Follow Me Week 11
- Heritage Church
- Jul 14
- 3 min read
TRANSCRIPTION:
Believe it or not you only have two weeks left in your Follow Me Discipleship Journey. I want to take a moment today to celebrate you - YOU ARE DOING THIS! You are doing the hard work and the heart work and I know the Lord is doing some amazing things both in you and through you! If you’ve missed some days of study, that’s ok! Just pick up where you left off and keep going! Remember, following Jesus is all about progress and not perfection!
Now let’s dive into this week's topic in learning to love like Jesus: giving.
American evangelist, Billy Graham famously said, “God has given us two hands — one to receive with and the other to give with.”
It’s so simple and Profound. However, for most of us, it is anything but easy. Whether it’s money, time, or talent, giving often comes with a flood of emotions: anxiety, resistance, doubt — and yet sometimes, joy, peace, and purpose. Why does this one area of life pull so hard on both our minds and hearts?
Because giving isn’t just about generosity - it’s about trust! It’s a quiet but powerful act of worship that says, “God, I believe you are my provider, and I want to be part of what you’re doing.” Whether it’s a few minutes helping a neighbor, using your skills to serve others, or faithfully giving of the Lord’s tithe and your offerings, each act of giving invites us into deeper partnership with God’s kingdom work!
This week we will be exploring what Scripture says about giving - not out of pressure, but out of purpose! Not focusing on what we give or how much we give, but on HOW we give and WHY we give and take time to reflect on the heart of our generous God.
So let’s start by answering this key question: Does giving matter?
Scripture tells us it does—and not just in practical terms, but in ways that reach deep into our hearts. There’s something supernatural that happens when we give—not just money, but our time, our talent, and our treasure. This 18-inch journey from the head to the heart is where giving stops being a duty and becomes an act of worship.
From the beginning, giving has been about the heart, not just the offering. In Genesis 4 we read the account of two brothers, Cain & Abel. If you aren’t familiar with this story I encourage you to take time this week to read it in its entirety but for now I’m going to give you the abbreviate ChatGPT version -
Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam and Eve, both brought offerings to God. Cain, a farmer, offered some of his crops. Abel, a shepherd, offered the firstborn of his flock—the very best he had. God accepted Abel’s offering but rejected Cain’s. Angry and jealous, Cain lashed out and tragically killed his brother.
Here scripture shows us the difference between Cain’s reluctant “some” and Abel’s faithful “first.” God doesn’t just want something from us—He wants our best. The key difference wasn’t what they gave, but how they gave. Where Abel gave in faith and obedience; Cain gave out of routine. God desires not just our offerings, but our hearts behind them
It is from this same heart of generosity that we see the principle of the tithe—giving the first tenth—established throughout the Old Testament, which you can read more about in Leviticus 27:30 and Deuteronomy 14:22.
Fast forward to the New Testament and you will find that this old testament principle still stands! When Jesus came and gave His life for us on the Cross, He didn’t erase the tithe; He fulfilled the law and took giving deeper. No longer is it just about external obedience, but internal transformation. In Matthew 6, Jesus teaches that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” And Paul echoes this in 2 Corinthians 9:7 which says, God loves a cheerful giver, not one who gives out of guilt.
The New Testament call to give isn’t just about giving 10% of our income—but to surrender 100% of our hearts. Our tithe is no longer the finish line; it’s the starting line of radical generosity.
So—does giving matter?
Unequivocally Yes. It mattered to Abel. It mattered to Moses. It mattered to Jesus. And it should matter to us. Afterall, giving is not about losing something—it’s about aligning our lives with the generous heart of God, who gave everything for us.
LINK TO KIDS CHAPTER WEEK 11
LINK TO WEEK 11
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