Why Giving Matters
On October 26th, the people of Donelson First will come together for something very special: Give Back Sunday. This annual moment is more than just another day on the calendar – it is an invitation for each of us to return to the Lord a gift over and above our regular tithe. It too is a opportunity to pause and remember that everything we have ultimately belongs to God, and that generosity is not just a command – it is a privilege.
Scripture makes this abundantly clear:
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.
Psalm 24:1.
We do not truly “own” anything; we are simply stewards of what God has entrusted to us. Every paycheck, every resource, every blessing flows from His hand. When we give, we are not losing something. No! Instead, we are aligning our hearts with the truth that God is the source of it all.
Do I Really Have to Tithe?
This is a question with which many Christians wrestle: “Do I have to tithe?”
The truth is, no - you do not have to tithe. God does not want you to give out of guilt, fear, or compulsion. As Paul reminds us:
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.
2 Corinthians 9:7
But here is the deeper reality: While you do not have to give, when you understand what Christ has given to you, why wouldn’t you want to?
Jesus gave everything - His comfort, His glory, His very life.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9)
Your giving is simply a reflection of His. You do not give because it is an obligation - you give because it is an opportunity to participate in the generosity of God.
Why Giving Matters
1. Giving Shifts Your Heart
Jesus taught in Matthew 6:
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:21
Money has a unique way of tying our hearts to what we value most. When we give, we are declaring that our trust is not in a bank account, but in the God who provides. Giving loosens the grip that materialism and worry can have on us and re-centers our hearts on eternal things.
- Giving Reflects God’s Character
God is, by nature, a Giver.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.
John 3:16
Every time we give, we mirror His heart. We become living demonstrations of His love. Our generosity is not just a financial act; it’s a spiritual witness. It tells the world that we believe in a generous God. - Giving Brings Eternal Impact
Jesus warned us not to build our lives around earthly treasures:
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.
Matthew 6:19-20
Every gift given in faith advances the mission of God’s kingdom. It fuels ministries, supports missionaries, feeds the hungry, spreads the gospel, and changes lives. Your giving may leave your hand, but it never leaves eternity. - Giving Brings Joy and Blessing
Paul quoted Jesus in the book of Acts:
It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Acts 20:35
We often think that joy comes from getting, but the gospel flips that upside down - real joy comes from giving. When we release what we have been holding onto, we experience the blessing of partnering with God in His work. Our faith grows, our perspective widens, and our hearts are filled with joy.
Give Back Sunday: A Call to Worship
So why do we set aside Give Back Sunday each year? Because generosity is not just about finances – it is about worship. It is about remembering that all we have comes from God. It is about training our hearts to trust Him more deeply. It is about choosing to invest in what will last forever.
On October 26th, rather than asking, “How much do I have to give?”
Instead, ask, “How much do I get to give back to the One who has given me everything?”
Imagine what God can do through a church family that gives not reluctantly, but cheerfully - not out of duty, but out of delight. Imagine the lives that can be touched, the ministries that can be strengthened, the hope that can spread, when we unite in generosity.
This October, as you prepare your heart for Give Back Sunday, remember: giving is not about checking a box or fulfilling a rule. It is about worship, discipleship, and trust. It’s about acknowledging that everything we are and everything we have belongs to Him.
Let’s come together as a church family, with open hands and joyful hearts, and give back to the Lord - not because we have to, but because we want to. After all,
God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7