Giving To What Matters

Building off of Jesus' teaching to his followers that they couldn't serve God and Money, the author and theologian, Anthony de Mello, once told the following about what it means to serve money, even when you believe you aren't serving money: 

“The philosopher Diogenes was eating bread and lentils for supper. He was seen by the philosopher Aristippus, who lived comfortably by flattering the king. Said Aristippus, 'If you would learn to be subservient to the king, you would not have to live on lentils.'

Said Diogenes, 'Learn to live on lentils, and you will not have to be subservient to the king.”

Money reveals what we value. The way we spend and give reflects our priorities more clearly than our intentions ever could. 

Jesus speaks frequently about money, not because it is the most important thing in life, but because it has a powerful ability to shape our hearts. “Where your treasure is,” he teaches, “there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).

Financial giving during Lent invites us to examine how our resources align with what truly matters. Many of us hope to support causes that reflect compassion, justice, and faith, yet generosity often becomes an afterthought rather than a guiding practice.

The biblical tradition consistently connects financial generosity with trust in God. In the Hebrew Scriptures, offerings were expressions of gratitude and dependence. Giving was a way of acknowledging that everything ultimately belongs to God. When people gave, they were not losing resources—they were returning a portion of what had already been entrusted to them.

Jesus affirms this perspective when he observes a widow placing two small coins into the temple treasury (Mark 12:41–44). Her gift is modest in monetary terms but profound in spiritual significance. She gives not from surplus but from trust. Jesus sees what others overlook: generosity is measured not by amount but by intention.

Financial giving also expands our vision beyond ourselves. When we invest in ministries, relief efforts, community programs, and organizations that serve the vulnerable, our resources become instruments of compassion. Our giving participates in the work of healing and restoration.

Yet generosity does not happen accidentally. It grows through intentional habits. Choosing in advance to give regularly—whether through tithing, charitable support, or planned generosity—helps ensure that our values shape our financial decisions.

During Lent, financial giving becomes a practice of alignment. It invites us to ask honest questions: Do our spending patterns reflect the kingdom values we profess? Are we supporting what nurtures life, justice, and hope?

Giving financially also cultivates freedom. When money no longer controls our decisions, we experience a deeper sense of trust. Resources become tools rather than sources of anxiety.

Generosity reminds us that money’s greatest purpose is not accumulation but participation in God’s work. When we give intentionally, we affirm that the most important things in life—love, compassion, faith, and justice—are worth investing in.

Lent invites us to see financial generosity not as an obligation but as an opportunity. Through giving, our resources become part of something larger than ourselves.

Prayer
God of provision, help us use our resources wisely and generously. Guide our hearts to support what reflects your love and justice. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. What values are reflected in how you spend money?

2. Where might financial generosity deepen your faith?

3. How could your giving support something that truly matters?