“Our giving is a reflexive response to the grace of God in our lives. It does not come out of our altruism or philanthropy—it comes out of the transforming work of Christ in us. This grace is the action; our giving is the reaction. We give because He first gave to us. The greatest passage on giving in all Scripture ends not with “Congratulations for your generosity,” but “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15).”
Randy Alcorn, The Treasure Principle (Colorado Springs: Multnomah, 2001) 31-32.