Why do you suppose God commands us to give? It’s not as though he needs our money. He could certainly accomplish whatever he wanted without our financial support. And there will always be others to give generously and make up for the lack of giving from the rest of us. But God wants us to be a part of it.
I noticed that the Bible sometimes uses the word “contribute” when talking about giving. I like the picture that paints of what our giving actually is. The dictionary defines contributing as: “giving to a common supply; funding; being an important factor in.”
I guess it’s like investing in a company that you expect to be successful and hoping for a positive return on your investment. The big difference, of course, is that investing in God’s Kingdom is a “sure thing”. The Bible guarantees us a God-sized rate of return. Some of that we may see here on earth, but the rest of it is being stored in heaven for us.
Let’s be sure we’re on board with God and not cheat ourselves out of the opportunity to be an important factor in what he’s got going on.
All the officials and all the people brought their contributions gladly, dropping them into the chest until it was full. (2 Chronicles 24:10 NIV)
…and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples. (Luke 8:3 NLT)
“Bring your full tithe to the Temple treasury so there will be ample provisions in my Temple. Test me in this and see if I don’t open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams. (Malachi 3:8-11 MSG)
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. (Matthew 6:19, 20 NLT)