Giving is an act of Worship!

As I enter into another week of fundraising for my ministry or as we prefer to call it ministry partner development I want to center on God and what the living Word of God says about money and giving. One thing that blesses me is that I have the honor to give and be on the other side of this for some other missions I support including other InterVarsity staff and the Central Asia Institute building schools for children especially girls in rural Pakistan and Afghanistan. God I pray you remind me both in giving and being the one asking for financial gifts for your ministry that you center me on you God and the truth about money and giving.

Therefore David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: "Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. "But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.
(1 Chronicles 29:10-14 ESV)

This is a beautiful prayer by David over this act of giving. For it is so important that we remember these truths about God and giving:
God is creator and sovereign
God is the owner of all resources
We are only stewards for a time of God's resources
It is a spiritual act of worship to give back to God and God's work. God doesn't need it but it is good for us to give generously!

I write this not to make anyone feel guilty. I am looking for partners who are passionate about God's work in college students lives at CU! I pray for partners in the gospel who would work and sacrifice with me as a thanksgiving to God. For:

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
(2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV)

This all reminds me how at my church in boulder before the offering and giving of money to the church they invite us all to continue to worship God with our money and giving. Lord I pray for faith and understanding to see and feel the spiritual act of worship as I both give and ask others to give!
Amen