Beyond the easy answer of, “the Bible says so” – why do you support your church financially?

Here are some of the reasons I don’t give.

I DON’T GIVE – because of an external obligation, but because I have been given much and I want to use who I am and what I have for the benefit of others.

I DON’T GIVE – to buy something. My gift isn’t in response to services rendered. I’m not paying tuition. My gift is just that, a gift. I trust God to lead those who have received the gift to use it for the glory of God and the good of others. I’m not buying a building or great program for my kids. I’m not trading cash for influence. I’m not purchasing God’s good will. King Saul tried that. He offered a sacrifice before a battle. He thought his gift would buy victory. He was wrong. The heart of his sacrifice wasn’t giving. It was buying. God’s not in the business of selling His good will. This misplaced heart eventually cost Saul a kingdom.

I DON’T GIVE – my least and last. I give my first and best. This is important. I can’t give anything I haven’t received. So I DON’T GIVE until God has first given the increase. It’s not that I don’t want to give, but I can’t give until God first provides for me. In that sense, I’m not simply giving. I’m recognizing the source of my supply. I’m honoring the economy of the One who gave His first and best for me.

I DON’T GIVE – occasionally. I practice disciplined, percentage giving. This strengthens the quality of generosity in me. Generosity is an interesting application of character. You can feel generous without actually being generous. It’s the giving difference between a crush and true love. Crush on generosity and feel good. Genuinely love others through generosity and you’ll do good. The habit of giving to a cause I believe in increases my awareness of the needs all around me and helps me see new ways I can be part of meeting that need.

I DON’T GIVE – enough. That’s really not true. My problem is that it’s difficult to tell what enough really looks like. I always give a percentage of my income. Every time I increase that percentage the amount of my supply increases. It never feels like enough because the more I give the more needs I see around me. I’m encouraged by this one thought. God doesn’t call me to be the solution to the world’s problems but to be a part of that solution. I can’t meet every need, but I can do for one what I wish I could do for everyone. This is important. I’ll never give enough. But truthfully, I don’t have to. I’m responsible for the stuff I have and the things I know. I’m responsible to the people in front of me, for the problem in front of me. And for that I can’t be the solution, but I can be part of the solution that transforms a life.

I DON’T GIVE – negatively. I give cheerfully. Giving is fun. It lifts my spirit and allows me to experience in some part what God must feel when one of His children finally realizes the significance of what God’s done for them. It’s easy to give cheerfully. It’s not always easy to buy cheerfully. The joy goes away when you feel forced to buy a product or service that’s just not worth it. Stop buying. Give instead. And give cheerfully.

I don’t know what church you attend or what causes you support. But I hope that this week you WON’T GIVE for all the same reasons that I don’t give. Instead, give more and for the right reason.

Give more than you think you can afford and trust God to provide.