__Earlier this year, I heard a message that had a profound impact on the way I look at my money. Paul David Tripp was one of many speakers at the Kingdom Advisors conference earlier this year. During his message, he spoke about Ephesians 4:29:__

*"Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need"* (ESV).

What makes this verse so profound is how the verse ends. Tripp explains that we would expect the verse to end with something like, "so that he may provide for himself and his family."

But that's not how it ends. Instead, the verse concludes with, *"so he may have something to share with anyone in need."*

Frankly, this is something I have never thought about. The thief, who has been transformed, is to use his resources to further God's mission. This has a major impact on how we are to view our resources as followers of Christ. As I pondered on this, it led me to meditate on three thoughts on how one of the natural results of transformation is generosity.

__1. Transformation leads to recovering and pursuing the image of God.__

In Genesis 1, we see that man was unique in comparison to all the other creatures. Namely, God made man in his own image. In essence, this gives us status that not even God's angels have. We alone bear the image of God, or the Imago Dei.

As we know, people do not perfectly reflect God's image because of sin. That is why Jesus came. He perfectly reflected the *Imago Dei*, offered himself as the perfect sacrifice, and offers eternal life to all who believe. Not only do we have eternal life in Christ, but we also become new creations in him (2 Corinthians 5:17). As new creations, we seek to recover and pursue God's original design, which is a greater reflection of the Imago Dei.

The *Imago Dei* gives us amazing insight into human nature. For example, because God creates, we also have an innate desire to create. Similarly, just as God cares for the world, we also seek to steward the resources of the world.

If we truly believe all people bear the *Imago Dei*, then it also affects how we relate to others. Namely, we desire for our fellow image-bearers to come into right relationship with their Creator, which leads to my next point.

__2. Pursuit and recovery of the image of God leads to joining the mission of God.__

After the fall of man, God did not stand by idly. He took immediate action by covering Adam and Eve with the skins of sacrificed animals. The rest of the Bible is the unfolding of God's plan to redeem his creation. We call this the mission of God, or *Missio Dei*.

God has always invited his people to participate in the *Missio Dei*. Some wrongly assume that God only cares for the people of Israel throughout the Old Testament. On the contrary, there are multiple references to caring for foreigners (Exodus 23:9), being a blessing to the nations (Genesis 12:1-3), and God's desire for praise from all peoples (Psalm 67).

Jesus continues to make known God's love for all peoples. Before his ascension into heaven, Jesus commands his disciples to go and make disciples within their city, their region, and the whole world (Acts 1:8). As people who have been transformed by the grace of God, we must consider how we are to use our resources to participate in the *Mission Dei*.

*As people who have been transformed by the grace of God, we must consider how we are to use our resources to participate in the Mission Dei.*

__3. Joining the mission of God leads to generosity.__

The book of Acts is a personal favorite of mine. Throughout the book, we see numerous examples of self-sacrifice for the sake of the advancement of God's kingdom. This includes those who go as well as those who give generously to both the local church and to missionaries.

I acknowledge that not everyone will go overseas to become a missionary. However, that does not absolve us from participating in the Missio Dei. For those of us who stay, we must ask ourselves what we are to do with the resources entrusted to us by God.

Do we truly believe God deserves the glory from our fellow image-bearers all over the world? Do we truly believe they will spend eternity in hell, separated from their Creator, if they don't repent and believe in Jesus Christ? If so, we must do what is necessary to ensure our neighbors, our community, and our world has the opportunity to hear about what Jesus has done for them. This includes going to them, supporting our local church, and generously giving to those who go in our stead.

__Will you be generous?__

Generosity is a gift from God. It provides us with a way to participate in God's mission, even if we cannot go ourselves. And I get it, giving is hard. It's difficult to relinquish control of the resources we've earned. However, Scripture makes it clear that these resources are not our own. They belong to our King. Therefore, we must ask ourselves what our King wants us to do with them.

Will you use your home to host your neighbors? Will you give abundantly to your church? Will you give to a missionary so they can proclaim the gospel to the unreached?

__There are numerous ways to be generous. But remember, these resources are ultimately God's. Thus, my challenge to you is this: consider how God wants you to use his resources for the advancement of his kingdom.__

__[Image](https://www.christianmoneysolutions.com/post/transformation-that-leads-to-generosity)__ used with permission

You were meant for more. Your money was meant for more. You and your money are meant for an exciting, adventurous, and satisfying purpose. You were designed to live and give generously. And deep inside you know this and want this.

Christian Money Solutions

Generosity

There are numerous ways to be generous. But remember, these resources are ultimately God's to be used for his kingdom.

Transformation That Leads to Generosity

__Christians don’t like to agree on much, but I think we can all agree there are few things as hotly debated in churches as:__

- women’s role in the church and/or leadership
- tithing or giving financially to the church

And lucky me, I get to work as a woman in ministry __*and*__ in the world of biblical and financial stewardship. Call me a lover of opposition.

It’s no easy task trying to get people to understand the beauty of giving and generosity. Giving is an expression of worship, an invitation to partner with God in everything. It requires you to “place your bet” on the work of God over the physical comfort of predictability. Many of us have felt the discomfort of calculating the amount of money God has deemed his tithe and tried to do the math on how that would impact our wallet. There are times it may hurt, but it makes us face a powerful question: __*do we really trust God?*__

__Why is it so *hard* to give?__

Believe it or not, I don’t think the answer is greed or hard-heartedness. Stewardship and generosity just have not been taught well enough in churches today. Pastors tend to bend in one of two ways: they either turn to the message of generosity when there is a financial need in the church, or, they avoid the topic altogether.

