When Giving Hurts But Feels So Right

Jan 24, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Generosity as a Reflection of Real Love

Real love is not defined by words alone but by the willingness to give of oneself for the sake of others. When we look at the life of Jesus, we see the ultimate model of generosity because He gave up His very life for us. This kind of giving often goes against our human nature, which tells us to look out for ourselves first. However, when we allow God’s love to be the engine of our actions, generosity becomes a natural response rather than a transaction. It is through our practical actions and compassion that the world sees the truth of God’s love living within us. [19:36]

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion, how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other. Let us show the truth by our actions. (1 John 3:16-18 NLT)

Reflection: When you look at your current rhythms of giving, how much of it feels like a "transaction" versus a response to the love Jesus has shown you?

Day 2: Moving Beyond the Just in Case Mentality

It is natural to want to maintain control over our lives by planning for every possible "just in case" scenario. While being responsible and wise with resources is biblical, this mindset becomes dangerous when it begins to dictate our relationship with God. We often find ourselves bargaining with Him, holding back certain areas of our lives because we aren't sure if He is truly as good as He says. True faith is stretched when we stop holding onto control as a safety net and start trusting Him with the things we usually keep for ourselves. Retiring this mentality allows us to experience a deeper level of peace and reliance on His provision. [31:27]

The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers. (Psalm 37:21 NLT)

Reflection: Is there a specific "just in case" fear regarding your finances or your future that keeps you from being fully obedient to a nudge you’ve felt from God lately?

Day 3: Finding Joy in Sacrificial Giving

Generosity is not reserved for those who have an abundance of extra resources; rather, it is an overflow of what is happening inside the heart. Even in times of trouble or financial struggle, it is possible to experience a rich generosity that surprises the world. This was the case for the early believers in Macedonia, who gave far more than they could afford because they were filled with joy. When our giving is spurred by internal joy rather than external obligation, it becomes a life-giving act. We discover that we can be both joyful and sacrificial at the same time when we trust God’s heart. [23:16]

Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. (2 Corinthians 8:1-3 NLT)

Reflection: Think of a time when you gave something up for someone else and felt a strange sense of joy—what does that tell you about how God designed your heart to function?

Day 4: The Value of Sacrifice Over Surplus

There is a significant distinction between giving from our leftovers and giving from a place of true sacrifice. While many may give large amounts out of their surplus, God is often most moved by the one who gives everything they have, however small it may seem. A sacrificial gift requires us to count the cost and choose to trust God more than our bank accounts or schedules. This kind of generosity catches the attention of Heaven because it demonstrates a heart that is fully surrendered. When we move past giving only what is "extra," we enter into a deeper partnership with God’s work. [26:47]

While Jesus was in the temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” (Luke 21:1-4 NLT)

Reflection: If you were to move from giving out of your "surplus" to giving out of "sacrifice," what is one practical change you would need to make in your weekly budget or your daily schedule?

Day 5: Offering Our Time Talent and Treasure

Following the model of Jesus means that our generosity will eventually touch every part of our existence. It is not just about our money, but also about how we utilize our unique talents and how we spend our limited time. Each of these areas—time, talent, and treasure—is a gift from God intended to be used for the blessing of others. As we grow closer to Jesus, these acts of service and giving should become a more natural part of our daily lives. By inviting God to reveal where He wants us to step out, we can take concrete actions that reflect His character to the world. [20:03]

Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other. Let us show the truth by our actions. (1 John 3:18 NLT)

Reflection: Between your time, your talents, and your treasure, which one do you find most difficult to share with others, and what is one small step you can take this week to open that area up to God?

Sermon Summary

Have you ever given to something so much that it hurt? The talk unpacks that tension: generosity often asks people to move against a me-centered culture that values safety, control, and calculated gain. Using everyday examples—hobbies, sports teams, home projects—and a vivid Walmart story, the speaker shows how giving can sting in practical ways, yet still feel deeply right. The heart of the argument rests on Scripture: Jesus’ self-giving (1 John 3:16) reframes generosity as love incarnate, not a transaction. When love drives giving, it becomes an authentic reflection of Christ’s life rather than a checkbox or an act done for appearance.

Generosity is not cost-free. Following Jesus usually demands time, talent, and treasure; it requires counting the cost and then choosing to give anyway. The churches of Macedonia and the poor widow in Luke demonstrate that true giving combines joy and sacrifice—poverty did not silence their generosity because joy overflowed even amid testing. The talk warns against a “just in case” mentality that hoards resources to preserve control; such a posture prevents faith from being stretched and keeps joy from flourishing. Instead, a posture of trust invites God to reveal where to be generous, calls for practical action, and trusts God with the outcomes.

Practical counsel accompanies theology: allow Scripture to reshape motives, let love be the engine of generosity, and retire the habit of holding back “just in case.” The plea is to count the cost, pray for clarity about where God is calling generosity, and then act. The result is a life marked by sacrificial joy that points other people to God’s generous love. The closing prayer frames generosity as a response to divine initiative—God gave first, often without guarantee of return—so human generosity becomes imitation and testimony. The vision offered is not reckless impulsiveness but disciplined, joyous surrender that trusts God as provider and steward.

