Faith and Giving

The essence of faith is clearly defined for us in Hebrews 11 where it says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see,” (NIV).

It seems somewhat odd that we can be sure about something which we can only hope for and yet are not able to see and touch. However, that is exactly what faith is. It is an intangible with tangible consequences. We may have difficulty nailing it down, but we know it when we see it being lived out.

There is a strong connection between faith and trust. These terms express our willingness to give ourselves to a deeply-held conviction in something or someone which we feel is worthy of our allegiance. For the Christ follower, this someone is the Lord God who has time and time again proven himself trustworthy to a sinful humankind which is willing to deposit their faith in Him.

As Moses speaks to the “stiff-necked people” of the Israelite nation, he asks them a question: “And Now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?” (NIV)  This same question is equally relevant today for those who seek to follow him in blind faith and complete dependence because of who He is.

A deeply-held faith conviction moves us to act in ways that sometimes do not seem to make sense in human terms. Giving to God’s work from the financial resources He gives us the intelligence and energy to earn is one of the most tangible expressions of Christ-honoring faith that is possible for the believer. Finite mental models that cause us to close our fists rather than live with an open-handed approach to life speak volumes of the level of faith we choose to make our own.

Living by faith in the One in whom we live and move and have our being is a choice. Giving to his eternal enterprises is a choice that is driven by our trust in the Provider of all good things in life. May our faith and trust in the Rock of our Salvation motivate us to make right decisions about how to live in obedience in this crucial area of our walk with Him.

1. What is the level of your faith tank?

2. How does your God-centered faith impact your life choices?

3. What needs to happen for you to see less and act more?