Giving

Article for July 2010

As soon as one starts talking about giving, people’s eyes glaze over and you can almost hear them thinking, ‘Not again!’ The reason for this is that most times, the preacher, the charity, the celebrity, the school, the friend from next door is asking for some of your money. Most times the cause is truly worthy but not every time.
When it comes to the Church, what does the Bible say about giving?
In 1Cor 16:2 it tells us to set aside money, according to what you have earned and to do this on Sunday. It does not say 10% or 20% or any other amount. If an amount was stipulated then it would not be in keeping with what was earned. Furthermore in Acts 11:29 is says the disciples gave ‘according to his ability’, some had plenty, some had little, so they gave as much as they were able to give.
The next important point is that this is a conscious decision, they set aside money to be given on Sunday. It was not a matter of opening your pocket just before the collection plate gets to you and giving the change you have there. You do not give the ‘left-over’s’ to God, you give what you have chosen to give. This must also be given willingly, cheerfully, not with regret or grudge. (2 Cor 9;7).
So how much then are we to give? There is no amount specified in Scripture, God wants you to choose. In making that choice consider how much God has given you, consider what Christ has given you (his life!) Christ left His home in Heaven to live in poverty here on earth. All our blessings come from God.
Consider, can you ever ‘over’ give?
This all means nothing though, if we have not given ourselves to God first. The rest comes easy once that has truly been done.

Once again, we do not intend to ‘run’ your life for you. The choices are yours to make, but you need to know all of the facts to make a good decision. Do not just accept what has been written, read the scriptures for yourselves and see what God has said.