Family of Grace,
Have you ever thought about the difference between “fundraising” and “fundreceiving”? Rev. J.D. Walt of Seedbed recently reflected on this in a devotion, and it changed how I view generosity—especially in the church.
I was trained in what I now call, “flash and dash,” fundraising. And truth be told, I was pretty good at it. But over the past few years, I’ve been giving more thought to the role of money in the church. At times, I even questioned if I was any different from prosperity gospel peddlers.
Reading J.D.’s devotion convicted me to go deeper—not just to ask people to give, but to help build hearts that give not to get, but to offer in obedience. That’s what true generosity looks like. And in Exodus 25:1–9, this concept comes to life in a powerful way. Take a look:
The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give. These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather; acacia wood; olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece. Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.”
What did you notice? No pressure, guilt or manipulation here. God doesn’t tell Moses to do a sales pitch or start a campaign. He simply says, “Receive the offering from anyone who wants to give.” That’s fundreceiving. It’s not about strategies, slogans or emotional appeals. It’s about creating a space where people’s hearts respond to God himself. It’s not a transaction; it’s a relationship. God invites his people into something deeply personal and that is building a place for his presence.
And that’s the key. The goal wasn’t just to collect materials. It was to make room for God to be with them. The offering wasn’t an obligation—it was a response to an invitation.
In church life, we often focus on the practical—budgets, buildings, salaries. And those things matter. But Exodus 25 reminds us that giving is ultimately spiritual. When we give with love, gratitude, and a desire to create space for God’s presence, it becomes an act of worship.
As leaders, pastors, or simply followers of Jesus, maybe our job isn’t to raise funds—but to raise vision. To help people see the bigger picture: that God desires to dwell among us.
Every offering, no matter how small, brings that vision to life. And when we trust God with that vision, something amazing happens—generosity begins to flow more freely, more joyfully, and more meaningfully than we imagined.
Not because we asked well.
But because we received well.
That’s the difference. And, that’s the beauty of receiving gifts from God.
So, what do you think?
James
Rev. James A. Williams
Senior Pastor
Grace Resurrection Methodist Church
Have you ever thought about the difference between “fundraising” and “fundreceiving”? Rev. J.D. Walt of Seedbed recently reflected on this in a devotion, and it changed how I view generosity—especially in the church.
I was trained in what I now call, “flash and dash,” fundraising. And truth be told, I was pretty good at it. But over the past few years, I’ve been giving more thought to the role of money in the church. At times, I even questioned if I was any different from prosperity gospel peddlers.
Reading J.D.’s devotion convicted me to go deeper—not just to ask people to give, but to help build hearts that give not to get, but to offer in obedience. That’s what true generosity looks like. And in Exodus 25:1–9, this concept comes to life in a powerful way. Take a look:
The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give. These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather; acacia wood; olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece. Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.”
What did you notice? No pressure, guilt or manipulation here. God doesn’t tell Moses to do a sales pitch or start a campaign. He simply says, “Receive the offering from anyone who wants to give.” That’s fundreceiving. It’s not about strategies, slogans or emotional appeals. It’s about creating a space where people’s hearts respond to God himself. It’s not a transaction; it’s a relationship. God invites his people into something deeply personal and that is building a place for his presence.
And that’s the key. The goal wasn’t just to collect materials. It was to make room for God to be with them. The offering wasn’t an obligation—it was a response to an invitation.
In church life, we often focus on the practical—budgets, buildings, salaries. And those things matter. But Exodus 25 reminds us that giving is ultimately spiritual. When we give with love, gratitude, and a desire to create space for God’s presence, it becomes an act of worship.
As leaders, pastors, or simply followers of Jesus, maybe our job isn’t to raise funds—but to raise vision. To help people see the bigger picture: that God desires to dwell among us.
Every offering, no matter how small, brings that vision to life. And when we trust God with that vision, something amazing happens—generosity begins to flow more freely, more joyfully, and more meaningfully than we imagined.
Not because we asked well.
But because we received well.
That’s the difference. And, that’s the beauty of receiving gifts from God.
So, what do you think?
James
Rev. James A. Williams
Senior Pastor
Grace Resurrection Methodist Church
Posted in Rev. James Williams Weekly Blog
Recent
Archive
2025
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Categories
Tags
no tags