The Motivation of Giving
2 Corinthians 8:9
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.
Every act of generosity finds its truest motivation in the cross. When Paul reminded the Corinthians why they give, he pointed straight to Jesus. Christ’s generosity was not about wealth but willingness. He left heaven’s glory for earth’s brokenness, taking on our poverty so that we could share in His riches. His life defines what it means to give. He did not give out of abundance but out of love. That love became the model and motivation for every believer who dares to live generously.
True giving always begins with grace and is sustained by gratitude. When we give to impress others, our motivation is pride. When we give to meet expectations, our motivation is pressure. But when we give because we have been transformed by grace, our motivation is love. The Macedonians understood this. They were not wealthy, but they were overwhelmed by the generosity of God in Christ. Their giving flowed from revelation, not regulation. They were not responding to a demand but to a divine example.
Our motivation matters because it shapes how we give and how we see what we give. If we believe generosity earns God’s favor, we will always give from exhaustion. But when we realize generosity is the fruit of already being favored, we give from joy. Giving is not about transaction but transformation. It shifts our focus from what we have to what we’ve been given. The generosity of Christ is the great equalizer, reminding us that we give because we’ve already received more than we could ever repay.
When Paul says that Jesus made us rich through His poverty, he isn’t talking about material wealth but spiritual inheritance. The richness of Christ is forgiveness, redemption, and eternal life. Every time we give, we echo His story. Generosity becomes worship because it mirrors the heart of God. We are never more like Jesus than when we give. When grace becomes the motivation, giving is no longer an obligation; it’s an overflow.
Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for showing me what true generosity looks like. You gave everything so that I could have life. Let Your love be the motivation behind my giving. Guard my heart from pride, fear, or pressure. Fill me with gratitude that overflows into generosity so that my life reflects Your grace. In Your name, amen.
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.
Every act of generosity finds its truest motivation in the cross. When Paul reminded the Corinthians why they give, he pointed straight to Jesus. Christ’s generosity was not about wealth but willingness. He left heaven’s glory for earth’s brokenness, taking on our poverty so that we could share in His riches. His life defines what it means to give. He did not give out of abundance but out of love. That love became the model and motivation for every believer who dares to live generously.
True giving always begins with grace and is sustained by gratitude. When we give to impress others, our motivation is pride. When we give to meet expectations, our motivation is pressure. But when we give because we have been transformed by grace, our motivation is love. The Macedonians understood this. They were not wealthy, but they were overwhelmed by the generosity of God in Christ. Their giving flowed from revelation, not regulation. They were not responding to a demand but to a divine example.
Our motivation matters because it shapes how we give and how we see what we give. If we believe generosity earns God’s favor, we will always give from exhaustion. But when we realize generosity is the fruit of already being favored, we give from joy. Giving is not about transaction but transformation. It shifts our focus from what we have to what we’ve been given. The generosity of Christ is the great equalizer, reminding us that we give because we’ve already received more than we could ever repay.
When Paul says that Jesus made us rich through His poverty, he isn’t talking about material wealth but spiritual inheritance. The richness of Christ is forgiveness, redemption, and eternal life. Every time we give, we echo His story. Generosity becomes worship because it mirrors the heart of God. We are never more like Jesus than when we give. When grace becomes the motivation, giving is no longer an obligation; it’s an overflow.
Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for showing me what true generosity looks like. You gave everything so that I could have life. Let Your love be the motivation behind my giving. Guard my heart from pride, fear, or pressure. Fill me with gratitude that overflows into generosity so that my life reflects Your grace. In Your name, amen.
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