from Gary Hamrick
... Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Chapel
for Fri 08/21/2026

... God is most blessed by the attitude of our heart, not the amount in our hand.

When God looks at our giving, He sees something we cannot see—He sees the heart. We tend to notice amounts. God notices attitudes. We may be impressed by the size of a gift, but the Lord weighs the motive behind it.

Paul pointed the Corinthians to believers who understood this truth. Though they were experiencing deep poverty themselves, they willingly gave to help suffering Christians. But something happened before their generosity ever reached another person: “They first gave themselves to the Lord” (2 Corinthians 8:5 (NKJV) ⓘ ↗).

There is the secret to biblical generosity.

Giving begins with surrender.

God is not primarily interested in getting something from your hand. He wants your heart. Once your life belongs completely to Jesus Christ, everything else begins to fall into its proper place—your time, your abilities, your possessions, and yes, your money.

This is why Paul describes giving as a grace rather than a grudging obligation. The Christian does not give in order to manipulate God into providing something bigger in return. Nor should we give because someone has pressured us. We give because God has already been overwhelmingly generous toward us.

Think about the Gospel. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16 (NKJV) ⓘ ↗).

The greatest act of generosity in history came from the heart of God. Jesus Christ willingly gave Himself upon the cross so that sinners could be forgiven and receive everlasting life.

When that truth grips your heart, generosity changes from something you have to do into something you get to do.

Perhaps you can give much. Perhaps you can give very little. The amount is not the first issue before the Lord. Ask instead, “What is happening in my heart?” Is there gratitude? Trust? Joy? A willingness to honor Christ with what He has placed in your hands?

And remember, God is no debtor. The One who supplies the seed also promises to provide what His children need so that they can continue in every good work. We do not give to get rich; we give because we trust our generous Father.

Today, give yourself to the Lord first. Then hold everything else with an open hand. Ask Him to make generosity a growing grace in your life, and whatever He leads you to give, give it willingly, thankfully, and joyfully. Your Father sees the heart—and a heart surrendered to Jesus is something He can use for His glory.

Father, thank You for the generosity You have shown us through Jesus Christ. Help me to first give myself fully to You, and then to hold everything You have given me with an open hand. Give me a grateful and joyful heart that trusts You and willingly gives for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

• 2 Corinthians 8:5 ↗ - Giving Begins with Surrender - The Macedonian believers first gave themselves to the Lord, making surrender the foundation of their generosity.
• John 3:16 ↗ - The Heart of God’s Giving - God’s love is demonstrated through His generous gift of His Son.
• Matthew 6:19-21 ↗ - Jesus connects our use of possessions with the condition and priorities of our hearts.
• Mark 12:41-44 ↗ - Jesus looks beyond the amount given to the heart and sacrifice behind the gift.
• 2 Corinthians 9:8 ↗ - God graciously provides what we need so that we can continue in every good work.
• Acts 20:35 ↗ - Jesus teaches that giving is a blessing, not merely an obligation.
• 1 Chronicles 29:9 ↗, 14 ↗ - David and the people gave willingly, recognizing that everything they possessed ultimately came from God.