Jesus spent a significant portion of his ministry bringing to the attention of his followers the pull of wealth and riches on the human heart. Here are just a few of his powerful one-liners:

- *'I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”* [Matthew 19:24](https://my.bible.com/bible/116/MAT.19.24)
- *'Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. '* [Matthew 6:21](https://my.bible.com/bible/116/MAT.6.21)
- *'The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. '* [Matthew 13:22](https://my.bible.com/bible/116/MAT.13.22)
- *'Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”* '[Luke 12:15](https://my.bible.com/bible/116/LUK.12.15)

__Money and wealth has the potential to bind up the human heart, just as the thorns in the parable of the sower choked out the plants as they grew.__

When pastors ignore this area of discipleship, it allows people to become complacent in this area of their lives. It’s easier than ever to be pulled away to chase after the materialistic things of this world. We are baited every day by thousands of ads curated just for us. Like the adulteress Solomon warns us of in Proverbs, __money and what it can buy__ is the ever-tempting threat that wants to drag us down into the pit of debt, depression, and shame. It’s ever lurking, and not only does it wreak havoc on our family and finances, but it devastates our relationship with God.

On the other end of the spectrum, pastors who only preach about giving and generosity when they are trying to raise funds through a capital campaign or other financial need become a deterrent to generosity. __There is so much mistrust in the church and how it spends funds, that giving is completely misunderstood as an obligation to the church rather than a sacred act of worship.__ People are so guarded and hesitant to give because their focus is outward, on where the money is going, rather than why they should give.

__There are a million reasons *not* to give, but what are the reasons *to* give?__

Giving financially to the church is a thorny subject that pokes a lot of hearts. People are quick to come up with a reason why giving is irrelevant, unnecessary, or corrupt. Have you ever taken time to think of reasons to give? Perhaps the Holy Spirit keeps bringing it up to you because he wants to do a work in your heart. __Undeniably, if you believe the Bible and the words of Jesus, the issues of money are an issue that is worked out in our hearts.__ Jesus didn’t ask the rich young ruler to change his behavior, because he had obeyed all of the commandments; he asked him to give everything because __*his heart was wrapped up in his wealth.* __Did Jesus ask him to give to the poor because it would help the poor, or was it because it would impact the man himself?

*'Jesus told him, “If __you__ want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and __you__ will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”* ‘ - [Matthew 19:21](https://my.bible.com/bible/116/MAT.19.21)* (emphasis added)*

__Giving isn’t about the gift; it’s about the giver.__

One day, we will all stand before the throne of God and give an account for our lives. God won’t ask you whether the gifts you gave to the church were well managed; he will ask you what __*you*__ did with the things you were entrusted with.  Our prayer for you is that you will learn to understand the depths of God’s heart for you as it relates to giving and generosity. God doesn’t want to take money from you, he wants your heart to be closer to his.

__For Further Reading__

[Five Ways Budgeting Makes your Life Easier, Not Harder](https://www.faithfi.com/christian-stewardship-network/5-ways-budgeting-makes-your-life-easier-not-harder-5888)
[Seven Reasons to Offer Estate Planning at your Church](https://www.faithfi.com/sound-mind-investing/seven-reasons-to-offer-estate-planning-at-your-church-5745)
[Unconventional Ways Churches Can Inspire Generosity ](https://www.faithfi.com/christian-stewardship-network/unconventional-ways-churches-can-inspire-generosity-5744)
[Biblical Financial Principles and 5 Practical Steps to Live by Them](https://www.faithfi.com/christian-stewardship-network/biblical-financial-principles-and-5-practical-steps-to-live-by-them-5661)
[The Importance of Financial Habits](https://www.faithfi.com/christian-stewardship-network/the-importance-of-financial-habits-5660)

. . .

*If you're a pastor or spiritual leader, consider joining our CSN community. We are a group of passionate Christ-followers with a burden to teach and equip God's people with God's financial principles so they can live purpose-filled and generous lives. [Sign up for our mailing list](https://mailchi.mp/christianstewardshipnetwork.com/signup) to get new content from CSN directly to your inbox!*

We teach church leaders the biblical perspective on finances.

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Blog

Christians don’t like to agree on much, but I think we can all agree there are a couple of more hotly debated topics.

Why is it So Hard to Give?

__Chances are, you want “the good life.” And even if you’re not quite sure how to define the good life, you know you’d like to experience it. After all, who wants to live “the bad life”?__

Google “the good life.” There we’re told, “Make lots of money, spend it on yourself, and you’ll be happy. Then you’ll be living the good life!”

That’s a lie. Yes, we all need food, clothes, and shelter. But once our basic needs are met, money often stops helping us and starts hurting us.

Throughout His ministry, Jesus told us that parting with money to help others actually brings us more joy than holding on to it for ourselves.

In other words, generosity is the good life.

Deep down, we all know we can spend every last cent on ourselves and still end up miserable. What Jesus calls us to do is far more radical and satisfying: love others by giving away our money and time. That sounds like loss, not gain, right? Yet in God’s economy, that’s exactly how we expand and enhance our own lives.

