How Great Is God?

John Avery, Church Administrator

We’ve talked a good bit about giving recently at Stephens Valley Church, and for good reason. It is an important spiritual discipline. In fact, giving is the beginning point of our relationship with God, and it is the end point as well. And, He does all of the giving!



Wow! What a deal! We’ll gladly take it!! But, do we often consider how the reality of God’s generosity should affect our generosity in giving of our time, talents, and treasure?



One of the most revealing questions a Christian can ask is this: “How great is God?” Our answer is not only expressed in our words, but often in our priorities. In a very real sense, our view of God can be seen in how we handle the resources He has entrusted to us.



In Genesis 14:17–20, we see Abraham returning from victory in battle. Instead of claiming honor for himself, he gives a tenth of the spoils to Melchizedek, the priest-king of Salem. The conquering hero pays homage to another. Abraham’s tithe was not merely generosity—it was an act of worship and submission. He recognized that he was a man under authority, and that ultimately everything he possessed came from God.



Centuries later, a very different situation appears in Nehemiah 13:10–14. When Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem, he discovered that the people had failed to support the Levites who served in the temple. Because the tithes had stopped, the Levites had left their ministry and returned to their fields to survive. The result was neglect of the house of God and a decline in worship. Nehemiah confronted the problem directly, calling the people back to obedience so that the work of God’s house could continue.



A more encouraging example comes from the reforms of Hezekiah in 2 Chronicles 31. When the people were called to bring their tithes and firstfruits, they responded immediately and generously. The offerings came in such abundance that they were piled up in great heaps, and additional storerooms had to be built to hold them. Their giving flowed from grateful hearts that delighted to honor God.



Finally, in Malachi 3, God challenges His people with a sobering question: “Will a man rob God?” Yet in the same passage He extends a remarkable invitation—bring the full tithe into the storehouse and see if He will not open the floodgates of heaven in blessing.



Giving, then, is far more than a financial matter. It is an act of worship that declares our trust in God’s provision and our submission to His authority. There are many opportunities for giving at SVC. When we give whatever it may be to God, we are giving back to God what He has already given us. When God’s people give faithfully and gladly, the work of His kingdom flourishes and His name is glorified.