I have a whole other blog post on why to give money, so I won’t go into detail here, but there are what I think are 3 solid reasons to give.
- It is significant
- You can have a big impact
- Bible encourages giving
It is significant
Many non-profit organizations fill much-needed voids in society. I personally prioritize Christian organizations where sharing the Gospel is part of the work.
Knowing that the money I can give has the potential to lead others to Christ is amazing. It really is changing eternity!
You can have a big impact
It doesn’t take a lot of money to start having an impact. While I think there’s a case to support your local church first, the US dollar goes very far in other countries around the world.
I viewed charitable giving as something that was “good to do” but would hinder my financial goals.
For me, it was often the last thing added and the first thing dropped from my budget.
As opposed to focusing on the sacrifice (though it is) that will hinder your finances – think about how God can use your money to help those in need and further His kingdom.
What the Bible Says
All verses are from the NLT.
Patterns of early church collecting money to support fellow believers
Acts 4:32-37 – All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.
This was not compulsory, but out of each individual’s heart conviction.
Giving to the poor
Acts 11:29 – So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could.
The church in Antioch chose to give to the church in Jerusalem because they saw the need they had due to a famine in the area.
Sacrifice Not Dollar Amount
2 Corinthians 8:3 – For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.
Paul is writing this about the Macedonian church. He was surprised at how generous the Macedonian church was and is using them as an example to encourage and motivate the Corinthian church. Again, these were gifts for the church in Jerusalem which was experiencing famine due to a drought.
Matthew 6:20- Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.
Jesus is addressing the heart attitude behind giving – not just of money but other resources too.
Shame about Charitable giving
10% is often considered the correct amount to “tithe” - In the Old Testament.
Leviticus 27:30 – “One-tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord and must be set apart to him as holy.
Numbers 18:26 – “Give these instructions to the Levites: When you receive from the people of Israel the tithes I have assigned as your allotment, give a tenth of the tithes you receive—a tithe of the tithe—to the Lord as a sacred offering.
Deut 14:22 – “You must set aside a tithe of your crops—one-tenth of all the crops you harvest each year.
2 Chronicles 31:5 – When the people of Israel heard these requirements, they responded generously by bringing the first share of their grain, new wine, olive oil, honey, and all the produce of their fields. They brought a large quantity—a tithe of all they produced.
A 10% “tithe” is not discussed in the New Testament
Instead, the New Testament focuses on the theme of radical generosity. It is more about the heart attitude behind giving. We see this in the verses mentioned above like 2 Corinthians 8:3 and Acts 4:32.
However, it is still often used as a benchmark for charitable giving.
This is a great place to start, but as with any area of change, we don’t have to stop there.
Not everyone can Give 10% or more in their current financial season.
But everyone can probably give something. Giving consistently should come from a place of personal conviction.
Plan/Dream/Pray About what giving will look like in the future.
In addition, there may be other ways you feel God is calling on you to sacrifice.
I do think there is something unique about giving money as it encourages us to have to trust God in a very practical way.
Expectation of 10%
So if you can’t give 10% of your income, should you not give at all?
Everyone is at a different place with their finances, and perspective toward giving.
If it’s never been a priority and you have a lot of debt, giving is probably not going to be a very high percentage of your monthly budget.
Start Small
If you’ve never given before
Start with $1/month. This may feel pitiful, but every dollar really does count for a church or non-profit organization. It’s a great way to start.
If you already are giving
Consider your path to increasing giving. This can be a certain percentage, dollar amount, or other goal to build on year over year.
No matter the amount, plan for giving
While there is nothing wrong with a spontaneous donation or gift, it’s difficult to make charitable giving a priority if you don’t track it.
A simple way of doing this is to plan for it in your monthly budget.
