Cross or Calculator?

Deuteronomy 26:8-10

‘So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey; and now I bring the first-fruits of the soil that you, Lord, have given me.’

‘You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving.’ This well-known quote reminds us that giving is ultimately an expression of love. I imagine at some point we’ve all given reluctantly to something or someone we’d rather not! But when you’re in love it’s a joy to give. More than that, when you are head over heels in love you can’t help but give.

The Bible first and foremost sees giving as an act of worship: a response of love and gratitude to God’s stunning generosity. In Deuteronomy we see the people of Israel bringing their offerings and gifts to God. They would remind themselves of all that God had done and respond in worship by giving. The key words are AND NOW … In response to God’s provision, his signs and wonders, his mighty hand and his salvation, the people of Israel gladly offer up their first-fruits and offerings.

Their attitude on giving isn’t ‘if we have to,’ but rather ‘how can we not?’ Our giving should be an act of love.

I love what Tim Keller writes, ‘When you consider how much to give, don’t sit down with the calculator, sit down with the cross.’ When we comprehend the depths of God’s love for us, our response should be the giving of our lives and our resources as an offering of worship. As hard as it is to say, if we’re not giving … then we’re not worshipping.

Prayer – Lord thank you for your remarkable love for me. Open my eyes and heart to understand afresh the wonder of who you are. Teach me about worship and giving.