Trust, Tithe, and True Generosity: Giving Back to God

Devotional

Day 1: God Owns Everything

Everything we have—our possessions, our bodies, our resources—belongs to God because He is the Creator and Owner of all things. Recognizing this truth changes our perspective on money and material goods, reminding us that we are stewards, not owners, and that every blessing we enjoy is ultimately a gift from Him. When we acknowledge God’s ownership, it becomes easier to hold our resources with open hands and to give back to Him with gratitude and trust. [43:41]

Deuteronomy 10:14 (ESV)
"Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it."

Reflection: What is one possession or resource you tend to view as “yours” rather than God’s? How might your attitude or actions change if you truly saw it as belonging to Him?

Day 2: God Provides and Cares for Us

God is not only the Owner of all things, but He is also our loving Provider who knows our needs and promises to care for us. He calls us to seek first His kingdom and righteousness, assuring us that when we do, He will supply all that we need—removing anxiety about tomorrow and inviting us to trust in His faithful provision. This perspective frees us from worry and allows us to live with confidence, knowing that our Father in heaven is attentive to every detail of our lives. [45:50]

Matthew 6:31-33 (ESV)
"Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Reflection: In what area of your life are you most tempted to worry about provision? What would it look like to seek God’s kingdom first in that area today?

Day 3: Generosity Leads to Blessing

When we give generously, exceeding what is required, we reflect the heart of our generous God and open ourselves to His blessings. The principle of sowing and reaping teaches that as we pour out, God pours in—though we do not give in order to get, we can expect that God will meet our needs and often bless us beyond what we can imagine. Generosity is not about the amount, but about the heart, and God delights in cheerful, abundant giving that trusts in His provision. [50:59]

Luke 6:38 (ESV)
"Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."

Reflection: Is there a specific way you can practice generosity today—perhaps by giving more than you planned or by blessing someone in need?

Day 4: Stewardship and Faithfulness

We are called to be faithful stewards of all that God entrusts to us, using our resources wisely and not hiding them away in fear. Like the servants in the parable of the talents, our view of God shapes how we handle what He gives us—seeing Him as a loving, caring Father leads us to invest and multiply His gifts, while fear leads to inaction. Faithful stewardship secures our place in God’s joy and prepares us to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” [53:42]

Matthew 25:14-21 (ESV)
"For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’"

Reflection: What is one resource, talent, or opportunity God has given you that you have been hesitant to use? How can you take a step of faith to steward it well this week?

Day 5: Trust and Tithe

Trusting God with our finances is a practical expression of our faith, and tithing—giving the first 10% of our income—is a tangible way to put that trust into action. When we tithe first, before paying bills or meeting other needs, we declare that God is our Provider and invite Him to work supernaturally in our lives. This act of obedience is not about legalism, but about grace and gratitude, and it often becomes the very place where we experience God’s faithfulness most powerfully. [01:03:48]

Malachi 3:10 (ESV)
"Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need."

Reflection: If you have never tithed before, what is one step you can take this week to begin trusting God with your finances—whether it’s starting to give, increasing your giving, or setting aside your tithe first?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered our hearts to focus on one thing: worshiping and praising Jesus with joy and gratitude. We began by remembering that God is the creator and owner of everything, and that our lives, our resources, and even the very breath we breathe are gifts from Him. This truth sets the foundation for how we approach the topic of money and giving. Our relationship with money is a reflection of our relationship with God, and the way we handle our finances reveals much about our trust in Him.

We explored the acronym REST as a guide for how to approach finances in a way that honors God. First, we must Recognize and Respond: recognize that God owns everything, gives good gifts, provides for us, cares for us, and is always faithful. Our response to His generosity should be gratitude, which naturally leads to giving back to Him. Next, we are called to Exceed and Expect—exceed the minimum in our giving, knowing that we serve a generous God, and expect that He will provide for our needs, not necessarily our wants. The principle of sowing and reaping reminds us that we cannot outgive God; as we pour out, He pours in.

Steward and Secure is the next step. We are not owners, but stewards of God’s resources, called to care for what He entrusts to us. When we steward well, we secure our place in His joy, hearing the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Finally, Trust and Tithe. Trust comes before tithing; we give not out of obligation, but out of faith and love. Tithing is a biblical principle—giving the first 10% of our income to God as an act of worship and trust. This is not about legalism, but about grace: the law says “I have to,” but grace says “I want to.”

The challenge is personal: “What can I give you, Lord?” The answer is not just about money, but about giving our whole selves—our all in all—because of all that Jesus has done for us. For some, this means starting the journey of tithing; for others, it means taking steps of greater generosity. Wherever we are, the invitation is to trust God more deeply, to let go of fear, and to experience His supernatural provision and faithfulness as we seek first His kingdom.