The Bible shows that anything we put in God’s hands is an investment in eternity. That doesn’t just mean that our giving will bring us good someday in Heaven. It will also bring us good here and now—while it does good for others. That’s why the good life is inseparable from generosity.

Living the good life is far better than you could ever imagine. And because of Jesus, it’s absolutely possible for you—regardless of your income—to experience it.

__Where Does the Good Life Begin?__

To understand what constitutes the good life, we need to grasp where life comes from and where it’s going.

God is the eternal source of life. He gave human beings *“the breath of life”* ([Genesis 2:7](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Gen%202.7)), and He designed the first people to experience communion with Himself, the living God. He walked with Adam and Eve as they enjoyed a life-giving and delightful relationship. Then they sinned, disobeying God’s one simple rule ([Genesis 3:8](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Gen%203.8)). While Adam and Eve’s physical death came gradually, the end of their life-giving spiritual relationship with God was immediate.

Jesus died, then rose from the grave, ensuring the ultimate death of sin and the defeat of death itself. His resurrection gives us life ([Romans 4:25](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Rom%204.25)). In fact, His resurrection is the basis for God moving us from death to life ([1 Corinthians 15:17](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Cor%2015.17)).

Jesus calls Himself life in these four passages:

- the bread of life ([John 6:48](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%206.48))
- the light of life ([John 8:12](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%208.12))
- the resurrection and the life ([John 11:25](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%2011.25))
- the way, and the truth, and the life ([John 14:6](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%2014.6))

Jesus is not just a signpost or a compass to life; He is life. He’s not merely a map leading to water or an X that marks the spot where treasure is buried. Rather, He is the wellspring. He is the treasure.

The first step to finding life is clear: we need to place our lives in Jesus’ hands. That’s where eternal life—the ultimate good life—begins.

__Once We Become Jesus‑Followers, How Do We Experience Abundant Life?__

Attempting to experience the abundant life Jesus spoke of while burying ourselves in material abundance isn’t just difficult; it’s impossible. While possessions may be neutral or even fun, it’s too easy to end up trusting our stuff instead of our Savior and suffocating under the accumulation.

If abundant stuff equaled the abundant life, wealthy unbelievers wouldn’t need Jesus. Materialism puts makeup on the corpse, but it’s still dead. Jesus redirects us from death disguised as life to true abundant life. He says He came into the world to give us *“a rich and satisfying life”* ([John 10:10](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%2010.10), nlt) or *“life to the full, till it overflows”* (amp).

*“Give, and it will be given to you,”* *Jesus said.* *“A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap”* ([Luke 6:38](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Luke%206.38), niv). The more we give in Christ’s name, the more His life flows into us. And the more life flows into us, the more that life flows out to others.

When will we take hold of that abundant life? Not after we die, but after we give! In fact, after each gift. While the treasures Jesus and Paul spoke of ([Matthew 6:19-21](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matt%206.19-21), [Philippians 3:7-11](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Phil%203.7-11), [Colossians 3:1-2](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Col%203.1-2)) await us in Heaven, attaining the true life happens here and now.

Our investments that result in treasures in Heaven have an expressly stated purpose: “so that” we can take hold of Jesus’ gift of abundant life. Of course, that’s not the only purpose. We give because we love God and people. But [1 Timothy 6:19](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Tim%206.19) also tells us to grab hold of the good life here and now. We don’t need to wonder how to do this. God directly tells us it’s by generous giving.

By giving generously of our money and possessions, we’re able to open our hands to receive the abundant life God has for us.

__How Can Giving Become an Adventure?__

While it’s wise to do most of our giving in a thoughtful, planned way, there’s certainly a place for spontaneous giving. But even unanticipated giving is not ultimately random if you believe in a sovereign God.

One afternoon, I left my credit card with the cashier while I ate pizza and told her to use it for whoever came in next. As I saw the stranger smile, this thought came to me: God has me here today, not for a random act of kindness, but to fulfill His ancient plan and purpose. He prepared in advance for me to buy lunch for this man at this place and time.

Okay, you might be thinking, I understand that giving to others can bring happiness and even a wonderful sense of adventure to my life. But is there really any benefit beyond that initial good feeling I get when I help someone?

Your role in God’s Kingdom is not only as a son or daughter of the King but also as an investor, an asset manager, and an eternal beneficiary. Your reward may include the privilege of being a ruler in that Kingdom—a king or queen serving under the King of kings ([Daniel 7:18](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Dan%207.18), [27](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Daniel%207.27); [Luke 19:17](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Luke%2019.17)).

Who would dare to think such a thing possible—that we creatures of dust can make choices in this life that result in eternal gain? Jesus said it: when we give to eternal causes the treasures we would otherwise lose, the heavenly treasures we gain will remain ours forever!

__What Are You Waiting For?__

*“Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom”* ([Psalm 90:12](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ps%2090.12)).

We simply cannot say yes to God’s promises of overflowing abundant life without simultaneously and consciously saying no to the false claims of the one whom Jesus called *“a liar and the father of lies”* ([John 8:44](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%208.44)). Giving helps us do exactly that.

Since Satan is a chronic liar and is bent on robbing us of the good life in Jesus, it’s likely that the moment you leave this page, you’ll be tempted to forget how God might have prompted you to respond. Jesus tells us to be generous and eager to share right now, in the present. If you wait until you have no doubts or worries, you’ll probably never take that next step. But if you do take that step by faith, you will find it exhilarating. Ultimately, giving is the healthiest and most joy-saturated addiction you’ll ever experience.

