Giving Is About Relationships Too

Leaven

Genesis 4:3-8 (NIV) ³ In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. ⁴ And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, ⁵ but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. ⁶ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? ⁷ If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

The Bible’s first story about giving is actually focused on Cain's relationship with God. God’s comments to Cain in verses 6&7 make it clear that Cain was God’s priority (not his offering). God doesn’t talk about how to make the offering acceptable. He speaks to Cain’s acceptability. Cain's impaired relationship with God also impacts his relationship with others. He kills Abel. Later, Cain expresses concern about his punishment, including that he would be “hidden from God’s presence.” God places His mark on Cain, so all who might harm Cain would understand that Cain (though he had grown distant from God's purposes) still belonged to God.

God seeks to use giving as a tool for the benefit of our relationship. It is a gift to us. How we respond impacts whether we grow closer or further away.

Think for a moment about how parents involve their children in gift giving at an early age. Typically, a young child lacks the inclination to give. They must be taught. They also lack the resources to give. The resources must be given. When a child gives a gift to Mom or Dad, the family does not gain financially from the child’s gift because the resources initially came from the family and are simply being returned to the family in another form. The goal isn’t the gift itself, but rather the lessons that the child learns. The lessons are about relationships. They are about love, honor, gratitude and respect. Teaching a child to express these emotions are a gift of training wheels. Initially when a child gives, they are responding to instruction and external prompting, but as they mature their responses can begin to reflect genuine internal emotion. They see Mom’s and Dad’s nurturing care, provision, protection, faithful presence and fellowship and endless giving of themselves. Parents hope that experiencing those things evoke a response of internal emotion and as the child gives genuine expression of that emotion it strengthens their relationships. On the surface it appears that the child is the giver, but in reality, the child is also a receiver.

Psalms 24:1 reminds us that the earth and everything in it is the Lord’s. God does not ask for our gifts that He might add to His wealth. First, He gives of His wealth to us. Then He creates opportunities for us to give back to Him. We give to Him of substance we have received. Initially, we give in response to instruction, but as our spiritual relationship matures, we give because we want to. As we mature, our understanding and appreciation of His wonder grows. We experience His forgiveness, His provision, His protection, His fellowship, His boundless grace, His love. As we give in response, we receive the greater gift, we grow closer.

Opportunity for Growth & Change

This week, meditate on a specific aspect of God's character and examine how your giving responds to what you have experienced of His nature. Prayerfully ask yourself whether your response seems appropriate. If change is needed, systematically implement change(s).