EDITOR’S NOTE: This devotional was published in the newsletter of Woodlawn Christian Church in Knoxville, and Mr. Eubanks is making it available for use by others.

Challenges to give are often associated with a need: “Please give to meet the budget,” or “Please give to reach the goal for the special offering.” If we aren’t careful, meeting needs can become the primary motivation for our giving. We may even give the impression to a new Christian that God needs our money.
In Psalm 50, God makes clear that He is not dependent on us: 
I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills . . . If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. (Psalm 5:9-12, NIV)

The first examples of giving to God had nothing to do with meeting needs. Cain and Abel brought offerings from their crops and flocks (Gen 4). Abram gave to Melchizedek, King of Salem and priest of God Most High, 10 percent of everything his army seized in the battle against the kings that captured Lot and his family (Gen 14). After God extended His covenant to Jacob, Jacob pledged to give God a tenth (Genesis 28:10-22). Each of these examples, apart from Cain’s deficiency, tangibly demonstrated dependence on God and gratitude for his blessings.

In his wisdom, God has given us the privilege of helping build his Kingdom by being good stewards of the abilities and resources he has entrusted to our care. Yes, our contributions do help meet needs, but our primary motivation for giving should be to show that all we have comes from God and to express our appreciation to him.