Read 1 Chronicles 29:13-17.

God promises that as we give of ourselves radically, He will give it back to us (see Luke 6:38). When you give to God in praise, obedience, and thanksgiving, you place yourself in a position to receive more blessings. Giving is part of worship because it not only honors God but also orients our hearts toward His work. While praising God in words alone can be empty, praising God with our substance can confirm the praise-filled life. So praise and giving are inseparable.

Author of some of the most magnificent psalms, David did not praise God with words alone; he praised God with the substance of his life. When God told David that he would not be the one to build His temple, David was not put off. He set aside all he had for the future project though he would not be the one to build it. He acknowledged that even his ability to give in this extravagant way was because of God’s hand (see 1 Chronicles 29:14). David understood that praise is confirmed through sacrificial giving—praise and generosity are interconnected.

First, giving back to God shows that you really believe everything you have belongs to Him. When we praise God through giving, we tangibly affirm that every breath is God’s gift and that we trust Him to provide.

Second, giving back to God is sowing seed for future blessing. God established the principle of sowing and reaping in Genesis, and His desire for His people is abundance, not for selfish gain but that we might abound in generosity (see Luke 6:38, 2 Corinthians 9:6-9).

Finally, giving feeds praising, and praising feeds giving. I have never met a generous person whose life was not filled with thanksgiving and praise—and I have never met a person who loved to praise the Lord who was not also a generous giver. They go hand in hand. Not only that but our generosity motivates others.

You see, our praising and giving bear witness to the matchless worth of Christ, creating a hunger for Him in the lives of the lost. So may we live generously, that many souls would come to see the glory of our God through our praise-filled lives.

Prayer: Father, help me to praise and trust You rightly so that I am generous with the resources that You have put into my hands. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand” (1 Chronicles 29:14).

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon Empowered by Praise, A Giving Heart: WATCH NOW | LISTEN NOW

Check out more from Dr. Michael Youssef, here!

About The Author

Dr. Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

Even before he was born, it is clear that God had a vision for Michael Youssef. His mother was in poor health when she became pregnant with Michael, and because his life was in danger at the time of birth, the doctor recommended terminating the pregnancy. An abortion was scheduled. But God intervened and sent the family pastor to reassure them that God was involved in this pregnancy. He told them not to be afraid and that the child would be "born to serve the Lord." Michael's parents accepted the pastor's message as a message from God and obeyed. His mother gave birth, and lived to see him give his life to the Lord at the age of sixteen.


Believing that God had called him out of Egypt, Michael sought an exit visa in a time in which no university student was allowed to have a passport or leave the country. God intervened again, and miraculously he managed to acquire a visa. He immigrated to Australia, where he studied at Moore Theological College in Sydney, was ordained as a pastor, and met Elizabeth who became his wife.


The Youssefs came to America in 1977, and in 1978 Michael received a master's degree in theology at Fuller Theological Seminary in California. Then he earned a doctorate in social anthropology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Michael served nearly ten years in the Haggai Institute, traveling around the world more than 32 times, teaching courses in evangelism and leadership. He rose to the position of Managing Director at the age of 31 years. The family settled in Atlanta, and in 1984, Michael became a citizen of the United States, making his dream of many years come true.


He founded The Church of The Apostles in 1987 with fewer than 40 adults with the mission of "Equipping the Saints and Searching for the Lost". The church has since grown to be a congregation of over 3,000 people today. This church has driven the international ministry of Leading the Way. While it is heard by millions at home and abroad, behind every message preached through radio waves, is the heart of a pastor, willing to nurture and care for these people. Clearly God has uniquely equipped Dr. Youssef to speak to a global audience. The path he has taken has given him an understanding and firm grasp of the Scriptures that transcend cultures. He preaches, teaches and calls with a sincere, based on the authority of the inerrant, inspired Word of God. With his personal knowledge of the Holy Land, its history and culture, Dr. Michael Youssef transmits life to listeners all over the world.



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