Have you ever given something—a gift, your time, even your energy—and walked away wondering, “Did that actually matter?”
You’re not alone. A friend once confided, “I want to give to something that matters—but sometimes I wonder if my giving even makes a dent.” It’s a fair question, especially in a world that always seems to demand more while offering less in return. Time feels short. Budgets feel tight. Energy is spread thin.
When you give in that kind of world, it can feel like subtraction.
Less for me. Less for my family. Less for our security, our fun, our future.
And yet—Jesus says something radically different. He tells His disciples, and us, that when we give *with Him*, we are not losing. We are entering into something deeper, more joyful, and eternally lasting.
A Strange Kind of Joy
Just hours before His crucifixion, Jesus sat with His disciples and told them the truth they didn’t want to hear: sorrow was coming. The kind that shakes you to the core. He said plainly, “You will weep and lament… you will be sorrowful.” (John 16:20)
But then—He says something almost unbelievable: “Your sorrow will turn into joy… and no one will take your joy from you.” (vv. 20, 22)
What kind of joy is that?
It’s not the kind that disappears when the bank account dips low or when life doesn’t go as planned. It’s the kind that’s born through pain, like a child entering the world through labor. It’s the joy that comes *after* the cross—the resurrection joy that nothing can steal.
When Giving Feels Like Labor
Giving—especially in a church setting—can sometimes feel like labor. It’s not always exciting. Sometimes it’s sacrificial. And if you’re not sure what your giving is accomplishing, it can feel more like a burden than a blessing.
That’s why so many people today hesitate. In a results-driven culture, we’re trained to ask, “What’s the return on investment?” We want to know our effort and dollars are making a real difference.
Let’s be honest: many people think of church giving like covering the light bill. Necessary, maybe—but not exactly life-changing.
But what if that’s not what Jesus sees?
What if, in God’s Kingdom, giving is more like planting a seed than paying a bill?
Jesus tells His disciples that something new is being born out of their sorrow. And He’s not just talking about feelings. He’s talking about *redemptive transformation*. Through His death—His greatest act of giving—joy bursts onto the scene. A joy no one can take away.
Giving as Participation in Resurrection
The early church didn’t give because they were pressured or guilted into it. They gave because they saw giving as a *response* to the outrageous generosity of God.
Is this how you see giving? I hope so. If not, consider this an invitation to reconsider your perspective in light of something more biblical.
As 2 Corinthians 8:9 reminds us: “Though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich.”
Every act of giving in the church is meant to echo that movement—God’s movement toward us. He gave. We receive. We give. Others receive.
It’s not just economic. It’s eternal.
The Greek words used in John 16 are telling. Jesus speaks of “sorrow” (λύπη – *lypē*) and “joy” (χαρά – *chara*) in contrast. But it’s not a simple trade-off—He’s describing a *pattern* of God’s work. Pain is not the end. In God’s hands, it becomes the raw material for new life.
And when we give—our time, our prayers, our money—we’re stepping into that pattern. We’re not losing. We’re joining Jesus in the work of healing, restoring, and transforming lives.
The Gospel in Our Backyard
At West County Lutheran, we’ve said that we are “a church that restores people to their God-given purpose so that the Gospel of Jesus impacts the greater St. Louis area for generations.”
That’s not fluff. That’s vision.
When you give here, you’re not just funding programs—you’re fueling healing. You’re equipping mentors. You’re supporting Christian counseling. You’re helping people discover who they are in Christ.
It’s not abstract. It’s personal.
Your giving becomes a part of someone’s breakthrough. A child’s first prayer. A hurting adult’s first step toward healing. A family rediscovering their faith together.
And along the way—here’s the surprise—you’ll find your own joy growing too.
Because generosity that flows from the Gospel always leads to *more* joy, not less.
One Step Forward
So what does this mean for you?
No matter where you are on the giving journey, Jesus invites you to take one step forward—not out of pressure, but out of promise.
– If you’ve never given before, start small. Pick an amount and give it with intention.
– If you give occasionally, make it consistent. Set a rhythm.
– If you give consistently, consider a stretch. What would a step toward tithing look like?
– If you already tithe, ask Jesus what joyful generosity might look like next.
None of these steps are about appeasing God. They’re about joining Him.
Because when we give in faith, we’re not just meeting a budget. We’re planting seeds of resurrection joy.
Becoming a Joy-Filled Church
Can you imagine a church where every gift—large or small—is seen as sacred?
Where each dollar funds not just activity, but *transformation*?
Where our community looks at our church and says, “If they were gone, we’d feel the loss deeply”?
That’s the kind of church I want to be part of.
That’s the kind of church Jesus is building.
And that’s the kind of joy no one can take away.
A Prayer to Begin the Journey:
Lord Jesus, You gave everything—even Your life—for our joy. Teach us to give not from guilt, but from gratitude. Help us trust that when we give, we join You in the work of healing, restoring, and renewing lives. May our giving be marked by resurrection joy, and may our hearts overflow with the kind of joy only You can give. Amen.
0 Comments