Key Takeaways

1. Recognizing God’s Ownership and Generosity Everything we have—our possessions, abilities, and opportunities—belongs to God, who created and sustains all things. When we truly recognize His ownership, it transforms our perspective on giving and frees us from the anxiety of scarcity. Gratitude becomes the natural response to His generosity, and our giving flows from a heart that acknowledges God as the ultimate provider. [43:02]
2. Giving as an Act of Trust, Not Obligation Tithing and generosity are not about fulfilling a religious duty, but about expressing trust in God’s character and promises. When we give the first and best to God, we declare that He is our source and that we rely on Him, not on our own resources. This act of faith opens the door to experiencing God’s provision in ways that defy human logic—what the world calls “divine math.” [62:59]
3. Stewardship: Living as Managers, Not Owners We are stewards, not owners, of what God has entrusted to us. The parable of the talents teaches us that our view of God shapes how we handle His resources—fear leads to hoarding, but trust leads to faithful investment. Stewardship is about using what we have for God’s purposes, knowing that our faithfulness in little prepares us for greater joy and responsibility in His kingdom. [53:42]
4. The Relationship Between Money and Faith How we handle money is a litmus test of our faith and trust in God. If we struggle to let go of finances, it often reveals deeper issues of trust that can affect other areas of our spiritual life. Surrendering our finances to God is not just about supporting ministry, but about growing in faith, breaking the power of fear, and aligning our hearts with God’s kingdom. [65:44]
5. Grace Raises the Standard of Generosity Under the law, tithing was a requirement; under grace, it becomes the starting point for joyful, sacrificial giving. Jesus calls us to a higher standard—not out of compulsion, but out of love and gratitude for His ultimate sacrifice. The question shifts from “How much do I have to give?” to “How much can I give to bless the Lord who has given me everything?” [71:29]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[04:48] - Call to Worship and Psalm 100
[05:39] - God’s Presence and Faithfulness
[15:28] - Hope in Jesus Through Trials
[37:26] - The Story of the Two Dollars
[38:18] - Money and Human Nature
[39:40] - The Love of Money vs. Ministry
[41:00] - Prayer for Clarity and Conviction
[42:19] - REST: Recognize and Respond
[43:02] - Five Truths About God and Finances
[48:59] - Responding with Gratitude
[49:34] - Exceed and Expect in Giving
[52:17] - Steward and Secure
[55:06] - Trust and Tithe
[58:06] - Testimony: Trusting God in Business
[60:09] - What is Tithing?
[62:12] - First Fruits and Divine Provision
[65:09] - Money as a Test of Faith
[66:44] - Practical Steps for Tithing
[69:31] - Where and How to Give
[70:20] - The Minimum and the Standard
[71:29] - Law vs. Grace in Giving
[72:21] - Wrestling with the Question: What Can I Give?
[73:29] - Encouragement to Trust God
[75:27] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
[77:42] - Fellowship and Discussion Prompt

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Deuteronomy 10:14 (ESV) — > Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it.

2. Matthew 6:31-33 (ESV)
> Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

3. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (ESV)
> The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Observation Questions

According to Deuteronomy 10:14, what belongs to God? How does this truth shape the way we view our possessions?
In Matthew 6:31-33, what does Jesus say about worry and God’s provision? What are we told to seek first?
The sermon introduced the acronym REST for handling finances. What does each letter stand for, and how does it guide our approach to money? [[42:19]]
In 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, what is the principle of sowing and reaping, and how does it relate to our giving?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says our relationship with money reflects our relationship with God. Why do you think the way we handle money reveals our trust in God? [[38:18]]
The “Steward and Secure” part of REST refers to the parable of the talents (Matthew 25). How does seeing ourselves as stewards, not owners, change our attitude toward what we have? [[53:42]]
The pastor said, “The law says I have to, but grace says I want to.” How does understanding grace change the motivation behind our giving? [[01:11:29]]
The sermon challenges us to “exceed and expect” in our giving. What does it mean to exceed the minimum, and what should we expect from God when we do? [[49:34]]

Application Questions

The sermon began by reminding us that everything we have is a gift from God. Is there something in your life (money, time, talents) that you have a hard time seeing as God’s, not yours? What would it look like to surrender that to Him this week? [[43:02]]
The pastor shared stories of people who trusted God with their finances and saw His provision. Have you ever experienced God’s provision in a way that surprised you? If not, what is one step you could take to trust Him more in this area? [[58:06]]
The principle of tithing is giving the first 10% to God. If you don’t currently tithe, what is one practical step you could take toward starting? If you already tithe, is there a way God might be calling you to grow in generosity? [[01:00:09]]
The sermon said, “We give not out of obligation, but out of faith and love.” When you give—whether money, time, or service—do you do it out of duty or out of gratitude? How can you shift your heart toward joyful giving this month? [[01:11:29]]
The “Steward and Secure” section talked about hearing “Well done, good and faithful servant.” What is one area of your life where you want to be a more faithful steward? What’s a small step you can take this week? [[54:27]]
The pastor challenged us to wrestle with the question, “What can I give you, Lord?” Take a moment to reflect: What is God asking you to give or surrender to Him right now? [[01:12:21]]
The sermon encouraged us to “let go of fear and experience God’s supernatural provision.” What fears hold you back from giving or trusting God with your resources? How can you bring those fears to God in prayer this week? [[01:13:29]]

Sermon Clips

Jesus was never promised to be an easy one. The fact remains that he is with us every step of the way. To our last breath, his presence is with us. His spirit indwells us. And that's a tremendous encouragement that just as Jesus overcame, that we are able to overcome. We need to look to Jesus. No matter what we go through, we have hope in him. [00:15:23] (38 seconds) #FaithOverFear

Simply said, you cannot out give God. He will return more to you in one way or another, more than you give to him. Just as a reminder though, we don't give to get, okay? Let's be clear. We don't give to get, but when we pour out, God pours in. That's what we can expect. [00:51:29] (26 seconds) #LetGoLetGod

So what is the next step? The next step is really for you to wrestle with the question, what can I give you, Lord? What can I give you, Lord? It's a personal question. But here's some clue. My everything. My all in all. My life. I give you. Because of all that you've done. [01:12:05] (26 seconds)

This is in order to encourage. To encourage you to really trust God in this area of your life. Because some of you, this is holding you back. And know that if the word of God is true, then he's going to take care of you. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness. And all these will be added unto you. That's the promise of God from Matthew 6.33. And that's a promise for everyone. [01:13:29] (35 seconds)

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