Don’t let the devil whisper rationalizations to keep you from a transformed life. Don’t let him convince you that it’s better to hold tight to what you have. And don’t let him tempt you to think, Sure, someday when I make a lot more money, then I’ll start giving. If you buy into that, it will simply never happen.

While our adversary argues that giving will rob us of the good life, Jesus tells us the truth: giving generates the good life. Now the only question is, whom will we believe?

Jesus makes it clear that the abundant life consists not in material abundance but in the life-giving spiritual abundance found only in Him. Eternal and abundant life begins in this world when we come to Jesus, the ultimate giver, and continues as we become more like Him.

__I assure you that once you experience the good life, the abundant life, the generous life, you will never want to settle for less. Life will never be the same—nor will you want it to be!__

*[Image](https://www.epm.org/static/cache/d7/5f/d75f741c65ab21c307db10b981608933.jpg) used with permission. *

Eternal Perspective Ministries, founded and directed by author Randy Alcorn, is focused on investing in what lasts for eternity, and helping others to do the same.

Eternal Perspective Ministries

Articles

Chances are, you want “the good life.” Even if you’re not quite sure how to define it, you know you’d like to have it.

Your Invitation to the Good Life—the Only Life Worth Living

__As a pastor, I love taking God’s Word and breaking it down for my church family. To take a biblical text, expound on it, and then provide modern application is one of the greatest blessings of ministry. While all Scripture is God-breathed and useful (2 Tim. 3:16), the four Gospels provide a treasure trove of Jesus’s teachings that are perfectly practical and relevant to daily living.__

The teachings of Jesus provide numerous real-life examples of living with generosity. But in an encounter (Luke 7:36-50) between Jesus, Simon the Pharisee, and a sinful woman, we learn that generosity involves more than finances.

Here are three lessons we can learn as we review the conversation between Jesus and Simon and the example of the sinful woman’s generosity.

__The pharisee’s generosity was limited by his heart condition__

When a visiting rabbi entered a village to teach, the common practice was for one of the influential synagogue members to invite the rabbi over for a post-service meal. Jesus reclined at the table, perhaps physically exhausted after teaching God’s Word in the synagogue. I’ve enjoyed the modern equivalent of this tradition many times, as the traditional meal for feeding a Baptist pastor always includes good fried chicken!

Simon extended hospitality to Jesus by inviting Him over for lunch. But, as verses 44-46 demonstrate, Simon failed to show true generosity to Jesus according to the customs of the day. His generosity had limits. He was willing to go through the formal motions of doing the right thing, but his heart clearly wasn’t in it.

How often do we grudgingly do the right thing? Whether we’re following processes at work that we don’t agree, or whether its our kids following the rules only because they have no other choice. Or what about when the offering plate is passed at church, and we know we have to give something, but our hearts are as tight as our wallets when we put the money in the plate?

The Pharisee’s generosity was limited by his heart condition. Though his culture required him to show a level of generosity to Jesus, his heart would not allow him to go the extra mile and give cheerfully. His hardheartedness was tragic, because the cheerful giver is one whom God loves to bless (2 Cor. 9:6-7).

__The woman’s generosity was evident in her worship__

Luke spared no hesitation in describing the woman as a sinner. She was an undesirable who would never have been welcome in the home of a well-respected Pharisee. Simon must have been mortified to find that kind of woman in his home. Worse than her presence were her actions. She took down her hair (a major social taboo), opened an expensive box of ointment, and openly anointed Jesus’s feet in front of the whole group. The ointment alone would have cost nearly a year’s wages for a day laborer. She never spoke, but her tears flowed as she poured out her heart in extravagant worship.

The Lord does not need the money in your wallet or purse. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10-12). As He told His people through Haggai the prophet, both the silver and the gold are His (Haggai 2:8). He does not call His people to give of their financial resources because He needs their money. Rather, He calls His people to obedience and to worship. How deserving is God of our worship? How much of our lives should He possess?

*He does not call His people to give of their financial resources because He needs their money. Rather, He calls His people to obedience and to worship.*

The woman’s worship overflowed with generosity. She never asked, “How much should I give to stay off God’s bad side?” Instead, there were no limits to her love for God and there were no limits to the extravagance of her worship.

__Jesus is generous with forgiveness to all who ask in faith__

When Simon the Pharisee questioned Jesus inwardly (Luke 7:39), Jesus read Simon’s thoughts and told him a parable. Two men faced a debt they could not pay. The lender forgave them both. Jesus’s question in v. 42 should have caused Simon instant conviction over his own sinfulness. While he was busy condemning the sinful woman (and silently questioning Jesus’s wisdom), he had failed the basic test of hospitality expected in 1st century Jewish culture. Who was the greater sinner, the woman who worshiped Jesus extravagantly, or the man who refused to show generosity in worship?

Jesus continued the exchange by openly forgiving the woman’s sins in front of the household. This bold assertion of deity got everyone’s attention, but for us, the ultimate lesson of generosity that Luke 7 provides centers on the generosity of God. For all who come to Him in humility and worship, seeking His mercy and forgiveness, He extends generous love and grace.

