Giving Back to God

As I mentioned in an earlier post this weekends message is going to be on Giving/Tithing. I know that some people really struggle with giving, and for many, it's one of those hot button issues. There are two main reasons that giving is such a delicate subject.

First-Far too often preachers have built church empires that need to be sustained. Whenever giving isn't what they planned on they get nervous and all of a sudden start teaching on giving in hopes that people will give more and the programs that they (and I say they, not God) created will continue as they planned. The result is that far too many preachers feed the stereotype that all we care about is money.

Second-Sometimes we know that we need to be giving but the lifestyle and choices we have made are keeping us from it. In this case what we are feeling is called conviction. We feel guilty about not doing something we should be doing.

When it comes to Giving/Tithing there are a few things to keep in mind. First off, there are good people who believe that we do not have to tithe. They believe that because we no longer live under the law of the Old-Testament. There are also people who believe that we do have to tithe. I personally do not believe we are required to tithe. I do however believe that as Christ followers that our resources actually belong to God and that we are to give regularly and with a cheerful heart as part of our worship to him. We do not live under the law of the Old Testament we live in an age of grace.

So then, the question becomes, how do we know if what we are giving is the right amount? First off, let me say even though I do not think we HAVE to tithe I do believe it is in our best interests to tithe. The Biblical principles of being a good manager of God's resources apply to us and as such we are not being the best of stewards if we are not giving back to God a portion of what he allows us to have.

The biggest issue for us is we all need to learn to place God first. That means first in everything. If we wait until we have enough it will never happen. If we give to God first it will happen. The same principle can be found in almost every other area of our life. If we do not plan for something and make it a priority it's not going to happen.

For many years now I have taught that, for most people, giving back to God usually happens in three stages. If you are struggling with giving. I suggest you think and pray about the following.

1. Learn to give regularly. Simple enough. Sit down with your spouse. Look at your budget and decide up front how much you are going to give. That way you have budgeted for it and it becomes a priority. When you are paying your bills write a check to your church. If you wait until Sunday morning you'll find that you will not give regularly.
   
2. Learn to give proportionally. After you have made a habit of regular giving you'll most likely find that God has blessed you financially. As that happens allow him to stretch you and as he blesses you increase the amount of your giving to account for his blessing. Pray about what he would have you to do and follow his leading.
   
3. Learn to give sacrificially. Once you have gotten to the point of increasing your giving as God blesses you, you'll find there are times that you feel led to give to this cause or that ministry. If you have been a good steward and followed God's leading then go for it!

There are a few other pointers when it comes to giving.

• Never go into debt to give. God doesn't need your cash that badly (trust me, we'll live)
• If you aren't earning a paycheck. Don't worry about giving. Pray about a job. When the job comes make God a priority. Find other way's of serving the God as your offering.
  
• Just as we talk about waiting for a big purchase and praying on it. Do the same before writing a big check to your favorite ministry. If God is in your giving you'll know it.
• Offer everything back to him with a cheerful heart. God isn't extorting your cash for a blessing. Giving is part of your worship.....treat it that way.