Key Takeaways

1. Generosity can hurt and heal Giving often requires surrendering comfort, plans, and convenience; that pain is not evidence of error but of movement toward others and toward Christlike love. The discomfort should be reframed as the thinning of self-centeredness and the tender work of forming trust in God’s goodness. When the sting accompanies obedience, it often signals spiritual growth rather than failure. [15:17]
2. Love, not obligation, fuels giving Genuine giving flows from a heart gripped by love, not from duty, guilt, or social performance. Scripture points to Jesus’ self-giving as the paradigm: when love becomes the motive, generosity loses its transactional shape and becomes relational. This change in motive preserves dignity, enlarges compassion, and aligns deeds with gospel truth. [18:03]
3. True generosity costs time, talent, treasure Following Christ’s example requires measurable sacrifice—availability, effort, and resources—because incarnational love takes concrete forms. Counting the cost is wise, but withholding out of fear (the “just in case” stance) impoverishes both faith and joy. Integrating sensible planning with courageous giving tests dependence on God rather than dependence on one’s own securities. [20:03]
4. Joy and sacrifice coexist in generosity The Macedonian church and the widow show that poverty and trial do not preclude exuberant giving; joy and sacrifice are twin marks of Gospel-driven generosity. Sacrifice without joy becomes obligation; joy without sacrifice becomes sentiment. True generosity arises when trust in God outweighs the need for self-preservation, producing giving that costs much and blesses greatly. [23:16]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[11:30] - Have you given until it hurt?
[13:37] - Why generosity opposes culture
[15:17] - Walmart: a surprising kindness
[17:27] - Jesus’ ultimate model of giving
[20:03] - The cost: time, talent, treasure
[23:16] - Macedonia: joy and sacrifice
[25:58] - The widow’s sacrificial gift
[27:45] - Retiring the “just in case” mindset
[35:34] - Count the cost, then act
[41:10] - Prayer and closing encouragement

Sermon Clips

36s

#JoyfulSacrificialGiving

“``But we give to a lot of things. We give to organizations. We give to people. And there's a cost associated with giving. And sometimes you can give, and it hurts. Sometimes you can give to people, and it hurts. Sometimes you can give to organizations, and it hurts. And so I wanna unpack that just a little bit. Why does generosity hurt sometimes? Why does giving hurt us sometimes? Well, I think really at our core, generosity goes against our human nature, and it goes against what the world tells us to do.”

32s

“It it really goes against this idea of of how we are built and what our world is designed, doesn't it? I mean, our world is really designed to say, you know what? It's all about you, and I gotta look out for number one, and I gotta look out for me, and I've gotta make sure that I'm taking care of what I need to take care of. And we we find ourselves kind of wrapped up in materialism, and I got to have the right thing. Why? Because I got to keep up with the Joneses, and I've got to do all of these things, and and we find ourselves not wanting to give because it is about us.”

21s

“And culture is constantly asking us these questions even when we do give. Well, what's in it for me? Man, what am I gonna get out of it if I give? Man, if I give my blood, sweat, and tears or something, I better get something out of it. And we are constantly faced with these type of questions and these type of moments that come at us when it comes to generosity.”

19s

“Well, I think Jesus told us exactly why. Jesus said this, that it is better to give than it is to receive. So at our very core, when we're fighting against our flesh, when it comes to our spirit, God has designed us to give, and that when you give, it is actually better to do that than it is to receive.”

34s

“Can I tell you that if you're here today and you would say, you know what? I'm following Jesus or I'm going to follow Jesus, and I wanna live out the life that Jesus lived, and I wanna model generosity the way that Jesus modeled generosity. It's gonna cost you three things at some point in your life. It's gonna cost you your time. It's gonna cost you your talents, and it's gonna cost you your treasure. If if you wanna follow Jesus when it comes to the model of generosity, it's gonna cost you time. It's gonna cost you energy or talent, and it's gonna cost you treasure.”

42s

“That it's about what's inside of you, and and then that is where the generosity comes from. We know what real love is because Jesus gave. And so when we allow scripture to penetrate into our heart and say, you know what? This is what real love is. Love is now the engine that is driving my generosity. When you allow love to be the engine that's driving your generosity, it's no longer transactional. It's no longer, well, I'm gonna give this, but I better get this. It's no longer, I'm gonna step here, I'm gonna I'm gonna I'm gonna receive this. No. It is us emulating Christ's love to other people, and it reflects your generosity is what reflects that love.”

36s

“So this rich generosity that that is overflowing out of their life is because of what was inside of them. It wasn't because of the obligation or the force to give. It was because I've got so much joy inside of my life that now it overflows with what? Enriched generosity. There's a couple of things I want us to look at in the scripture. Man, these people were very poor. They were being tested, and they were very poor. But something inside of them that said, you know what? Giving my heart right now, but it feels so right. That was spurred on from what was inside of their heart.”

23s

“Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. I tell you the truth, Jesus said, this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them, for they had given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything that she has. She's given everything that she has.”

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