September 8, 2025

This week, we continue our study of Liturgies and why we, as a church, do what we do. This week we ask why giving is an important part of our public worship. As Pastor Hanibal keeps reminding us, this will get personal—and this topic is certainly no exception.  

I doubt anyone would disagree with the claim that giving is a positive and necessary thing. Giving offerings to God and assistance to others is highlighted throughout the Bible. All churches rely on people to give their time, talent, and treasure to ministry. Even the broader culture recognizes the value of giving. And studies show that generosity actually increases happiness.*  

Yet giving can be a sensitive topic. We typically avoid discussing our giving habits with one another. Churches are often criticized for bringing it up at all.  

This week, let’s put aside these sensitivities and listen as Jesus teaches His followers how to overcome obstacles to giving so that they can demonstrate their trust in God and hope in His kingdom.  

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 

Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” 

And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 

 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ 

 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 

“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” 

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 

“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

Luke 12:13-34 NIV 

 * (https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-giving-is-good-for-your-health, accessed 8/30/25) 

 Questions for reflection and discussion:  

  • What obstacles does Jesus identify relating to giving? 
  • What obstacles prevent you from giving?  
  • How does Jesus suggest that we overcome these obstacles? 
  • What reasons encourage you to give? 
  • Which of Jesus’ words in this passage do you find particularly convicting? Encouraging? Reassuring? Difficult? 

 Church Reading Plan: 2 Samuel 2; 1 Corinthians 13