Restoring a Biblical Conversation About Generosity, Growth, and Accountability
We’ve Been Duped
What if we stopped talking about prayer, studying the Word, or serving others? Unthinkable, right? Yet when it comes to giving, most believers go silent.
How often do you talk about your growth in the grace of giving with peers or spiritual mentors? For many, the honest answer is never. The unspoken rule seems to be that we shouldn’t talk about it — unless there’s a financial crisis, a capital campaign, or a budget shortfall. Then suddenly, giving becomes urgent again.
But this silence has stunted spiritual growth. Are we growing in the grace of giving, or have we plateaued? Are we skeptical when pastors talk about stewardship — or open to the Spirit’s challenge?
Why Don’t We Talk About It?
Wesley Willmer, in his book God and Your Stuff, observes that 17 of Jesus’ 38 parables are about possessions. Scripture references possessions more than 2,100 times — three times more than love, seven times more than prayer, and eight times more than belief. Roughly 15% of God’s Word addresses money and stewardship.
If God emphasized it this much, why is the modern church silent? I believe there are three root causes:
- We have an Enemy who works tirelessly to distort God’s Word and divide His people. The devil knows that radical generosity unleashes Kingdom impact.
- Some leaders have distorted biblical teaching by reducing giving to transactional tactics instead of transformational discipleship.
- Believers genuinely struggle to surrender this area to God — which is precisely why Jesus spoke about it so often.
Restoring a Biblical Conversation
When I say we need to talk about giving, I don’t mean boasting or comparing. Scripture is clear: “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them” (Matthew 6:1–4, NIV).
What I do mean is that generosity should be a regular topic of spiritual growth, mentorship, and accountability — just like prayer, Bible study, or confession. We were never meant to grow in isolation. God designed the Church as a community where we sharpen one another toward Christlikeness.
Think about your own journey: how have you grown in prayer or Bible study? Probably through teaching, practice, and honest conversations with others who challenged you. The same principle applies to giving. When we open up about our stewardship struggles, invite accountability, and learn from generous mentors, we grow stronger in grace.
Moving Forward in Freedom
The Church cannot afford to keep quiet about generosity. And neither can we as individual followers of Christ. This isn’t about fundraising — it’s about faith formation.
When we start talking again — about how we give, why we give, and how God transforms us through giving — we rediscover the joy and freedom that come from releasing everything to Him. There are eternal implications for you, your church, and everyone touched by your generosity.
So, let’s stop the silence. Let’s talk — and grow — together.
Author Bio
Chris McDaniel serves as Chief Revenue Officer at vTECH io, a technology and AI solutions company that also equips churches and nonprofits with secure, scalable systems. He is passionate about helping Christian leaders model generosity and restore impact in their communities. Connect with Chris on LinkedIn