Giving Back to God

As Christians, we are taught to give back to God; but according to James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

This verse is one of the last passages read out loud during our church service and it is one of my favorites. It reminds me that everything I have is from Him. We finish the passage by saying, “And to You, we ascribe glory, thanksgiving and worship”.

This passage may have led you to wonder, “why?”

Why do we need to give back to God? If all of our riches and blessings—anything we can give—are from God, why do we have to give them back to Him? Doesn’t anything we can give technically belong to Him already?

The purpose of giving back to God is to remind us that we have been blessed by Him, to show God that we are grateful for everything we have been given, to show Him that He is first in our lives, and so that God’s love can become tangible gifts on Earth.

However, there is an important caveat to our giving: The size of the gift doesn’t matter. What matters is the state of the heart from which it was given.

God’s motivation for blessing us is love. Remember John 3:16? “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Therefore, our gifts to God are measured by the love and willingness in our heart to give.

Do you feel forced or obligated to give back to God? Or do you give happily, willingly, and without reservation?

Giving only counts when you do so with the latter qualities.

Paul said it well in 1 Corinthians 13:3, “If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”

I encourage you to talk to God, take time to connect with Him, and to make sure that you are giving back to Him out of love, rather than obligation.

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