We all have a sense of benevolence within us. Charity is one of the core foundations to the Kingdom of God. But if you don’t have a plan and a listening ear, chances are you’re not giving as much to God as you think you are.
My application for giving has three components:
1) 10% off the top goes to my Church.
2) I support an overseas missionary every month, and try to give more than my monthly commitment whenever possible.
3) I plan to spontaneously give away about 5-10% of my income every month. This is in addition to my 10% tithe. It is part of my budget. I look for a need or a person that the Lord will highlight each month, and then give. I have some amazing stories because of this commitment.
jared said:
Why do we give the tithe first when Israel gave the first fruit offering first? shouldn’t we be giving a first fruit offering like Israel did?
Posted on April 24, 2007 at 6:41 am
{Shawn} said:
@ Jared: I’m not sure I follow you. Isn’t giving the tithe first thing from our income the same as giving our first fruits?
Posted on April 24, 2007 at 7:02 am
Jacquie said:
I have a question - just in your opinion - I’ve always been taught that your tithe should go to the “storehouse” (Malachi 4) - being your local church. But when I was reading in the O.T., God asked the Israelites to give their tithe (first fruits) to the priests, the widow, the poor, the refuge, etc. Some people tithe by giving their 10% to ministries other than their home church. Do you think there is a right and wrong way to tithe?
Posted on April 24, 2007 at 8:32 am
Matthew Berry said:
Shawn,
I wholeheartedly agree with what you’re saying about giving. Part of living the fasted lifestyle is outrageous giving - even if that giving is out of our own need.
I like your idea of the additional 5-10% for random acts of blessing people. What excellent witnessing opportunities as well! To not only speak a work in season, but do it with a gesture of love and kindness. It is like Jesus’ method of feeding the 5000 with spiritual bread and actual bread.
@ Jacquie:
I don’t believe there’s any right/way wrong way to tithe. However, my personal conviction is that my tithe should go to the church I attend. Someone has to pay for the electricity, rent, and other essentials to keep a church going.
We don’t yet have a full-time pastor (we’re still about 40-50 people), but I think it’s only right to help out your pastors for the leadership they provide.
I’ve grappled with your same question before. The problem I had with drawing parallels with the OT examples of tithe was that the pre-exilic religious leadership was more of united entity than the Church today. The Jews were, in sense, tithing to the tribe of Levi, who dispersed the funds to the necessary places of need (i.e. the poor, widows, Temple fund, provision for the Levites, etc.). Today, we do not have that Levitical order to give to. Therefore, my wife and I have decided to give to our church, support missionaries, and (eventually) incorporate the 5-10% (or more) fund to bless other.
Posted on April 24, 2007 at 9:11 am
Idhrendur said:
I love it! I’ve been planning on putting #3 in my budget for some time now (as in, when my budget shows I actually earn enough money to cover my rent). It’s good to know I’m not in uncharted waters here.
Posted on April 24, 2007 at 11:20 am
Robin said:
Good point about thinking you give more than you actually do. And I have been thinking about the people in my life that I would like to support when they go into ministry, whether it be the church or the missionfield.
Hey I move that Shawn tell some of those amazing stories, if he could. We would love to hear the great love and faithfulness of God. Any seconds on that motion?
Posted on April 24, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Ruth said:
i love your posts about giving financially.. i need to grab this in my heart more. for example, in reality it is so hard to really give your money to someone who can or never will do anything in return for you. but it’s ok to give like this. my opinion is that in giving we really begin to look like Jesus.
Posted on April 24, 2007 at 3:05 pm
{Shawn} said:
@ Robin: I love telling stories. Great idea. I will write them up for next Monday’s post.
Posted on April 24, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Robin said:
YAY!!
(I honestly responded by shouting this out and clapping my hands with a big smile on my face. :))
Posted on April 24, 2007 at 3:53 pm