If God owns everything, and he does, then we should not focus on the % we give away nor the $ we spend on our lifestyles but on managing all the gifts he gives us so that we glorify and please him. Another way to look at it: if you were in God's place, how do you think you would want the gifts you've given--wealth, time, talent, opportunities, etc.--to be used on earth?
Congratulations, Michelle! Much deserved accolades. You are, indeed, a good and faithful servant. Just received a copy of your new book. Eager to read it and be transformed by it. Blessings to you.
I can't believe we haven't heard the word "covenant" mentioned in this discussion. A value word from our Reformed heritage. Churches using the Kuyers or Covenant Plan to support Christian education base their action on covenant keeping. I would like to hear something from those churches in this discussion. Where are you?
Being inspired to be generous is good. Some people might think Buffet and Gates give so much because they have so much and have to give for tax purposes. I'm of the opinion that they have learned the joy of giving. Want to increase joy in your life, then try being more generous. Now this may sound as self-centered a reason as giving for tax purposes. You give to receive something else. But I've come to see that being rewarded for giving is the way God designed us in the first place. Randy Alcorn has helped me see this. And recently my pastor opened my eyes to the deeper meaning of Eccles 11:1, "Cast your bread upon the waters." For most of my life I puzzled over that passage. Why would anyone throw good bread in the water? What a waste. But my pastor suggested that casting bread upon waters is like sending your products or surplus by boat to other ports rather than keeping them for yourself. Why do this? Because you will be blessed and rewarded with what comes back (by boat). I'll bet anything what came back was some good Dutch pastry (like the almond coffee cake that Van's Pastry makes--yummy!). Nothing wrong with being rewarded for our generosity, especially when we give God thanks for sending back the reward. Life is good when we are generous! Thanks be to God!
If you are a lay leader in the church, could you complete this question – “I wish Calvin Seminary prepared students more in ….? Another way of phrasing the focus might be – “I hope that Calvin Seminary provides training in ….”
I'm a lay leader and would like to see students as future pastors prepared to talk candidly to their flock about financial giving to the church. In order to pastor their flock spiritually, pastors need to know what individual members of their flock give to the church and to be able and comfortably to talk about this matter with them. Financial giving needs to be seen as a core indicator of one's spiritual life. It is also part of the discipleship process. So the pastor must also understand the various stages of giving generosity in the spiritual development of their flock. Thanks for asking.
Posted in: Is it about the % we give away, or the $ we spend?
If God owns everything, and he does, then we should not focus on the % we give away nor the $ we spend on our lifestyles but on managing all the gifts he gives us so that we glorify and please him. Another way to look at it: if you were in God's place, how do you think you would want the gifts you've given--wealth, time, talent, opportunities, etc.--to be used on earth?
Posted in: Champions of Justice - Michelle Loyd-Paige
Congratulations, Michelle! Much deserved accolades. You are, indeed, a good and faithful servant. Just received a copy of your new book. Eager to read it and be transformed by it. Blessings to you.
Rodg
Posted in: Beyond Thoughts and Prayer
An excellent essay. We need to listen and act in love, mercy and grace. What else is there?
Posted in: OK to Use Tithe for Christian School Tuition?
I can't believe we haven't heard the word "covenant" mentioned in this discussion. A value word from our Reformed heritage. Churches using the Kuyers or Covenant Plan to support Christian education base their action on covenant keeping. I would like to hear something from those churches in this discussion. Where are you?
Posted in: Gates & Buffett: Good Intentions & Great Expectations
Being inspired to be generous is good. Some people might think Buffet and Gates give so much because they have so much and have to give for tax purposes. I'm of the opinion that they have learned the joy of giving. Want to increase joy in your life, then try being more generous. Now this may sound as self-centered a reason as giving for tax purposes. You give to receive something else. But I've come to see that being rewarded for giving is the way God designed us in the first place. Randy Alcorn has helped me see this. And recently my pastor opened my eyes to the deeper meaning of Eccles 11:1, "Cast your bread upon the waters." For most of my life I puzzled over that passage. Why would anyone throw good bread in the water? What a waste. But my pastor suggested that casting bread upon waters is like sending your products or surplus by boat to other ports rather than keeping them for yourself. Why do this? Because you will be blessed and rewarded with what comes back (by boat). I'll bet anything what came back was some good Dutch pastry (like the almond coffee cake that Van's Pastry makes--yummy!). Nothing wrong with being rewarded for our generosity, especially when we give God thanks for sending back the reward. Life is good when we are generous! Thanks be to God!
Posted in: Leadership in Ministry Course - Your Input Needed
If you are a lay leader in the church, could you complete this question – “I wish Calvin Seminary prepared students more in ….? Another way of phrasing the focus might be – “I hope that Calvin Seminary provides training in ….”
I'm a lay leader and would like to see students as future pastors prepared to talk candidly to their flock about financial giving to the church. In order to pastor their flock spiritually, pastors need to know what individual members of their flock give to the church and to be able and comfortably to talk about this matter with them. Financial giving needs to be seen as a core indicator of one's spiritual life. It is also part of the discipleship process. So the pastor must also understand the various stages of giving generosity in the spiritual development of their flock. Thanks for asking.