More Than Money

This message confronts one of the most uncomfortable topics in church life: giving. Yet it transforms our understanding from obligation to opportunity. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 9, we discover that giving is not a tax we owe but a joy we embrace. The passage reveals three transformative secrets: giving flows from joy rather than duty, from faithfulness rather than buying favor, and from the heart rather than the wallet. When we give generously, God enriches us not for personal indulgence but so we can give even more generously. The parable of the talents in Matthew 25 reminds us that God does not measure our giving by comparison to others but by our faithfulness with what He has entrusted to us. The widow's two coins meant more than the wealthy person's abundance because she gave everything. As we examine our credit card statements and bank accounts, we face a sobering truth from Matthew 6: where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. Our spending patterns reveal what we truly value. The challenge before us is not about meeting a percentage but about capturing the blessing of participating in God's work through generous, joyful giving.