On First Giving Ourselves To The Lord

Many Christians regard their financial giving as little more than a goodwill gesture to God for the service He has rendered to us. They think that as long as they have given their “weakly” [weekly] offering to God, the rest is theirs to handle as they please.

Do you know the Christian life consists of more than just money or possessions? (Luke 12:15; 1 Timothy 6:17-19).

The Bible tells us that our Creator owns “the cattle on a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:10). “The world is Mine ….. and all its fullness” (Psalm 50:12). Everything comes from Him, and everything we have belongs to Him — including our very existence! (cf. Acts 17:25).

God has not only provided us with every material thing we need (Matthew 6:33), He also provides us with every spiritual benefit “in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).

Paul used the liberality of the Macedonian Christians as an illustration of what our giving should look like in the light of God’s generosity toward us. Financially speaking, the Macedonians were in “deep poverty,” but gave with “liberality” (2 Corinthians 8:2) — their liberality being contingent upon their first “giving themselves to the Lord” (2 Corinthians 8:5).

Beloved, God doesn’t need any financial aid from us — rather, He wants our whole being!

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets

Related Articles:

• Our Giving — Some New Testament Principles And Guidelines
• Twelve Kinds Of Givers
• Let's Be “Honeycomb Givers”
• Having A Heart For Those In Need
• “Crumbs Will Do”
• A Look At The Poor Widow