Why is it sometimes so hard to give, even when we believe God is faithful? For many, the issue isn’t really money. It’s trust. We believe God will provide, but deep down, we still feel like we have to create our own security. Add financial pressures, rising costs, and sometimes a lack of financial wisdom, and generosity can feel complicated. In this conversation, we explore the things that hold people back from generosity and the three tensions we all face: needs versus wants, doubt versus faith, and remembering versus forgetting. Because the goal isn’t simply to get people to give more. The goal is to help people trust more—and discover the freedom, joy, and peace that come when we put God first with our finances.

 

HANGUPS ABOUT GIVING

Trust

• A struggle to trust that God will provide.
• A belief God is faithful in theory but still feeling like we have to create our own security.

Lack of Financial Education

• People may want to be generous but don’t know how to manage what they have.
• Prov. 17:16: “Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?”

Cost of Living / Real-Life Challenges

• Single parents/others face significant financial pressure.
• Can we help people move toward obedience/generosity without ignoring their reality?
• Generosity comes back to us in many forms – Proverbs 11:24-25
• Generosity protects us from loving money.

 

THREE TENSIONS

Needs vs. Wants

• Jesus promised to provide what we need, not everything we want.

Doubt vs. Faith

• Even people with incredible God moments experience doubt.
• Trust isn’t a straight line.

Remembering vs. Forgetting

• Our forgetter often works better than our rememberer.

• Keep a record of answered prayers, unexpected provision, and moments.

PRACTICAL STEPS

Teach Generosity

• Trusting God with our finances.
• Wise money management.
• Needs vs. wants.

Tie giving to vision.

• Help people understand not only how to give, but why.
• Tell stories

Make Giving Simple

• Online giving
• Church website
• Text-to-give
• QR code
• Giving stations

Clearly Identify Giving Buckets

• Tithes – operations.
• Kingdom Builders – missions and special projects.
• Other special initiatives

Start Early – Be intentional about teaching children and teenagers:

• What is money for?
• Why generosity matters.
• How to save/spend wisely.
• How trusting God changes our relationship with money.

Increase Financial Literacy – We want people to:

• Understand money and know how to manage it.
• Give wisely.
• Make generosity a natural part of life.

 

CLOSING THOUGHTS

• Francis Chan: “Worry implies we don’t fully trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what’s happening in our lives.”
• No amount of money will ease all our anxieties if we leave trusting God out of the equation.
• The goal isn’t simply to get people to give The goal is to help people trust more.