Author: Phil Bray | Posted August 26, 2024
Giving, Communion With God
What does it look like to live in the presence of God, practically speaking? What do you do when you are in God’s presence? What are the regular activities of such a life? How do I walk with God in an actual relationship? Give. This is not the only expression of communion with God, but it is certainly one of the foundational practices seen throughout the whole narrative of Scripture. As the Israelites began building the tabernacle in the wilderness it started with a Spirit empowered generosity. The Lord stirred their hearts with wonder, love, and gratitude from the experience of gracious salvation. That stirring produced an overflowing and seemingly endless stream of gold, silver, jewels, fabric, and other items to be used in the construction of the tabernacle (Ex 35:21-36:7). Their joy in giving was such that they had to be restrained from giving more.
David and the people of Israel exhibit this same kind of generosity when he prepares for the construction of the temple that Solomon would build (1 Chron 29:1-19). Devotion to God is made visible in sacrificial giving which serves to build up the dwelling place of the Most High. After the ascension of Christ and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost the disciples begin to “build the temple” of the Lord by making disciples of the nations (Eph 2:11-21). The theme of generosity and giving repeatedly surfaces in the summary of the church’s growth (Acts 2:41-47; 4:32-37). Giving reflects a devotion and love for God that exceeds a love for the stuff of this world.
Giving is an act of worship, for by giving to the building of God’s kingdom you sever the root of idolatrous greed growing out of your heart (Col 3:5). The temptation will always be to prioritize the acquisition of stuff in this life as the key to gaining or maintaining happiness, peace of mind, safety, security, or identity. Jesus commands us not to store up treasures on earth, treasures that can be destroyed or taken away. Rather we are to store up treasure in heaven, prizing Jesus as the source of all gladness, peace, and joy of heart. You cannot serve God and stuff. They are mutually exclusive gods, both promising joy and peace of mind. The one you serve and pursue is the one you trust (Matt 6:19-34). Putting your hope in the wealth and possessions of this world will lead only to continuous fear and anxiousness. Putting your hope in Christ will lead to peace and contentment of heart.
Give! Be generous with the resources God has placed into your hands. The stuff of this life is a tool by which we build the eschatological temple comprised of transformed lives. Do not horde or stingily give. Be a cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:7)! God loves a cheerful giver for such a person displays by his joyful generosity that he loves and treasures Jesus above all else. This stuff does not matter. Jesus is his everlasting treasure! Watch over your heart with all diligence and give generously, joyfully, and regularly.
David and the people of Israel exhibit this same kind of generosity when he prepares for the construction of the temple that Solomon would build (1 Chron 29:1-19). Devotion to God is made visible in sacrificial giving which serves to build up the dwelling place of the Most High. After the ascension of Christ and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost the disciples begin to “build the temple” of the Lord by making disciples of the nations (Eph 2:11-21). The theme of generosity and giving repeatedly surfaces in the summary of the church’s growth (Acts 2:41-47; 4:32-37). Giving reflects a devotion and love for God that exceeds a love for the stuff of this world.
Giving is an act of worship, for by giving to the building of God’s kingdom you sever the root of idolatrous greed growing out of your heart (Col 3:5). The temptation will always be to prioritize the acquisition of stuff in this life as the key to gaining or maintaining happiness, peace of mind, safety, security, or identity. Jesus commands us not to store up treasures on earth, treasures that can be destroyed or taken away. Rather we are to store up treasure in heaven, prizing Jesus as the source of all gladness, peace, and joy of heart. You cannot serve God and stuff. They are mutually exclusive gods, both promising joy and peace of mind. The one you serve and pursue is the one you trust (Matt 6:19-34). Putting your hope in the wealth and possessions of this world will lead only to continuous fear and anxiousness. Putting your hope in Christ will lead to peace and contentment of heart.
Give! Be generous with the resources God has placed into your hands. The stuff of this life is a tool by which we build the eschatological temple comprised of transformed lives. Do not horde or stingily give. Be a cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:7)! God loves a cheerful giver for such a person displays by his joyful generosity that he loves and treasures Jesus above all else. This stuff does not matter. Jesus is his everlasting treasure! Watch over your heart with all diligence and give generously, joyfully, and regularly.