my role

Not Equal Gifts but Equal Sacrifice

The simple and profound theme that underscores Imagine comes from the Bible’s teaching about proportional giving and the blessings of sacrifice. No gift impresses God in terms of dollar amounts, but as extensions of the love and obedience with which they are given and proportion of resources from which they come. God, in other words, looks at the heart.

Sacrifice means something different to everyone. For some, it means to eliminate some current expenditures to increase giving. Others will delay a major expenditure. Some people will find ways to increase their income in order to give to Imagine. Some will give special gifts out of their assets, such as stocks, bonds, valuables, etc.

Please remember that your experience with personal sacrifice is not a one-time check of contribution, but a profound way to explore and deepen your trust and faith in God’s provision.

How should I give?

Give First. Make the first use of my income an act of faithfulness to a loving Lord.
Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.
Proverbs 3:9

Give Faithfully. Cultivate the discipline of faithfulness regardless of how I feel at the time.
On the first day of every week each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
I Corinthians 16:2

Give Freely. Attach no strings or expectations; seek nothing in return.
Freely you have received, freely give.
Matthew 10:8b

Give Sacrificially. Not what is easy or convenient.
I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.
2 Samuel 24:24

What Should My attitude Be?

Give Thankfully. Bring to mind God’s gifts and ways this money can matter for eternity. Praise Him, and remind myself of the joy and privilege not of giving, but giving back.
And whatever you do, whether it word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17

Give Cheerfully. God delights in and loves a cheerful giver.
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7

Give Expectantly. Look for ways to share my gifts, bear another’s burden, or contribute my resources to God’s Kingdom.
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Luke 6:38

Give Worshipfully. Our model is the author of giving:
For God so loved the world that He gave…” They urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and them to us in keeping with God’s will.
2 Corinthians 8:4-5