Genesis 3:12. It is part of our human nature to come up with a good excuse when we are accused of something. The problem with a good excuse is that it does not cover up our wrong-doing when we have sinned against God. Humans started giving excuses to God from the beginning in the Garden of Eden. In Genesis 3:11, God asked Adam what had happened to him because now Adam was ashamed before God (naked). God knew that Adam and Eve had eaten the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. God had previously told them not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge.

1 King 3:26. A mother's love can never be separated from her children. When King Solomon had to decide which mother was the mother of a child, he used his wisdom of a mother's selfless love to decide who was the mother of the child. When both mothers claimed the child, Solomon decreed that the child be cut into two and divided between the two women. He knew that the true mother would never agree to her child being harmed.

1 Peter 4:10. All of us are given gifts and talents from God. God gives us these gifts and talents because of the grace and love He has for us. With these gifts and talents, God expects us to be good stewards and do good works with the resources that He has provided us (1 Peter 4:10, "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God").

Luke 19:8. One reason that Christians have a need for giving is because of the Godly repentance in their hearts. As part of repenting and turning away from sin, Christians yield willingly to God. The God in us then urges them to give generously to the people that they have hurt previously because of their sinful actions.

2 Corinthians 8:12. From God’s perspective, giving is a lifestyle, not a requirement. If we are not giving from our heart, your act of giving will be of no effect. When we first become a Christian, our flesh and natural ways will resist God’s call for us to give to him and to others. It is not until you study God’s word and spend time with Him that you will understand how important it is to God for you to give. Giving is your acknowledgement that you do not own anything, but that you are only a good steward over the resources that God provides to you.

1 Corinthians 16:2. When giving, God is looking to us to give voluntarily and on a regular basis. By us giving in alms and offerings we are showing God that we put Him above material things. By us giving regularly, we are showing God that we put Him above all things all the time. Just as with a marriage, we must maintain the marriage relationship everyday to have a good marriage. We cannot commit adultery on Saturdays and expect to maintain a good marriage relationship the rest of the week. Our relationship with God is the same thing.

Acts 10:2. It is so easy for us to get caught up in our day-to-day activities and forget God. This is not how God desires for us to live. He desires us to acknowledge Him in all things. This can be done through prayer and meditation, but it is also done through our alms giving. By sacrificing something we hold valuable such as our money or our time, we are acknowledging that God is first in our lives. Being holy means being set aside for God.

Acts 9:34. Christians should be known for their good works and alms giving just as Jesus is known for his good works. Our Christian reputation should not be motivated by pride, but our good works should illuminate to a sinful world God’s truth and goodness. Doing a good work is one of the best ways to get a sinner’s attention and to demonstrate that there is a more joyous way to live (Acts 9:36, “Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did”).

Matthew 6:1. Church offerings and alms giving must not be motivated by pride or the desire for recognition. God desires for you to acknowledge Him first. If you give alms for earthly recognition or hopes of rewards, you are not putting God first in your life. You are putting yourself above God in your alms giving and church offerings. Giving alms freely without any intention of earthly reward or recognition demonstrates to God that you do put Him first in your life. God values your money and time as preciously as you do.

Proverbs 11:18. The right way for us to live in this world is to sow in righteousness. We must strive to do what pleases God. Our flesh looks for the quick fix and does not desire to seek God as to what to do in our daily lives. Following our flesh results in deceitful works where we may fool the world and ourselves, but our seemingly good works do not please God. Our works that are not God centered bring destruction instead of reward. If you sow and do good works in righteous, you will get what you give.