The Joy of Giving

Giving has always stood at the heart of Christian worship. It’s a way of life that reflects the very heart of God. From the first pages of Scripture to the life of Jesus Himself, we see that God is extremely generous. He gives us life, breath, grace, forgiveness, hope, and every good thing we need.

Giving is an act of worship—a declaration that God is our provider, our priority, and our greatest treasure. It is how we mirror the heart of our heavenly Father, who is generous from Genesis to Revelation. As James 1:17 reminds us: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

When we give—whether it’s our money, our time, our skills, or even a simple word of encouragement—we reflect the generosity of God Himself. Giving becomes worship because it flows from a heart surrendered to God and aligned with His mission in the world.

But giving isn’t always easy. True giving requires faith and trust that God will supply all our needs. Our natural instinct is to hold tightly to what we have, especially when times are tough or resources are scarce. But God invites us to trust Him completely with our needs. Proverbs 3:9, 10 reminds us to “honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled to plenty, and your vats will overflow over with new wine.”

When we give, we are declaring that our security does not come from our bank accounts, our possessions, or what we can do for ourselves, but is found in the God who promises to provide. Philippians 4:19 assures us: “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Our security rests in the God who owns it all and promises to take care of His children. Giving, therefore, is an act of worship. Every time we release something from our hands, we are saying, “Lord, I trust You more than my possessions.”

Unmatched Joy

And here’s something beautiful: giving brings joy. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). The Bible also says, “The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself” (Prov. 11:25). Deep happiness comes from helping others, from knowing you’ve made a difference, and from watching lives change because of your obedience to God.

And let’s not forget 2 Corinthians 9:6, 7: “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”

When we give freely, we experience a joy and a sense of purpose that no amount of receiving can match. Through giving, we sow seeds of blessing that God will multiply—not just for us, but for others. Generosity creates a special connection between you and God, and between you and the people you help. It turns ordinary moments into God-filled moments, because it is in giving that we most look like Jesus.

This truth is something I learned from watching my parents. I grew up in a home in which giving wasn’t occasional—it was a lifestyle. My father taught us that the first thing you do with blessings is share them. Every Sunday morning my father made sure we baked extra bread—not for ourselves, but for our neighbors. The first four pans out of our oven never stayed in our house. We kept only two for our family; the rest were delivered with love to those around us. And if he had to go to church for sports practice, that meant we had to bake two additional pans for his team members. It was simple, almost ordinary, but it shaped me forever. I learned that blessings aren’t meant to be hoarded—they’re meant to be shared.

My mother’s life told the same story. Orphaned at 5, she knew the sting of hunger and the ache of loneliness. But instead of letting her pain harden her heart, it made her tender toward others. She lived her life as if she were truly part of “the body of Christ” (1 Cor. 12:27). She often quoted Matthew 25:40: “Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”

As a nurse-midwife she cared for expectant mothers, delivered babies, treated the sick, and comforted the hurting—often without charging a penny. She believed compassion was more important than compensation. Many women would later call her “mother,” not because she raised them, but because she loved them deeply and treated them with dignity when no one else would.

My parents’ legacy of compassion and love became the heartbeat of the JoBets Compassion Ministries that I founded to help vulnerable communities and share the love of Christ. At JoBets we believe that Christian giving transforms lives. We see our work as living out James 2:15, 16: “Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, ‘Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well’—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?” (NLT).[1]

That’s why we don’t just talk about love—we show it in action: bringing hope, healing, and the life-changing love of Jesus to some of the most vulnerable people in the world. Our mission spans across two countries in West Africa, Liberia and Sierra Leone, where poverty, hunger, and disease still claim many lives.

When we give, we reflect the generosity of God Himself.

I am originally from Liberia, West Africa, with Sierra Leone bordering Liberia to the west. I chose to dedicate my ministry to these two countries because I have personally witnessed the deep need and challenges faced by the people in both nations. I too experienced this need firsthand when I was a refugee, which deepened my desire to serve and support others in similar situations.

But we don’t just see a need—we see an opportunity. Every well we dig, every scholarship we fund, every plate of food we serve, is an act of worship, a declaration of hope, bringing Christ’s love to humanity. And we’re not stopping there. Our dream is to expand beyond Liberia and Sierra Leone, bringing Christ’s mission of love and restoration to more communities across West Africa.

Why Giving Matters

When you give, you are doing more than meeting physical needs. You’re partnering with God. You are joining God’s mission of restoration. Every seed you plant, every dollar you give, every prayer you pray, is helping answer someone else’s cry for help. One project JoBets did in Sierra Leone was an answer to someone’s five-year prayer for water in their area.

When you give, you are stepping into something far greater than yourself. You’re helping write stories of hope. And as you give, you will experience the truth of 2 Corinthians 9:8: “And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others” (NLT).

Giving must be intentional. Setting aside a portion of your salary from every paycheck for projects you support beyond your tithe and “promise” (regular and systematic) offerings helps maintain regularity.[2] I’ve made a commitment to God to support His work, and I pray for His strength to keep that promise. My hope is that one day, when I stand before my Maker and King, He’ll see that I held nothing back from the mission He called me to.

Jesus said in Matthew 9:37, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” He also said, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21). God has entrusted us with the task of making disciples locally, regionally, and globally. We must roll up our sleeves and serve locally, and enable others to go to the regional and global fields on our behalf.

While many may not physically go to the mission fields of Liberia or Sierra Leone, God gives them the privilege of participating by supporting mission fields through giving. We join in the labor through promise offerings, giving a proportion of our income to God, not as spectators, but as partners in the gospel. That is worship.

Giving Is Worship

The ultimate aim of giving is to glorify God. Isaiah 12:4 declares, “And in that day you will say: ‘Praise the Lord, call upon His name; declare His deeds among the peoples, make mention that His name is exalted.’ ” Every act of generosity becomes a witness to the greatness and goodness of God. By so doing, all nations will learn about Jesus and have the opportunity to admire, honor, trust, and love Him.

When we give, we are upholding God’s name. We’re declaring His reign. We’re saying, “Lord, let Your will be done in my wallet as it is in heaven.” The true spirit of worship is giving and serving becoming acts of devotion, honoring God and celebrating His masterpiece—humanity. Giving is all about worship.

Generosity changes lives—and it changes you.

And in the process, you’ll discover a joy that the world can’t take away. Because every time you choose generosity, you’re choosing to look like Jesus. And that, dear friend, is the greatest blessing of all.

God will do more with $1 and a willing heart than $100 given grudgingly. He loves a cheerful giver. It is never about the amount, but the posture of the heart.

So let us give freely, joyfully, and faithfully, remembering that “he who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given” (Prov. 19:17).

Will you let your life be an act of Christian worship, a testimony of God’s generosity? Will you live with open hands and a cheerful heart? The world is waiting, and God is calling. Let your giving be worship.

[1] Scripture quotations marked NLT are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

[2] Learn more about “promise” offerings from the Stewardship Department website: https://stewardship.adventist.org/promise-offerings.