The most haunting sentence in the whole passage is found in verse 47. *He who is forgiven little, loves little.*

What about the reverse of that statement? If we love little, is that an indication that our hearts do not truly belong to God? In his later years, the apostle John emphasized the impact God’s love should have on a follower of Jesus.

He wrote:

*By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.* (1 John 3:16-17, ESV)

__May we learn from the sinful woman and worship Jesus generously, in word, deed, and truth. May we embrace the forgiveness He offers, worship Him extravagantly, and demonstrate godly generosity in every aspect of our lives!__

__*[Image](https://www.christianmoneysolutions.com/post/what-we-can-learn-from-the-sinful-woman-s-generosity)*__ used with permission

May we learn from the sinful woman and worship Jesus generously, in word, deed, and truth.

What We Can Learn from the Sinful Woman’s Generosity

Is it more important to give consistently — or in a way that pleases God? And can you do both? We’ll have answers to those questions today on Faith and Finance.  2 Corinthians 9:7:  “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” We’d like to thank our friends at Christian Stewardship Network for a terrific article on this topic titled “<a href="https://www.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/blog/2021/7/7/giving-that-god-accepts">Giving that God Accepts</a>.” As Christians, we should be committed to doing things the right way. But our fallen, sinful nature often leads us astray. Not in trying to be righteous, but more often in the reason why we try to act in a righteous way. If we’re doing it to prove ourselves to God, we go astray. And it’s in giving that our attempts at righteousness perhaps most often miss their mark.  Giving is tangible. It provides proof, to us at least,that we’re doing the right thing. Other righteous acts, like prayer and worship, are less concrete.  WHAT SORT OF GIVING DOES GOD ACCEPT?  We can look to King David for an example of a generous giver. David likely gave billions of dollars worth of treasure to build the temple in Jerusalem. But it wasn’t the size of the construction budget that pleased God. It was the way that David gave to complete the massive project. No amount of giving can sway God one way or the other. He already owns 100% of anything we give back to His kingdom. He doesn’t need the money. What do you give to Someone who has everything? To quote David in Psalm 24:1, “The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.” God owns everything because He created everything. But He does want to have a relationship with us. God requires us to give a portion of what He gives us back to His Kingdom because He wants us to be a part of it. God made us in His image and He desires relationships, so He made us that way too. And that’s how we need to understand giving. David understood this and we’ll see in Psalm 51 how he acts properly. Let’s set the stage. The prophet Nathan had called out David for his adultery with Bathsheba and sending her husband Uriah off to die in battle to cover his sin. That takes place in 2 Samuel 11. Now, obviously, David sinned against Bathsheba and Uriah, but he understood that his sin was ultimately against God. Now to Psalm 51 and verse 16  where David reveals something about God that should direct us in how we give. He writes, “You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering.” If money could buy God’s forgiveness, David probably would have given everything, but he knew God wanted nothing material from him. David goes on to write, “The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.” That’s what God desires from us, a broken, repentant heart. And that’s what David gave Him. We must let that be the basis of all we do, including giving.  On today’s program, Rob also answers listener questions:   - When you start withdrawing money from retirement accounts, which accounts should you withdraw from first? -How can you find out if a relative who passed away had a life insurance policy? -How do you determine how best to help a parent with their finances? -What factors should you weigh in determining the best way to leave your assets behind for your adult children?  RESOURCES MENTIONED:  -  <a href="https://www.irs.gov/">IRS.gov</a>-  <a href="https://www.faithfi.com/find">Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor</a>-  <a href="http://naic.org">National Association of Insurance Commissioners</a>-  <a href="https://www.missingmoney.com/">MissingMoney.com</a> Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Also, visit our website at <a href="https://www.faithfi.com/">FaithFi.com</a> where you can join the FaithFi Community, <a href="https://faithfi.netviewshop.com/donate2">and give </a>as we expand our outreach.

FaithFi

Faith & Finance is a daily radio ministry hosted by Rob West. The program offers a practical, biblical and good-natured approach to managing your time, talents and resources.

Faith & Finance with Rob West

Is it more important to give consistently — or in a way that pleases God? And can you do both? We’ll have answers to those questions today on Faith and Finance.

Acceptable Giving

As you get older and presumably wealthier new avenues open up for ways to give. Rob West shares some ways to make the most of your giving.

The Faith & Finance Minute is a great way to be reminded of God's financial principles with actionable items you can easily apply to your daily life.

Faith & Finance Minute

As you get older and presumably wealthier new avenues open up for ways to give. Rob West shares some ways to make the most of your giving.

