIV)
One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. (Proverbs 11:24, NIV)
Believers should seek God and not a legalistic rule about how much to give.
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7, NIV)
Giving is meant to be a joyful expression of thanks to God from the heart, not a legalistic obligation.
The value of our offering is not determined by how much we give, but how we give.
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on." (Mark 12:41-44, NIV)