Giving In The Right Spirit

Q

My question is how do I know if my motives for giving tithes and offerings are pure? I want them to be, but it seems that whenever I give I can’t help thinking of Malachi and other places where it talks about the blessings of giving. I want God to bless me, but I don’t want that to be my only motive for giving. I usually just try to commend it to God and then forget about it, but the thoughts still creep in. Do you have any suggestions?

A

Knowing that God will return our generosity in giving with generosity in blessing is something we can’t avoid because it’s a promise He’s made to us (Luke 6:38). And when we see this promise being fulfilled time after time it’s impossible not to be aware of it. As long as we give out of a spirit of generosity and let the blessings come as they may there’s no problem.

But people who are not generous givers but need $1,000 and give someone $100 because they’ve been taught God will have to repay them tenfold are not giving out of a spirit of generosity. They’re giving out of a spirit of greed. God is not obligated to respond in such cases.