Finding New Avenues for Giving

At the end of the year, many people do extra giving, sometimes trying to take advantage of tax deductions, and sometimes just because they’re trying “catch up” with giving they intended to do earlier. Whatever the immediate motive may be, giving — for the Christian — should have a deeper motive. Today we'll talk about that on MoneyWise. 
<ul><li>Every so often on our Monday programs, we circle back to “first principles,” to the foundational teachings of Christian stewardship that should guide our everyday lives.</li><li>We like to revisit the five basic things you can do with money. Here they are: You can earn it, live on it, give it away, owe it to someone or the government, or you can grow it for the future by saving and investing.</li><li>Those five are easy to remember: earn, live, give, owe, and grow.</li><li>In this program, we're focusing on giving money away. There’s a good deal of emphasis on giving at the end of the year. A lot of that is because of the tax deduction allowed for giving. People want to get their giving done so they claim a deduction on their 2022 taxes.</li><li>The deduction has changed since last year. For tax year 2021, you could deduct $300 in charitable giving — $600 if you were filing jointly as a married couple — even if you didn’t itemize. But that was a temporary deduction that does not apply for 2022.</li><li>To get a deduction for giving you do have to itemize. But with the standard deduction being being much higher than it used to be, only about 12% of taxpayers still itemize.</li><li>There’s nothing wrong with taking a charitable-giving deduction if you meet the requirements, but whether or not you get a tax break should not be the deciding factor in whether to give.</li><li>That’s because, for the Christian, giving is a matter of the heart. It is a sign, or a demonstration, of our love for the Lord.</li><li>Giving a gift to a friend or family member is a way of saying, “I love you, and I am so glad you’re in my life.” Money has value to us. We work hard for it. So when we use it to buy a gift for someone, we’re saying, “I treasure you more than money.</li><li>The same is true of giving to God’s work — whether through giving to a local church or a specialized ministry — we’re saying, “Lord, I treasure you more than money.</li><li>It certainly seems providential that here in the U.S., our coins and currency have on them the phrase, “In God We Trust.” Every time we see that, it would be appropriate to say, “Amen!</li><li>Our attitude as believers is that our trust is in God, and not in the money we have. When we give, we offer testimony that we really do trust him — we trust him to meet our needs, and we trust that his grace is sufficient for us in every situation.</li><li>In 1859, French tightrope walker Charles Blondin walked above Niagara Falls on a tightrope — 1,100 feet from end to end. He then did it again, blindfolded. After that, he asked the crowd, “Do you believe I can do it again?” They had already seen him do it more than once! So they called out approvingly, “Yes, we believe you can do it again!</li><li>At that point, Blondin asked for a volunteer to climb on his back and go across the Falls with him. As you probably can guess, no one in the crowd volunteered. No one believed in him that much.</li><li>Well, when we give generously, from the heart and with the right motives, it’s like saying, “Lord, I do trust you that much. I believe that although I am giving this money away, you’ll take care of me and meet all my needs.</li><li>As you do your year-end giving, remember these two things. First, giving is an affair of the heart — it’s about what we truly treasure, and second, it is a sign of our trust in the Lord.</li><li>As we give, we reflect the heart of God, who gave us his only Son — the One whose birth we just celebrated.</li></ul>On this program, Rob also answers listener questions: 
<ul><li>If you are age 66 and have a 401k through work and a Roth IRA through Betterment, what is the total amount you can contribute to these accounts?</li><li>Is a target retirement 2025 fund an appropriate allocation to be invested in if you are age 66 but not expecting to need the funds for nine more years?</li><li>Are there any faith-based financial and legal institutions?</li><li>How can your husband build up his credit score of 650 if he recently took out a personal loan to pay off credit card debt?</li></ul>RESOURCES MENTIONED:
<ul><li><a href="https://www.joinchristiancommunity.com/">Christian Community Credit Union</a></li><li><a href="https://www.christiancreditcounselors.org/">Christian Credit Counselors</a> </li></ul>Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000 or email them to <a href="mailto:Questions@MoneyWise.org">Questions@MoneyWise.org</a>. Also, visit our website at <a href="https://www.moneywise.org/">MoneyWise.org</a> where you can connect with a MoneyWise Coach, join the MoneyWise Community, and even download the free MoneyWise app.

At the end of the year, many people do extra giving. Whatever the immediate reason may be, giving — for the Christian — should have a deeper motive.

