December is a month of joyful celebration, but it’s also a demanding one full of financial stress. As consumers, we are burdened by holiday shopping and spending as we write our gift lists and plan our special family meals. For organizations, it’s the last attempt to meet budgets, so letters and e-newsletters clog our mailboxes with pleas to give and match gifts. For companies, it’s a hard look at finances and review for significant actions and possible cuts to be implemented in the coming year. The reality is there are limited funds as the year draws to a close and many are fighting for even a portion of what’s left.
Leilani shared her early Christmas surprise. She visited the local Circle K, where she worked for six years and met lots of people from all walks of life. Leilani chanced upon one of them outside of the store as she was leaving. Unfortunately, the woman is now homeless. Leilani didn’t hesitate to happily exchange greetings with her, even a hug. Then, the woman ran to her cart and pulled something out of her purse to hand to Leilani. It was $10 cash! Leilani heard the woman say, “It’s my Christmas gift to you—some gas money.” Although Leilani didn’t want to accept the gift, she thought that the woman wanted to be a blessing to her. She graciously accepted the generosity, making the woman very happy.
Are you a cheerful giver? The Apostle Paul said, “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Leilani’s story about the homeless woman, who gave $10 out of her need, clearly was a cheerful giver. She could have used that money for her personal needs; instead, she gave it as her Christmas gift to someone she considers a friend. Someone who didn’t think twice and blessed her with a hug, the human touch that no one had given her because of her circumstances.
In Luke 21, verses 1 to 4, we read, “Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, ‘Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.’”
Why are we always impressed and overwhelmed by the offerings of the rich? We would probably feel embarrassed to hand over and exchange our gift purchased on a limited budget while accepting someone’s extravagant one. Unlike us, though, Jesus does not care about gifts of abundance! He cares more about the heart of the giver.
Here’s another question for you: Are you a showy giver? “But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God’” (Acts 5:1-4).
Something special was happening to the believers at that time. Many who owned land and houses started selling their properties and were giving all the sales to the apostles to distribute among the fellowship. As a result, there was not a needy person among them.
Enter Ananias and Sapphira. They desired to do the same as the other rich believers, but they did not want to part with all their money from their sale. So, they pretended that they were offering all when they came forward to give. But the Holy Spirit revealed their lie and hypocrisy to Peter, who confronted them with it. And God punished them with death.
We might say that Ananias and Sapphira didn’t deserve a harsh punishment because they still gave. Yes, that is true. But they didn’t need to mislead people into believing that they were giving their all when they only gave some. “Was it not at [their] disposal?” Peter asked. There was no command to sell and give all. People gave out of the grace they received from the testimony of Jesus’s resurrection!
Why does God care about our heart posture in giving? Scripture is very clear that we decide in our hearts how much to give. This means that this is a serious matter of prayer because the offering is really to the Lord for His church and His work. It should not call attention to us, announcing the size of our gift, but should be a private matter between you and the Lord. Your offering should not be a matter of pride.
Jesus could have not said it better when He talked about the Parable of the Great Banquet. He said, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:12-14). It’s a reminder for us that generosity is not for show because we want man’s approval and recognition. Seek only the honor that comes from God.
With a few weeks left to close out the year, has the Lord spoken to you about giving and generosity? You may still have some money left over from your frenzied Christmas shopping. Perhaps it’s time for you to pray about what to do with what you have in your hands and realize that you can witness someone’s expression of joy receiving kindness from you. Or your offering may just help your little church meet its budget. Or your donation can help bring the Gospel to someone desperately in need of Jesus’s salvation.
Here's a thought: imagine yourself giving to Christ instead. He is willing to give everything, including His life, to you. Would it be worth it now for you to bless others knowing this?
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Luisa Collopy is an author, speaker and a women’s Bible study teacher. She also produces Mula sa Puso (From the Heart) in Tagalog (her heart language), released on FEBC Philippines stations. Luisa loves spending time with her family over meals and karaoke!