The fourth core value in our series is Generosity. So far, we have discussed Unity, Clarity, and Humility. You can read previous articles online at Webbweekly.com.

Of all the core values, generosity is probably the prickliest one for preachers to talk about. Why?

First, vocational ministers like me receive our income from the church. More often than not, when ministers teach about generosity, they talk about giving money to God through the church. That sure seems like a conflict of interest — and a potential area for scamming and abuse. I could say more on that topic, but this article isn’t about money-grubbing preachers; it’s about generosity.

Second, most men have a nerve that runs directly from their hip pocket to their heart. If a man has to reach into his pocket to remove his wallet, it results in sudden pain in his heart. I affectionately refer to it as the money nerve. Men are very serious about guarding their money nerve. I’ve heard plenty of them say, “I don’t go to church because all they ever talk about is money.” Again, I could say more on the topic, but…

Now that I’ve acknowledged two of the big challenges in teaching on generosity let me cut right to the chase — God doesn’t need your money.

Do you really think that the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe needs that moth-eaten five-dollar bill tucked securely in your moldy wallet? Seriously? Take a moment to think it through, and you’ll realize what a silly notion it is. Let me be absolutely clear on this:

GOD DOES NOT NEED YOUR MONEY.

God doesn’t need anything from you and me. He doesn’t need our time or our talents or our treasures. Why? Because He already owns all of it — and He can take it back any time He wants. The only reason you have it is because He has been generous with you. Jesus taught a parable on this topic in Luke 12:13-34. If your money nerve is aching while you read this article, then you need to look up that passage and read it several times. In case you don’t have the time or desire to do so, let me sum it up for you: If you think God needs your money, you are a fool. Why? Because it already belongs to Him.

Preachers, we don’t do God or His mission any favors when we make Him or His church out to be needy. If you’ve been doing that, please stop it.

The obvious question then is this: If God doesn’t need our stuff, then why does He call on us to be generous with Him and others?

First, God is a generous God, and when we are generous, we are being most like Him. If you are a child of God, then generosity will be in your DNA. If you struggle with generosity, then maybe you need to re-evaluate your relationship with God. You really need to take a few minutes and read that passage in Luke 12. If you struggle with generosity, then you are likely fooling yourself. It may be time to get down on your knees and have a heart-to-heart conversation with your heavenly Father. If you don’t get this right, your self-worship camouflaged as God-worship will be a grave mistake.

Listen to Jesus in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ God’s will for you is to be generous. If you’re not, then you’re not doing His will. You can do the math yourself.

Second, generosity protects our hearts from bondage to idolatry and greed. God’s greatest desire for us is freedom. It is why Jesus came. Galatians 5:1 says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Too many people think that life is about being a reservoir of blessings, that gathering stuff and money is the goal. Wrong. Thinking that way leads to bondage because everything you gather has to be protected and maintained. The weight of doing so results in heavy bondage. Remember Jacob Marley? He appears to Scrooge as a ghost bound in heavy chains — chains he forged during a life of greed. Three ghosts later, Scrooge got the message: generosity sets you free!

Life isn’t about being a reservoir; it’s about being a channel — a channel through which the blessings of God flow to others. Friends, God doesn’t give us more so we can have more. No, He gives us more so we can give more. We are not owners; we are stewards. If you don’t believe me, then listen to II Corinthians 9:11, “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us, your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” You can also read the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25:14-30. Ownership is a heavy burden you weren’t designed to carry; stewardship is freedom!

My friends, God has made us rich in love and forgiveness and mercy and grace and peace and hope — the greatest treasures of all! We have freely received all of these blessings — and God wants us to allow them to flow freely to others. Jesus said in Matthew 10:8, “Freely you have received; freely give.” If you want to be free, be generous in every way and on every occasion!

Third, generosity is our opportunity to express love to God. God’s love language is generosity — and when we are generous with Him and each other, He receives it as love. You say you love God. That’s good, but to demonstrate it, be generous. Amen.