When Faith Leads to Giving
September 6, 2026
Dr. Paul Cannings
The issue of obeying God in giving can be difficult for some people because their budgets are already strained. As a result, giving to God is no longer the focus; instead, the focus becomes what God can do for me or how God can bless me. Biblically, this mindset can create greater needs, increased stress, and unrealistic expectations of God—expectations that often do not produce the desired results.
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38, NIV)
The believers in Macedonia were experiencing extreme poverty. Yet, when they came to the realization of what God had done for them, they chose to give even out of their poverty. God blessed them for their obedience, not simply because of the amount they sacrificed.
“Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.” (2 Corinthians 8:2–4, NIV)
The same mindset is demonstrated by the widow in Mark 12:41–44. Her giving was not about the size of her gift but about her willingness to obey God and trust Him. Giving is not merely about sacrifice; it is about obedience—and obedience always requires faith and trust in God.
The depth of our obedience is often revealed by what we are willing to sacrifice in order to obey. This kind of obedience exposes the level of our faith. The Macedonians and the widow chose to obey the Word of God, and in doing so, they demonstrated their willingness to trust God with what they had.
Consider this illustration:
A church member was expecting to receive $300,000 from a family member’s will. The member told the pastor, “If I get the $300,000, I will give one-third to the church.”
The pastor responded, “How will you give one-third of that amount when you can’t give one-tenth of what you currently earn?”
The point is simple: It is not what we say we would do if we had much more; it is what we are doing with what God has already placed in our hands. (From Heartwarming Bible Illustrations, Copyright © 1998 by AMG International, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.)
God does not ask us to give because He needs what we have. He asks us to give as an expression of our faith, obedience, gratitude, and trust in Him. When we are faithful with what He has entrusted to us, we demonstrate that our confidence is in God—not in our resources.
“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:10–11, NIV)
Ultimately, biblical giving is a matter of the heart. God is not merely interested in what we give; He is concerned with the faith and obedience that motivate our giving. When we trust Him enough to obey His Word with what we have today, we demonstrate our confidence that He is able to provide for tomorrow.