Aligning Your Giving with God's Heart with David Wills

Episode 590

You’re generous; you love to give. But how do you know that your giving is having a real impact?

It’s great that you have a heart for giving. The next step is to make sure your giving really counts…and that’s by aligning it with God’s heart. David Wills is here today to help us do that.

David Wills is President Emeritus of The National Christian Foundation (NCF). He is also the co-author of Investing in God’s Business (The “How To” of Smart Christian Giving) and numerous articles and lectures nationwide.

The Three Big Questions of Generosity

When it comes to giving, most Christians wrestle with three fundamental questions:

Why should I be generous?
How do I give?
Where should I give?

The first two questions deal with the heart and the head—our motivations for generosity and the practical ways to implement it. But the third question—where should I give?—often receives less attention. Instead of starting with our passions, we should begin with God's priorities.

God asks us to be generous on every occasion so that it brings Him glory and joy to our hearts. But instead of asking, “What am I passionate about?” We should ask, “What is God passionate about?”

A Framework for Giving: The Three-by-Three Grid

To help believers align their giving with God’s priorities, David introduced a three-by-three framework that incorporates both geography and biblical causes.

1. The Geography of Giving

A great biblical guide for the where of giving comes from Acts 1:8:

“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

This verse provides a three-tiered approach to geographic giving:

Local (Jerusalem)—Giving within our immediate communities, such as supporting our local church and meeting local needs.
National (Judea and Samaria)—Supporting broader efforts within our country, including church planting, evangelism, and charitable organizations.
International (Ends of the Earth)—Expanding generosity to global missions, Bible translation, and aid to those who have never heard the Gospel.

Most people focus on what’s right in front of them—their local church or nearby needs. However, a biblical giving strategy challenges us to think beyond our immediate surroundings.

2. The Biblical Priorities of Giving

Scripture reveals three overarching themes that reflect God's heart for giving:

The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20)—Supporting efforts that spread the Gospel, such as evangelism, church planting, missions, and discipleship.
The Greatest Commandment (Matthew 22:37-38)—Giving to ministries that help people grow in their love for God, including churches, theological education, and discipleship initiatives.
The Great Compassion (Matthew 22:39)—Caring for our neighbors by giving to those in need—orphans, widows, the poor, and the vulnerable.

These three biblical priorities form the vertical axis of the giving framework, while geography forms the horizontal axis.

By overlaying these two dimensions—geography and biblical priorities—believers can develop a well-rounded and God-centered giving plan. This framework helps us see the gaps in our giving. Many believers focus on what’s nearby, but God calls us to care for those who have never heard the Gospel or are in extreme need.

Making Giving a Family Practice

One of the most powerful aspects of this framework is its ability to teach children about generosity. Parents can use this model to discuss giving priorities as a family and