Forty years ago, Anna sat in the back row of her local church with her husband and two young children. The pastor spoke about a church building in Romania that desperately needed a new roof and invited the congregation to give what they could. When the offering bag reached Anna she looked into her purse. Inside was a twenty-pound note, the money she needed to feed her family for the month, and some loose change. She felt God prompting her to give the note, yet fear tugged at her heart. Still, she obeyed, quietly dropping the note into the bag without even telling her husband.
“Anna could barely eat, worried about
how they were going to manage.”
That afternoon, as the family sat down for lunch, Anna could barely eat, worried about how they were going to manage without the money she had given. Then, the sound of something dropping through the letterbox interrupted her thoughts. There was an envelope on the doormat and inside it there was not one, but five twenty-pound notes from an anonymous giver.
Imagine Anna’s joy and relief as she shared the miracle with her family. God had arranged a generous gift that would teach her about His provision, kindness, and the blessings of obedience.
Anna is my mum. I was only two at the time, but this story, and others like it, have shaped my faith. They taught me that God is real, trustworthy, and attentive to our needs. As an adult, I now have similar stories of my own that I pass down to my children.
Through experiences like these, I’ve learned that both giving and receiving are acts of faith that glorify God when done in obedience to His prompting. If you feel stirred to give but aren’t sure where to begin, here are three principles to guide you.
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Giving and receiving go hand in hand
In Acts 2, we read that the early believers shared everything they had. They were open about their needs and willing both to give and to receive. This kind of mutual care requires humility, vulnerability, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
We often emphasize the virtue of giving while overlooking the grace of receiving. Yet, when we accept help, we allow others to experience the joy of generosity and the work of God’s kingdom within them. Receiving requires trust and humility and God loves it when we present our needs to him and trust him to supply what we lack. Spirit filled gospel communities will always hold stories of radical generosity and faith filled dependence on God’s perfect provision and timing.
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Giving is relational
The best kind of giving flows out of relationship, not duty. Impersonal giving, without connection or understanding, can become mechanical or even be harmful. Ask God who He wants you to bless and how. It may involve giving your money, time, prayers or simply your friendship and presence. As Natalie Williams (CEO of Jubilee+) helpfully puts it, “Relationship gives you the capacity to find out what someone needs, not give what you assume they need.”
If you’re part of a church, look for ways to connect with other congregations locally or globally and build mutually beneficial relationships. Sharing resources and learning from one another creates kingdom growth.
Without relationship, even well-intentioned giving can do damage. For example, many churches donate large sums to overseas orphanages, believing they are helping. Yet, as Howard Taylor of Lumos explains, such generosity can unintentionally harm children. Studies show that children thrive best in family environments, not institutions. Taylor urges faith groups to support initiatives that strengthen families and transform care systems so every child can grow up in a safe, loving home. Linking with organisations like Care for Children can ensure that our giving is done with wisdom and compassion, partnering with efforts that bring lasting good.
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Giving requires faith and discernment
When Anna gave her twenty-pound note, it wasn’t out of pressure or guilt. She responded to a quiet, loving nudge from the Holy Spirit. Sacrificial giving should always be done with faith and discernment of God’s will, not out of a sense of obligation.
If you’re not sure what to give or how, talk to God and ask for his help. Listen for his whispers and prompts and act on them quickly and quietly. The Holy Spirit often asks us to give in ways that stretch our trust. When we obey, we become part of God’s story of provision, for ourselves and others. Each act of faith becomes a testimony that strengthens us and inspires those around us.
“Each act of faith becomes a testimony
that strengthens us and inspires those around us.”
Whether you have much or little, God invites you into a life of generosity and dependence on him. Life with God is always an adventure. Time and time again, I have learned that it is impossible to outgive God. He cares deeply for our physical as well as our spiritual needs and His plans are greater than anything we can imagine.
I pray that, like Anna, you will have so many stories to share of God’s kindness and generosity to you as you surrender all that you have into his loving hands.