“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:19-24)

Let me say one word: Giving.

What do you think about?

We rarely think of giving as something that defines us—but Jesus does.

For him, giving is never just about money. It is a window into our hearts, a reflection of what we treasure, and a powerful indicator of who—or what—we truly trust. In Matthew 6, Jesus leads us beyond surface-level conversations and into something much deeper: a reorientation of our lives around eternity, grace, and wholehearted devotion to God.

This is not simply about how much we give, but about becoming people whose lives are marked by generous, joyful and sacrificial giving.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” (Matthew 6:19–20)

Living and Giving in Light of Eternity

One of the greatest dangers for us is to live with a purely this-life perspective—an 80–90-year plan that begins at birth and ends at death. When that is our framework, it is almost inevitable that our decisions around possessions and giving will be short-sighted.

But Jesus lifts our eyes to eternity. He invites us to see the vastness and significance of life with him forever—and to recognise that the greatest joy is not just our own future with Christ, but seeing as many people as possible share in it.

When eternity shapes our thinking, it reshapes our giving.

Lorna and I have experienced this personally. Over the years, we’ve made decisions—moves, purchases, sacrifices—that, viewed purely financially, wouldn’t always seem wise. In fact, some might reasonably critique them. But when we evaluate those same decisions through the lens of eternity, we wouldn’t change them. Investments that might look poor on paper can be incredibly rich in eternal impact!

The question Jesus presses on us is simple but searching:
Am I making decisions—especially about giving—in light of eternity?

Giving Begins in the Heart

Jesus then shifts the focus inward:

“The eye is the lamp of the body…” (Matthew 6:22–23)

Here, the “eye” represents the heart—the seat of our desires and affections. And his point is clear: no amount of financial wisdom, budgeting skill, or practical advice can produce true change unless the heart is transformed.

This isn’t ultimately about what we buy or don’t buy. It’s about what we love.

Self-help approaches might improve our habits. Religion might regulate our behaviour. But Jesus offers something deeper: grace that transforms the heart. When grace takes root, it begins to reshape our desires, and from there, our decisions.

That’s why giving is such a revealing and powerful area of discipleship. It exposes what we truly value and it invites God’s grace to work deeply within us.

Giving and the Question of Worship

Jesus goes further still:

“You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)

Here, the issue becomes one of worship. Money itself is not evil, but it can so easily become an idol—something that occupies the place only God should hold in our hearts.

An idol is anything that becomes more fundamental than God to our happiness, meaning or identity.

Jesus shows that this is a matter of love and service. What we love, we serve. And he is clear: we cannot give our ultimate allegiance to both God and money. They are incompatible masters.

This is a moment of honest reflection. For some, it may be uncomfortable. But it is also an invitation—to step off the throne of our lives and allow Jesus, the true source of life and fulfilment, to reign.

Giving and Freedom from Worry

Jesus then says:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life…” (Matthew 6:25)

Persistent worry about material things often reveals something deeper. It can signal that we are struggling to trust God, to rest in his care, or to live with eternity in view.¹

When we grasp that we are children of a loving Father—one who provides, cares, and knows our needs—something shifts. Giving becomes less about loss and more about trust.

And when we loosen our grip on money as a source of security, we experience greater freedom, not greater fear.

A Grace-Filled Vision for Giving

When it comes to giving within the church, there can sometimes be confusion. For some, giving is reduced to a percentage or a rule. While practices like tithing have biblical roots, Jesus consistently points beyond the outward act to the heart behind it.

So what does healthy, biblical giving look like?

Four key motivations help shape a grace-filled approach:

1. Obedience

Scripture consistently calls God’s people to give—to support the work of the church and care for those in need. Giving, therefore, is an act of discipleship.

It raises a simple but fundamental question: Who is king?
Is it Jesus—or is it me?

As Martin Luther once said, conversion involves the heart, the mind, and the purse. Giving is part of placing our whole lives under Christ’s lordship.

2. Joy

Paul writes:

“God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Giving is not meant to be cold or reluctant. It is meant to flow from joy—especially the joy of participating in what God is doing.

As our hearts align with God’s purposes—seeing lives changed, people reached, communities transformed—giving becomes something we want to do, not something we feel forced to do.

3. Sacrifice

King David said:

“I will not offer to the Lord… sacrifices that cost me nothing” (2 Samuel 24:24)

Biblical giving is costly. It shapes how we live. At times, it will mean saying no to things we might otherwise enjoy.

This isn’t about recklessness, but it is about sacrifice. For some, a set percentage may be sacrificial. For others, it may not. The key question is: Does my giving cost me something?

4. Mission

Giving ultimately fuels the mission of God.

It enables the work of the church—to see people come to faith, to witness lives transformed, to serve communities, and to take the gospel beyond our immediate context.

It’s easy to feel uninspired by “things,” but the mission of God is compelling. To be part of what he is doing—locally and globally—is something worth investing in.

Where It All Comes Together

These four motivations—obedience, joy, sacrifice, and mission—don’t always sit comfortably together. Each one stretches us in different ways.

But when they overlap—when giving is obedient, joyful, sacrificial, and mission-focused—we find a beautiful, grace-filled place to live.

A Moment to Reflect

What might it look like for you to give like this?

Where might God be inviting you to trust him more, to loosen your grip, or to step into something new?

Take a moment to pause, reflect, and ask the Lord to shape your heart afresh. Giving is not just about what we do with our resources—it’s about who we are becoming.

How can I give?

It’s simple: https://emmanuelcommunitychurch.churchsuite.com/donate/