Back to ... Generosity The Gift God Values Mark 12:41–44 ; 2 Corinthians 8:5,9 The world measures value by amount. God measures value by sacrifice. “You need to ask whether your giving reflects genuine trust and devotion to God.” 3 Practical Reasons That Hinder Us From Giving 1. People don’t think they can give and meet their own needs. 2. People don’t know how to give. They haven't learned to make giving a spiritual priority. 3. People don’t plan to give. “Jesus spoke frequently and seriously about money because money reveals the condition of the heart.” God measures our giving not by the size of the gift, but by the sacrifice, faith, and love behind it. Matthew 6:21; Matthew 6:24 1. Jesus Sees What Others Overlook vss. 41–42 He knows what we have to give. The Lord knew the wealthy and the poor 2. Jesus Measures What Others Miscalculate vs. 43 He knows what we give. People saw the size of the gift. Jesus saw the sacrifice behind the gift. 3. Jesus Values What Others Cannot See vs.44 He cares about our giving. God measures generosity not merely by what we give, but by what our giving costs us. 4. Jesus Gave What We Could Never Give 2 Corinthians 8:9 The greatest gift ever given wasn't placed in a treasury—it was nailed to a cross. THIS WEEK, CONSIDER: My giving should be: ☐ Worshipful — I give because God is worthy. ☐ Sacrificial — I give beyond mere convenience. ☐ Faithful — I trust God with what He has entrusted to me. ☐ Planned — I intentionally make generosity a priority. ☐ Christ-centered — I give because Christ first gave Himself for me. PERSONAL RESPONSE What is God showing me about my relationship with money and giving? What is one step of faith I need to take? What does my giving reveal about my priorities? What does my giving reveal about my trust? What does my giving reveal about my love for God? REMEMBER: The value of a gift is not determined merely by what it costs in dollars, but by what it costs the giver. And the greatest gift ever given wasn't placed in a treasury—it was nailed to a cross.