Magnifying God with My Life: Moving from Fear to Faithful Giving

Have you ever noticed how many times the Bible talks about fear? The reason we don’t need to fear is because we have a God in heaven who is in complete control and all-powerful and who loves us with a love that is unconditional. 

A. Trust God for your life rather than fear (Luke 12:32). 

Luke 12:32 is a verse about the nature of God. It’s about what kind of heart God has. In verse 32, Jesus gives us three reasons why we should “not be afraid.” The first reason is that as a “little flock,” God is our Shepherd, and we shall not want (Psalm 23). Secondly, God is our Father who knows and provides what we need. Finally, as King, God gladly gives us the kingdom. Not being afraid shows God that we treasure him as our Shepherd, our Father, and our King.

If the King is our Father, then we are heirs of His kingdom. Matthew 25:34 says that in the last day King Jesus will say, “Come, you who are blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” God does not begrudge his children coming into their inheritance. It is his good pleasure to give them the kingdom. 

B. Live simply for others and lay up for yourself treasure in Heaven rather than on earth (Luke 12:33).

Everything sounds great until verse 33. Here, Jesus tells me to sell what I have and give the proceeds to the poor. Was he being serious? Yes, he was. First, this message is a call to faith. He said, Don’t be afraid; sell and give. Trust in me to provide for you. Remember the first disciples didn’t have money tied up in stock portfolios and real estate. If they did, Jesus would have said, “Take some of your savings and provide alms.” So, he said, “Sell your possessions and give."

There are an estimated 52,301 self-storage facilities in the United States as of 2024, which contain over 2.1 billion square feet of rentable storage space—far more storage spaces than any other country. What does that tell you about how much “stuff” we have? Hold a garage sale and give your proceeds to missions. Giving is the only effective antidote to materialism!

This is an invitation to accumulate real wealth that will never be lost. Investing temporary worldly wealth in the kingdom’s work is investing in heavenly treasure. God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving. Paul exhorts us in I Timothy 6:17-19: “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”       

C. Cherish God above all treasures, and your heart will follow (Luke 12:34).

The ultimate point is that where one's treasure is, there one's heart will be. Shifting our focus from earthly possessions to heavenly riches strengthens our relationship with God!