They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.
Acts 2:45 (NLT)
Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
Matthew 6:21 (NLT)
GIVING TO GOD WHAT’S ALREADY HIS
There are many people who call themselves Christians and attend Sunday worship services, yet their relationship with Jesus—and engagement with their church family—stops there. They don’t serve. They don’t give. I used to be one of them.
Yesterday, I shared that I had attended NorthStar Church for nearly five years before I began volunteering. Well, it was almost seven years before my wife and I began tithing (you’ll be glad to know this was before I joined the staff). Serving and giving of your time is one thing. But handing over your hard-earned money? That’s another level of investment—one that kept us from experiencing even more joy and more of God’s blessings early in our marriage.
The early church went to far greater lengths than simply tithing to care for their brothers and sisters—their community, their neighbors. They literally sold whatever was necessary, even their own possessions, to ensure that those less fortunate had food, clothing, and shelter. This was the purest expression of love and generosity.
If we don’t give at all, why not start by giving something? If we give a little, why not give more? Ultimately, it comes down to three reasons:
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We haven’t structured our financial lives in a way that allows us to give generously.
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We struggle with trust—we don’t fully believe God will provide for us if we give “X” amount.
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We think of “our money” as ours and fail to recognize that everything we have comes from the Lord.
If the desire of your heart is to “give back to the Lord what is already His,” let Him know—and then begin somewhere. Whether it’s $10 a week or $500, you’ll find yourself looking forward to the opportunity to invest in the mission of the Church: introducing people to Jesus, making disciples, and living SENT.
There’s no better investment you can make.
C.A. Phillips serves as Communications Pastor and Director of Men’s Groups at NorthStar Church. He is a graduate of the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, and he loves the Dawgs and the Atlanta Braves. He has two (grown) boys and lives in Kennesaw with his wife, Amy, and their German Shepherd, Abby.
