Giving That Matters
Christmas is twenty-one days away!
This season brings so much opportunity to give to others and make memories. There’s something special about Christmas that brings family and friends together to share love through gift-giving.
This tradition emulates Jesus!
We have Christmas because of the gift God gave us. This gift from Heaven keeps giving as people receive Him and have eternal life.
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
Christmas reminds us that Jesus is the indescribable gift that changes everything.
God gave a gift that matters! We can give gifts that matter too!
This goes beyond our special thoughts, planning, purchasing, and wrapping the presents we will give. These are great, but they’re limited to time and space.
Through Jesus, we can go further and connect to giving that matters, for eternity.
This is not hyperbole or emotional ploys. It’s the word of God! This giving is connected to our finances which empower the work of Jesus to move forward and reach people.
We must remember, that on the other end of our giving, people receive Jesus! Lives are changed for eternity.
This is how Jesus emphasized this truth.
“Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.”
Luke 16:9
Notice how Jesus linked the purpose of our finances to eternity! When we use our finances to benefit others, they will see Jesus, receive Him, and meet us in heaven. This is the obvious conclusion because the only way to heaven is through Jesus.
So, through our giving that benefits others, someone receives Jesus.
This is giving that matters!
Eternity is linked to our giving to expand the work of Jesus. The Apostle Paul said this in Philippians.
“As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this.”
Philippians 4:15
The Philippians gave finances that empowered Paul to preach and people were saved and churches were established. This is giving that matters!
So through the Christmas season, let’s give gifts to our family and friends that show our love and appreciation for them. Make memories. Strengthen the bond of those relationships. Take time for each other.
Let’s also step into giving that matters, for eternity!
So, this coming Sunday is Giving Sunday. It’s our chance to give toward our Heart for the House initiatives. This giving helps us make a difference at a faster pace in reaching people.
Our goal is to have one hundred percent participation from a heart of generosity.
Here’s my encouragement.
1st – Please ask God what you should give.
Take time for this. Bring Jesus into your giving because it’s spiritual and it’s linked to our hearts.
When we ask God we’re inviting Him into our act of worship, which ignites our faith. Whatever He’s leading you to do, go for it. That’s where faith is and that’s where the blessing is for others and for you.
Sumer and I have done this and our heart is set to give a certain amount.
God is with you!
2nd – Make a decision to serve God and for money to serve you.
This is big! We can’t serve God and money. We have to choose. When we serve God, money serves us.
We’re not led by fear, greed, selfishness, scarcity attitudes, and jealousy. We’re led by God who opens our hearts to be generous.
God loves a cheerful giver!
When we serve God over money, our hearts will be cheerful.
Over the years, I’ve noticed that people in the church who make the biggest complaints about money are the ones who have the issue with money. Every one of us has to decide who we will serve. God or money?
Giving is easy when we serve God. Understanding money is easy when we serve God. Having a generous heart is natural when we serve God.
3rd – Invest for eternity.
Our giving helps the message of Jesus reach people. On the other end of our giving, someone receives Jesus.
The reality of this is why it’s important to invest for eternity.
The gift God gave us through Jesus, stirs us to give financial gives for others to receive Him.
It’s that simple!
Giving that matters is spiritual! Giving that matters makes a difference! Giving that matters, eternity will tell the story.
I believe that this will be the best Christmas yet for you and your family. I’m also believing that it will be the best Heart for the House yet as we operate in giving that matters!
Can’t wait to see what God does through our collective generosity both now and in eternity!
God bless you and see you Sunday!
The best is yet to come,
PD
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