"And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us."
2 Corinthians 8:5 (NIV)
The Macedonians gave God what He wanted most. Paul was asking them to give money to help suffering believers. He expected them to contribute what they could afford to give. But they did something that shocked him and exceeded all expectations. Before they gave a single coin, they gave something far more valuable. They gave themselves first of all to the Lord. Only after giving God their hearts did they give their resources. This reveals a powerful truth about what God truly desires from us. He wants your heart before He wants your wallet or anything else.
God doesn't need your money, but He deeply desires your heart. Think about it carefully for a moment right now in honesty. The Creator of the universe owns everything that exists already. He doesn't need your financial contribution to fund His kingdom work. But He longs for relationship with you, full surrender from you. He wants your trust, your love, your devotion, your complete allegiance. When the Macedonians gave themselves first to God, they gave Him what He treasures most of all from His people. They understood that the greatest gift isn't found in your bank account. The greatest gift is found in your surrendered heart to Him.
This is why it is the season to be generous with our hearts first. Christmas can become a flurry of activity and spending without transformation. We can give gifts while holding back our hearts from God. We can be generous with money but stingy with our trust. We can buy presents for everyone while refusing to surrender control. But the Macedonians show us a better way to approach giving. They started with the gift God wants most, themselves completely to Him. Only after that heart surrender did their financial generosity flow out. The order is crucial and cannot be reversed or skipped.
What does it mean to give yourself first to the Lord? It means you stop holding areas of your life back from Him. It means your time is His, your plans are His. It means your family is His, your career is His. It means your money is His, your future is His. Nothing is off limits or labeled as "mine, not Yours." You acknowledge that everything you are and everything you have belongs. This isn't a one-time decision but a daily, moment-by-moment surrender. You wake up each morning and give yourself fresh to God. You face each decision by asking what He wants, not just you.
Ask yourself honestly what you're still holding back from God. Is there an area of life you haven't fully surrendered? Is there a relationship you won't let Him touch or guide? Is there a dream you're afraid to release into His hands? Is there money you're gripping tight, unwilling to trust His provision? Until you give God the gift He wants most, your giving will always feel forced and reluctant. Until your heart belongs completely to Him, your generosity will lack joy. The Macedonians gave joyfully and sacrificially because they had already surrendered everything. Their wallets followed their hearts, not the other way around at all.
Godseekers, this Christmas season, give God the gift He wants most from you. Stop trying to buy His approval with money or good works alone. Stop attempting to be generous while holding your heart back. Instead, surrender yourself completely to the Lord who became poor for you. Tell Him that everything you are and everything you have is His. When your heart is fully His, your hands will open wide. When you've given Him yourself, giving Him your resources becomes worship. This is the gift that transforms obligation into joy and duty into delight. This is what God wants most from you this Christmas.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come to You offering the gift You want most. You deserve all of us, not just parts we're comfortable giving. You gave Your Son completely for us without holding anything back. Forgive us for the areas we've kept from Your control. Forgive us for trying to impress You with money while withholding our hearts. Help us give ourselves first to You today and every day. Take our time, our plans, our relationships, our resources, and our futures. We surrender control and trust You completely with everything we are. Make our hearts fully Yours so our generosity flows from love. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Personal Reflection
- If God could have any gift from you this Christmas, and He's asking for your fully surrendered heart, what's holding you back?
- How would your Christmas spending and giving change if you gave God the gift He wants most first?
Step of Faith
Today, I will spend time in prayer specifically surrendering one area I've been holding back, offering God the gift He wants most.