The Reason For Giving - Foundation Series

At the end of the year, many people do extra giving — sometimes trying to take advantage of tax deductions, and sometimes just because they’re trying “catch up” with giving they intended to do earlier. Whatever the immediate motive may be, giving, for the Christian, should have a DEEPER motive. I’ll talk about that just ahead. This is MoneyWise Live - biblical wisdom for your financial journey. 
<ul><li>From time to time on the program, we like to revisit the five basic things you can do with money. Here they are: You can earn it, live on it, give it away, owe it to someone or the government, or you can grow it for the future by saving and investing. Those five are easy to remember: earn, live, give, owe, and grow. On this episode, we're going to focus on giving money away. There’s a good deal of emphasis on giving at the end of the year. A lot of that is because of the tax deduction allowed for giving. People want to get their giving done so they claim a deduction on their 2022 taxes that they’ll be filing a few weeks or months from now.</li><li>You need to be aware that the DEDUCTION HAS CHANGED since last year. For tax year 2021, you could deduct $300 in charitable giving — $600 if you were filing jointly as a married couple even if you didn’t itemize. That was a temporary deduction that’s gone now and does not apply for 2022.</li><li>To get a deduction for giving you do HAVE TO ITEMIZE your deductions. Interesting fact - With the standard deduction being much higher than it used to be, relatively few (12%) taxpayers still itemize. That means that, for most folks, a tax deduction just doesn’t come into play when making giving decisions. </li><li>There’s nothing wrong with taking a charitable-giving deduction if you meet the requirements but whether or not you get a tax break should not be the deciding factor in WHETHER TO GIVE because, for the Christian, giving is a matter of the heart, a sign of our love for the Lord — much in the same way you probably just gave Christmas gifts to your dearest loved ones.</li><li>Giving a gift to a friend or family member is a way of saying, “I love you, and I am so glad you’re in my life.” Money has value to us; we work hard for it. So when we use it to buy a gift for someone, we’re saying, “I treasure you more than money.” The same is true of giving to God’s work — whether through giving to a local church or a specialized ministry — we’re saying, “Lord, I treasure YOU more than money.”</li><li>It certainly seems providential that, here in the US, our coins and currency have on them the phrase, “In God We Trust.” Every time we see that, it would be appropriate to say, “Amen!” Our attitude as believers is that our trust is in God, and not in the money that we have. When we give, we offer testimony that we really do trust him — we trust him to meet our needs, and we trust that his grace is sufficient for us in every situation.</li><li>A true story - in 1859, French tightrope walker Charles Blondin walked 1,100 feet from end to end above Niagara Falls on a tightrope. He, then, did it again blindfolded. After that, he asked the crowd, “Do you believe I can do it again?” They had already seen him do it more than once! So they called out approvingly, “Yes, we believe you can do it again!” At that point, Blondin asked for a volunteer to climb on his back and go across the Falls with him. As you probably can guess, no one in the crowd volunteered. No one believed in him THAT much!</li><li>Well, when we give generously, from the heart and with the right motives, it’s like saying, “Lord, I DO trust you that much. I believe that although I am giving this money away, you’ll take care of me and meet all my needs.” So, as you do your year-end giving, remember these two things:</li><li>	Giving is an affair of the heart; it’s about what we truly treasure.</li><li>	It is a sign of our trust in the Lord.</li><li>One more thing to keep in mind: As we give, we REFLECT the heart of God, who gave us his only Son — the One whose birth we just celebrated. </li></ul>Next, Rob answers these questions at 800-525-7000 or via email at Questions@MoneyWiseLive.org:
<ul><li>Since the colleges and universities are the entities that contributed to high education costs, should it be incumbent on them to help settle the student loan debt problem?</li><li>If you recently bought an I Bond but have received no paperwork indicating they have your money, should you be concerned?</li><li>Should you invest in Bitcoin as an investment?</li><li>Is there a biblical idea of retirement?</li><li>due to a change in your employer you want to roll your 401(k) over to a traditional IRA with about $250,000, what should be the cost of this?</li><li>What are Donor Advised Funds?</li><li>If you're retired from military and, including your spouse, you're making about $300,000 per year, you own a rental property and a primary residence and you're about to sell the rental to partially fund building your dream house and you plan to sell your primary half-way into building but wonder if you should sell now, how can you decide?</li><li>If your heirs are part of the rapture, how do you pass your estate on to them since there might not be a death certificate?</li><li>If you're 70 and your husband, who managed your finances, passed away 3 years ago and you're admittedly not a financial expert, you have about $300,000 in Edward Jones that you don't use for income, what is the best thing to do with this as you go forward?</li><li>Are Charitable Gift Annuities a good way to give to a ministry?</li></ul>Be sure to check out the rest of MoneyWise.org to connect with a MoneyWise Coach or access our books and our many free helpful resources. You can also find us on Facebook (MoneyWise Media) and join the conversation. Thanks for your prayerful and financial support that helps keep MoneyWise on the air. And if you'd like to help, just click the Donate tab at the top of the page.

Listen to MoneyWise Live each weekday at 4pm EST on Moody Radio.

MoneyWise Live

At the end of the year, many people give extra sometimes trying to take advantage of tax deductions, and sometimes just because they’re trying “catch up” with giving they intended to do. Whatever the case, Christian giving should have a deeper motive.

What happens when you put CHM to the test with a shark bite and major medical bills? Lindsay Bruns discovered that Christian Healthcare Ministries was ready to step in during her time of need. Watch her story of faith and recovery and see how her CHM family rallied around her to assist through this traumatic experience.

Want to learn more about health cost sharing and CHM?

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Follow us: @iheartchm on all social media platforms!
Facebook: [https://hubs.ly/Q01cYkC20](https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0sxcDB2UUtjS3R5MDhtblRWbTdyX3NjejliUXxBQ3Jtc0ttU0Njcm5kRWhzMDY2T3RwWThEV281dUJSWEJYdVBxTGRZanRodG02U3JPM2hSMWoyZ2ZPenVLSHJMLWtLS2tQaml4WEs0eXE5S1ZQZElsblliSS1YSWFDYkJub2VIcWhNYU40UnA4cndTWlN5OTdiZw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fhubs.ly%2FQ01cYkC20&v=cv96A8bc-9I)
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We’re not insurance—we’re the better, biblical solution to taking care of your medical costs. Through our biblical community, brothers and sisters in Christ are here to meet the need of eligible medical bills while lifting you spiritually

Christian Healthcare Ministries

Videos

Watch her story of faith and recovery and see how others rallied around her to assist through this traumatic experience.

Surviving a shark attack - The Bruns family story

Watch David and Keelie Luttrell's inspiring testimony from the Celebration of Generosity 2023 event about God's faithfulness and insight into being more generous as a couple and believers in Jesus Christ.

We exist to spread the message of biblical generosity in order to grow generous givers especially among those entrusted with much.

Generous Giving

Leadership & Community

Watch David and Keelie's inspiring story of leaning into the decision to be radically generous in lieu of security.

David and Keelie Luttrell

In this special message, Michael casts a broad vision to inspire us on how to be a living sacrifice in life  & money. He uses the scripture from Romans 12 in this sermon at Southwest Bible Church.

