Motivational Gifts #8 Giving

Motivational Gift Giving Overview

In this eighth session of his series on motivational gifts, Pastor explores the gift of giving as one of seven gifts listed in Romans 12:4-8, given by the Father at the new birth. Drawing from 1 Peter 4:10, he reminds the congregation that every gift we receive from God is meant to be used in service to others, not hoarded for personal gain. The session recaps the preceding gifts of prophecy, serving, teaching, and exhortation before diving deeply into the motivational gift of giving. Using Matthew the tax collector as a biblical example, Pastor illustrates how a giver is transformed by Christ, uses resources to meet needs, and prefers to give quietly without seeking recognition. He addresses givers remorse, the importance of budgeting, the law of reciprocity, and how money is simply a tool. Practical wisdom is woven throughout, including the principle of ownership, avoiding the love of money, and learning to maintain financial stewardship. This session challenges every believer to identify where this gift operates in their life and to exercise it faithfully so it grows stronger.

Motivational Gift Giving Outline

• 0:00 – Welcome and Series Context: Pastor opens the eighth session on motivational gifts, greets the congregation, and frames the teaching around 1 Peter 4:10 and the call to serve others with whatever gift we have received.
• 8:30 – Three Sources of Spiritual Gifts: A breakdown of how gifts come from all three persons of the Trinity: the Holy Spirit gives charismatic gifts (1 Corinthians 12), Jesus gives fivefold ministry gifts (Ephesians 4), and the Father gives motivational gifts (Romans 12).
• 18:00 – Recap of Previous Motivational Gifts: A summary of the first four motivational gifts already taught: prophecy as the eyes of the body, serving as the hands, teaching as the mind, and exhortation as the mouth.
• 28:00 – Introducing the Gift of Giving: Romans 12:8 is examined in depth. Those motivated by giving are described as the arms of the body, always reaching out, alert to overlooked needs, and desiring to give quietly rather than for recognition.
• 38:00 – Matthew as the Biblical Model of a Giver: Matthew 9:9 is used to show how the tax collector immediately followed Jesus, threw a dinner for sinners, and used his financial resources for evangelism, exemplifying the motivational gift of giving in action.
• 48:00 – Givers Remorse and the Law of Reciprocity: Pastor addresses the trap of givers remorse and explains the biblical law of reciprocity: giving is seed, and seed must be planted to produce a harvest. Oral Roberts is quoted on the principle of seed versus need.
• 57:00 – Matthew 6:1-4 and Giving Without Fanfare: Jesus teaching in Matthew 6 is examined to show why those motivated by giving avoid the limelight. Giving publicly for applause forfeits the heavenly reward, while quiet giving draws a return from the Father.
• 1:06:00 – The Principle of Ownership and Financial Stewardship: Pastor teaches that a giver must understand ownership: money is a tool, the love of money is the root of evil, and learning to budget and steward resources wisely is essential to walking fully in this motivational gift.

Scripture References

1 Peter 4:10, Romans 8:32, Psalm 46:1-5, Hebrews 11:6, 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, Ephesians 4:10-11, Romans 12:3-8, Matthew 9:9, Matthew 6:1-4

Key Takeaways

• Every gift God gives us is meant to be used in faithful service to others, not held privately for personal benefit.
• The motivational gift of giving is bestowed by the Father at the new birth and equips believers to meet needs with joy and singleness of mind.
• Those motivated by giving are the arms of the body of Christ, always alert to overlooked needs and eager to reach out with practical help.
• Givers remorse must be resisted: once a gift is given over to another person, it belongs to them and God is responsible for the return.
• Money is a neutral tool like a wrench or a hammer; it is the love of money, not money itself, that is the root of all evil.
• Matthew the tax collector is a powerful example of a giver who immediately used his wealth to gather the lost and point them to Jesus.
• Exercising your motivational gift consistently, even under pressure, causes it to grow stronger and reveals your God-given purpose more clearly.

Motivational Gift Giving Notes

Giving as a God-Given Motivational Gift

Unlike the charismatic gifts distributed by the Holy Spirit or the fivefold ministry gifts given by Jesus, the motivational gift of giving flows directly from the Father and is received at the new birth. Romans 12:6-8 lists it among seven gifts that differ according to the grace given to each believer. This gift is not merely an act of generosity that anyone can choose to perform; it is a deep, God-planted motivation that shapes how a person sees the world, identifies needs, and instinctively moves to meet them. Understanding this distinction helps believers avoid comparing themselves with others and instead embrace the unique function God has placed within them.

Matthew the Tax Collector Models This Gift

When Jesus called Matthew sitting at the tax booth in Matthew 9:9, Matthew did not hesitate. He immediately left a lucrative career and, rather than retreating privately, threw a large dinner at his own expense, inviting tax collectors and sinners so that Jesus could speak into their lives. This is the motivational gift of giving at work: converting personal resources into a platform for the kingdom. Matthew also went on to write a gospel that emphasizes financial pitfalls more than any other, warning readers about the love of money while showing how resources rightly surrendered become instruments of eternal impact.

Giving Quietly and Avoiding the Limelight

Jesus is explicit in Matthew 6:1-4 that charitable deeds performed for public recognition carry their own reward in the applause of men, and nothing more. Those genuinely motivated by giving are not drawn to philanthropic fanfare or donor plaques. Their instinct is to meet the need and step back. Pastor shares personal examples of giving away cars, houses, and land at the Lord’s direction, always emphasizing that the act of giving transfers ownership completely. Once something is given over, the giver releases all claim to how it is used, trusting God to honor the obedience rather than policing the recipient.

Seed, Harvest, and the Law of Reciprocity

Pastor draws on agricultural language to explain that giving without expecting a return is like a farmer refusing to plant seed and then wondering why there is no harvest. The kingdom operates on a law of reciprocity: what is sown will be reaped. Oral Roberts is quoted: if what is in your hand is not enough to meet your need, it is automatically your seed. This principle frees believers from hoarding out of fear and calls them to plant generously in faith, trusting that God, not their job or the government, is the source of their supply and the guarantor of the return.

Stewardship, Budgeting, and Wise Ownership

A recurring caution in this session is that the desire to give must be matched with practical financial wisdom. Those motivated by giving can sometimes mismanage their own resources through poor budgeting, which leaves them without the means to give when God calls them to act. Pastor encourages believers to pursue wise counsel, learn to maintain a budget, and treat money as something they genuinely own and are responsible to steward. The principle of ownership means taking money seriously enough to grow it, protect it, and deploy it purposefully rather than allowing it to slip away through careless spending or impulsive decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions