1 Chronicles 29:9  The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly. (NIV)

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Great leaders lead the way with generosity. 

Generosity is a matter of the heart more than it’s a matter of financial reserves. 

Godly leaders understand that God is the Giver of All Good Things, including whatever measure of wealth they happen to steward. 

Notice these particular leaders gave freely and wholeheartedly to God. No one had to wrench their silver and gold out of their hands. They gave extravagantly as they had been extravagantly blessed. They gave not to a project, but to God. 

Years ago, I was asked to speak at a church in Deep East Texas regarding a missions giving goal they had set. Every year, the church set a goal that was significant for a church their size, and every year they met that goal. They had done that for over a decade. 

They enjoyed meeting their goal. 

The pastor was concerned, however. He was concerned that the people were meeting a goal, but they weren’t earnestly seeking God about what they should give individually. Once the church met their goal, people stopped giving. 

My sermon in a sentence was that they were not to give to a goal, but to God. They were to seek God individually and as families regarding what he would have them give. They then would give that amount and see how much the church was able to raise for missions through the simple act of hearing and obeying God. 

The pastor called a few weeks later and said they had given significantly more than they had ever given before. 

Some people give haphazardly. Some people give out of guilt. Some people give so that others will think better of them. Some people give a set amount. Few people indeed take the time to seek God and ask Him what to give. 

How do you decide what to give? 

Three contiguous Bible verses ought to instruct us well regarding how to think about and execute strategic giving. Take a look at what the Apostle Paul said in 2nd Corinthians 9:6-8:

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Right there in the middle of that paragraph, it says not to give reluctantly or under compulsion. Don’t let anyone manipulate you into giving something God has not told you to give. Ask God what to give and give that. If that seems new and unusual to you, know that he’s more willing to talk to us about this than we are to ask. 

Notice also that when we seek God’s direction in our giving, he gives us what we need to be able to give to others. He empowers us not only to give well, but to earn well. Some people think it’s terrible that other people earn a lot of money. If those people follow God’s direction in giving, that means they’re giving more as they earn more. Maybe a reason we don’t earn more is that we are not trustworthy in how we manage what we already have. 

Our God is a generous God. We become more like Him when we live generously. We become more like Him when we give strategically and under His clear direction. 

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I will live and lead with generosity. 

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Our Father, you have blessed me with more than I could have ever imagined. Thank you for the privilege of managing your resources. Give us continuing clarity regarding how we should give. Our tithes are automatic. Our offerings above and beyond that are at your discretion. Show us the way we should go, for to you we lift up all of the resources you’ve entrusted to us. Take them and use them as you see fit. Thank you for your kindness to us and for involving us in your works of kindness to others. Amen.