Friday, October 20, 2023

I am so lucky to have multiple people in my family who love gift giving. I have my grandma Rosie, who buys so many Christmas presents they don’t fit under the tree, and my Grammie, whose wrapping is so beautiful, it’s an art form! My sister, Mary, writes lovely notes, my Dad brings fun desserts for us to try, and my Mom finds little surprises with sweet backstories.

Giving gifts is one way that God made people in his image. God loves to give us gifts—from the family we have, to the food we eat, to the beautiful October weather.

Matthew 7:11
So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

For most of us, though, it can be hard to give, especially when it comes to God. We use our money in this order: spend, save, and give if any is left over. Giving to God first feels trivial and risky at times. However, God also wants us to experience the joy of being obedient, generous, and totally trusting him with what we have.

God gave us his Son, Jesus, while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8) and didn’t deserve it. He has given us so many incredible blessings, demonstrating the first step of a new pattern: to give first, save second, and then spend our money.

Proverbs 11:24
Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

When we keep our money to ourselves, we miss out on a stronger trust in God and experiencing a deep and fulfilling relationship with him. However, when we choose to give first, our lives are enriched and refreshed. We become filled with God’s love and our trust in him will grow.

Just as the amazing gift givers in my family are motivated by love, God is driven by his love for us. He doesn’t test us or try to prove his goodness—he simply gives.

God invites us to do the same: Be generous, and watch your love for him and trust in him grow.

Questions:
What gifts has God given to you? What makes it hard to trust God with your finances? Are you willing to switch to give, save, and then spend?

Next Steps:
Take a moment to be grateful, and thank God for everything he has given you. Choose to give today. Humbly offer God the first portion of your money. If you already tithe regularly, try giving a little more.

Prayer:
Father, you are so generous! I am so grateful for everything you have given to me, but sometimes I struggle to give back to you. I want to love and trust you, but it feels intimidating, and even scary. Please, help me trust you with everything I have. I love you. Amen.

Series Theme Verse:

Matthew 6:33
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

This post was written by Lydia Snyder, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.