What's Your 'Yeah, But' When It Comes to Generosity?

By Pastor John Erickson

Do you know what two little words can stop a really good idea right in its tracks?

"Yeah, but."

I use them all the time.

Somebody asks, "Weren't you going to start exercising this week?"

"Yeah, but I was tired."

"Didn't you say you wanted to spend less time on your phone?"

"Yeah, but I was just checking one thing."

And then we read something Jesus says, and we do the exact same thing.

"Love your enemies."

Yeah, but you don't know what that person did.

The thing is, sometimes the "but" points to a genuine obstacle we need to work through. Other times it reveals something we would rather not admit about what we value.

I think the same thing happens when we talk about generosity.

I have had to admit a leadership blind spot here. When I avoid talking about money because it feels uncomfortable, I leave an important part of following Jesus unexamined. Gina and I have worked through these obstacles together. The goal is not to pressure someone into giving. It is to talk honestly about what makes generosity difficult.

We Usually Agree Generosity Is Good

Most people don't need a lengthy argument that generosity is a good thing. We admire people who help others. We're moved by stories of someone sacrificing to meet a need.

But when it's our own money, the conversation gets more complicated.

There are bills. Responsibilities. A lifestyle we've grown comfortable with. And sometimes experiences with churches or charities that have broken our trust.

It's not enough to preach, "Be generous," and then walk away. We need to talk about what makes generosity difficult.

So here's a look at six "yeah, buts" worth taking seriously.

1. Yeah, But Why Does Giving Matter?

In 2 Corinthians 8:7, Paul encourages Christians to excel in the grace of giving. And in 2 Corinthians 9:12, he says their service meets the needs of people while also overflowing in thanksgiving to God.

Generosity is both practical and spiritual. Someone gets help. God receives thanks. And the giver learns to hold possessions differently.

It's not about an organization winning a fundraising contest. It's about love becoming something we actually do.

2. Yeah, But It Might Disrupt My Lifestyle

This one makes me uncomfortable because I understand it.

I like having the freedom to choose what I spend money on. Vacations, hobbies, dinner out, the things that make life enjoyable. None of those is automatically wrong.

But Jesus says in Matthew 6:21 that where our treasure is, our heart will be also.

We often think money follows what we value, and it does. But Jesus also describes our hearts following our treasure. The places we invest ourselves begin to shape the people we become.

A discipleship group I was part of once asked us to write down our core values. That sounds simple until you actually try it. What do I truly value, and would someone recognize those values by looking at my choices?

Money has a way of making that exercise very concrete.

Sometimes generosity requires a lifestyle adjustment. Not because God wants everyone to be miserable, but because he wants our choices to line up with the things we say matter most.

3. Yeah, But What If I Need That Money?

That's not a silly concern.

People have families to provide for, medical bills, debt, uncertain employment, and other responsibilities. Being financially responsible isn't the enemy of generosity.

Paul reminds believers that giving should be willing and proportionate to what someone actually has (2 Corinthians 8:12). The point is not to put another household in danger to impress somebody with a large donation.

Generosity may look different in different seasons. Wisdom belongs in the conversation.

4. Yeah, But I Really Like Money

Me too. Money can buy useful things. It allows us to enjoy experiences, care for family, and be generous.

The trouble begins when money stops being a tool and starts becoming the thing we trust to make life meaningful.

Gina and I have used automatic giving as part of our own practice. For me, it is a regular reminder that the numbers in our account do not get to be the most important thing in our lives. The mechanism is ordinary; the question it puts before my heart is not.

That is one household's practice, not a rule that everyone must use the same amount or method.

Jesus doesn't say every possession is bad. He asks us to be careful about what we treasure.

So maybe ask: What am I hoping money will do for me? Make me feel secure? Important? In control? When is enough actually enough?

Those questions can reveal why giving feels threatening.

5. Yeah, But I Never Have Enough

Sometimes that's the honest reality. When the bills exceed income, it may be time to seek help, reduce expenses where possible, or work through debt with somebody trustworthy.

Sometimes, though, "not enough" shifts every time our income grows. We get a raise and discover we can still find a reason to spend the entire amount.

That's why practical planning matters. A budget isn't glamorous, but it can help us see what is possible without turning generosity into a crisis.

You don't have to compare your gift with someone else's. You can start by making thoughtful choices within your real circumstances.

6. Yeah, But I Don't Trust the People Asking

This is important, and I don't want to brush it aside.

Some people have seen money mishandled by religious leaders. Some have been pressured, shamed, or promised things that never happened. Trust isn't automatically restored just because a pastor asks for it.

Churches and charities should welcome reasonable questions. Where does the money go? Who oversees the finances? How are decisions made? Is there meaningful accountability?

If a leader responds to those questions with secrecy or guilt, that's a problem.

I'd rather see someone give thoughtfully to an organization they trust than be pressured into giving to one they don't.

What Is Your Biggest 'Yeah, But'?

Here's what I don't want you to hear: "Ignore every concern, open your wallet, and prove your faith."

That's not what Paul is doing in 2 Corinthians, and it's not what I want to do either.

Some obstacles are practical. Some require healing. Some call for accountability from leaders. Others reveal habits or fears that Jesus is inviting us to examine.

So don't just repeat the command to be generous. Name what's standing in the way.

Is it fear? Distrust? A lifestyle you're reluctant to change? A financial situation that needs attention?

Bring the truth into the light. Ask God for wisdom. Talk with someone trustworthy. Take the next faithful step you can actually take.

Generosity grows better in the soil of grace and honesty than it ever will under pressure.