We often use stories of ministry changing lives to encourage sacrificial giving. And why not? Few things depict a church’s mission more powerfully than stories of personal transformation.
But what would happen if, instead of talking about how giving changes others, you framed it in terms of how it changes them personally?
The Apostle Paul does this when he prompts church members at Corinth to complete the collection they started for believers in Jerusalem. He knew how charismatic ministry energized them, but also, how they lacked the joy and goodness that comes from the practice of giving.
Paul puts the matter plainly in the language of discipleship, “Just as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us – see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” (2 Corinthians 8:7, NIV)
We leave giving out of discipleship. We say, “Pray, fast, read and worship to grow in faith, obedience and fellowship with God.”
My question is: Why not include giving?
The answer is no secret—because in the church context we barely talk about money or personal finances, let alone challenge believers to grow their personal discipleship through giving! What if the next time you speak to your congregation about giving, it’s done as matter of fact?
Before anything else, say this: “Keep following Jesus through your worship, witness, serving, praying AND GIVING! And as you do, the grace and truth of Jesus Christ will flow from your living in every way.”
Comments
Good article .......I guess. When I was in my twenties, I was motivated to donate 10% of my income to the church and other charities. I will tell you that I have never looked back on that choice, in fact I have been blessed beyond my expectations. I am now in my seventies, and am still doing the same. The problem I'm seeing though, is when you are a member of the CRC, you are also expected to send your children it a Christian school which breaks into the 10%, especially by young start up families. This places a heavy burden on your families and throw giving to church out of whack, plus, in the earlier days, the mothers needed to go to work to help pay for the financial burden placed upon them, thus in essence, handing over the burden of raising children to someone else, which in my view is totally counter productive in terms of raising your children.
When the church starts asking donation of more than 10%, I think they are out of line. Find ways to cut costs instead of hounding young families to pay up.
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