The Bible teaches a lot about giving. Jesus said a lot about giving. There is no getting around that.
So, when people have reservations about churches asking for money, I guess I understand why. I mean if Jesus preached so much on giving, why does it seem like Christians are always trying to get? However, that is a much deeper topic and question for another day.
I want to focus on Jesus’ words to us.
Luke 12:15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
It’s simple Give v. Greed. And Jesus says opt for giving. Greed has you make stupid decisions, like building huge barns for all your wealth that you’ll die before even being able to use (Luke 12:13-15).
Sacrifice v. Store up for yourself, is the next choice. Are we willing to sacrifice what we want or maybe even need, or would we rather store up treasure for ourselves? Now, Jesus isn’t saying that saving is wrong. The point is, would we rather stack wealth than help someone in need? Because at the end of the day, the wealth here will be destroyed, but what we could store in Heaven by sacrificing here is insurmountable.
Luke 12:33 33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
At the end of the day, its a heart matter. Where is your heart? Is your heart in saving to help others, or to selfishly help yourself? Truth be told, even if you give all you have, and your heart is a mess, it doesn’t matter. Where your heart is, your treasures are. Where there isn’t love, there isn’t a point.
Ask God for a heart to give, then put your money where your heart is.
Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 1 Corinthians 13:3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it;but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.