The Ron Blue Institute seeks to be a thought leader with great influence committed to changing the way Christians think, act, and communicate about financial stewardship, empowering the church, and changing the world.

Ron Blue Institute

In this special message, Michael casts a broad vision to inspire us on how to be a living sacrifice in life  & money.

Living Sacrifices

Early in February, I visited First Baptist Church in Leesburg, Florida, where I spoke on the subject of my book *[The Treasure Principle](https://store.epm.org/the-treasure-principle-revised)*. As I mentioned when I shared [the Q&A I also did there](https://www.epm.org/blog/2023/Feb/22/qanda-first-baptist-leesburg), I absolutely loved being there at this church. I spent a lot of time with Pastor Cliff and his wife Suzy—such wonderful people, as are so many others I met.


![](https://cdn6.bigcommerce.com/s-2s3kbsk/products/349/images/463/TP_new__31500.1499881902.300.400.jpg?c=2)


Years ago, I often spoke about giving and making eternal investments, but it’s been a while since I shared a message on this subject. I do remember speaking at Saddleback Church the year *The Treasure Principle* came out, in 2001, which was 22 years ago. I looked a little different then!

But the message is as true now as it was then: *Anything we try to hang on to here will be lost. But anything we put into God’s hands will be ours for eternity.*

In Matthew 6, Jesus says there is only one safe place to invest, and that is in the Kingdom of God. He says, in essence, “You can't take it with you,” but he adds a life-changing corollary: “but you can send it on ahead.”

The currency of this world—its money, possessions, values, fashions, and whims—will be worthless at our death or at Christ's return, both of which are imminent. This “insider’s tip” should radically affect our investment strategy. To accumulate vast earthly treasures in the face of this knowledge is equivalent to stockpiling Confederate money in a Union economy.

Financial planners have a hard time convincing people to look down the road instead of just focusing on today, this week, or this year. “Don't think one year,” they'll tell you, “think thirty years from now.” Then they'll share ways to prepare for thirty years from now by budgeting, saving so much a month, contributing to an IRA, investing in this mutual fund or that real estate partnership.

But it's only slightly less short-sighted to think thirty years down the road than to think thirty days. The wise man does indeed think thirty years ahead, but far more—he thinks an eternity ahead. He thinks not just to his retirement years, not merely to the end of his earthly life, but far beyond. He plans for the day that he will stand before the Lord, and he prepares for the eternity that will follow.

The unbeliever’s vision is restricted to the horizons of this world. But we have the big picture. We know this life is the preface to the book, the tune-up to the concert. If we are wise investors, we will spend our lives buying up shares in the world to come.

Hope you enjoy [this message](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a79Lt9NYhyQ):

*[Image](https://www.epm.org/static/cache/9a/22/9a225fb0e2655791ea01ab9f5341fe56.jpg) used with permission. *

*[Image](https://cdn6.bigcommerce.com/s-2s3kbsk/products/349/images/463/TP_new__31500.1499881902.300.400.jpg?c=2) used with permission. *

Anything we try to hang on to here will be lost. But anything we put into God’s hands will be ours for eternity.

Transformation That Leads to Generosity

Sep 21, 2023

There are numerous ways to be generous. But remember, these resources are ultimately God's to be used for his kingdom.

Jon Matlock

Why is it So Hard to Give?

Sep 17, 2023

Christians don’t like to agree on much, but I think we can all agree there are a couple of more hotly debated topics.

Rachel Rupert

Your Invitation to the Good Life—the Only Life Worth Living

Sep 13, 2023

Chances are, you want “the good life.” Even if you’re not quite sure how to define it, you know you’d like to have it.

Randy Alcorn

What We Can Learn from the Sinful Woman’s Generosity

Sep 11, 2023

May we learn from the sinful woman and worship Jesus generously, in word, deed, and truth.

Matthew Collier

Acceptable Giving

Jul 6, 2023

Is it more important to give consistently — or in a way that pleases God? And can you do both? We’ll have answers to tho...

FaithFi: Faith & Finance

Finding New Avenues for Giving

Feb 21, 2023

As you get older and presumably wealthier new avenues open up for ways to give. Rob West shares some ways to make the mo...

FaithFi

The Reason For Giving - Foundation Series

Dec 26, 2022

At the end of the year, many people do extra giving. Whatever the immediate reason may be, giving — for the Christian — ...

FaithFi

The Reason For Giving - Foundation Series

Dec 26, 2022

At the end of the year, many people give extra sometimes trying to take advantage of tax deductions, and sometimes just ...

MoneyWise Live

Surviving a shark attack - The Bruns family story

Aug 7, 2023

Watch her story of faith and recovery and see how others rallied around her to assist through this traumatic experience.

Christian Healthcare Ministries

David and Keelie Luttrell

Jul 15, 2023

Watch David and Keelie's inspiring story of leaning into the decision to be radically generous in lieu of security.

Generous Giving

Living Sacrifices

May 29, 2023

In this special message, Michael casts a broad vision to inspire us on how to be a living sacrifice in life & money.

Michael Blue

Investments That Will Last Forever: A Message about The Treasure Principle

May 1, 2023

Anything we try to hang on to here will be lost. But anything we put into God’s hands will be ours for eternity.

Randy Alcorn