Is God Angry that I Don’t Give?

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One of my favorites songs that we regularly sing at Vintage Church is This is a Amazing Grace by Jeremy Riddle and Bethel Music. The song describes the greatness and awesomeness of God’s Grace.

God’s Grace is Amazing because:

  • It breaks the power of sin & darkness in our life
  • It is mighty and so much stronger than anything in the world
  • It is unfailing
  • It led Jesus to die in our place for our sin
  • It brings our chaos back into order
  • It shines brilliantly like the sun
  • It leaves us in awe and wonder

Everything that God’s grace has done is truly amazing when we begin to list it out and reflect. In Romans, Paul describes this grace as a gift that comes to us in overflowing abundance in that “where sin increases, His grace abounds all the more” to overcome every and all things (Romans 5:15-21).

Most likely when you think about God’s Grace it is in regards to simply your moral sin and salvation. But God’s Grace also amazingly empowers our giving:

  • God loves a cheerful giver
  • God loves the non-giver
  • God loves the lover of money
  • God loves the hoarder
  • God loves the greedy
  • God loves those strapped with enormous debt
  • God loves the materialistic one

Money Talks has been a game-changing series at Vintage in so many people’s lives. But undoubtedly, as we have walked through the principles, some people may have begun to feel guilty, convicted, or even beaten down by their lack of generosity, amount of debt, or financial chaos. This is exactly where God’s amazing grace steps in to those thoughts or worries and says “I love you even so and invite you to unlock joy in your life.”

Those who are generous givers need to maintain a healthy perspective on giving by keeping God’s grace central. The next step for those who are non-givers involves experiencing God’s Grace and to simply take a step of faith in response. Changing a lifestyle, re-prioritizing a budget, living within our means will call for planning and tough decisions but is a natural response to a God who has already so lavishly given so much for our life (1 Timothy 6:17). God simply wants you to get in the game.

Our giving is a reflexive response to the grace of God in our lives. It doesn’t come out of our altruism or philanthropy – it comes out of the transforming work of Christ in us. This is the action; our giving is the reaction. We give because He (Jesus) first gave to us. The greatest passage on giving in all Scripture ends not with ‘Congratulations for your generosity,’ but ‘Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!’ (2 Corinthians 9:15).1

God is great. His Grace is amazing. You have been invited to experience great joy through giving. Let’s do it!

1Randy Alcorn, The Treasure Principle: Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving (Colorado Springs: Multnomah Books, 2005), 31-32.