GIVING

Those who attended the meeting with the elders last Sunday evening are aware of our financial situation. We are several thousand dollars below budget for 2007. I am not suggesting we can make up the entire deficit in a few months, but I do believe we can put a dent in it, or at least prevent it from getting any worse. Giving can be a difficult subject with which to deal, but it is a biblical subject.

There are basically two attitudes in giving: one of joy in giving and the other of “Do I really have to?” I read about a little girl that became restless, as the preacher's sermon seemed (to her young mind) to drag on and on. She finally leaned over to her mother and whispered, “"Mommy, if we give him the money now, will he let us go?” Unfortunately, this does reflect the attitude of some.

Some display a great joy in giving sacrificially. One man was making a short talk before taking the contribution. He said, “Too often we try to concentrate at least once a week on Christ and His life.” His point was that we should move out of the “Once A Week” mode and be thinking about Christ daily. When we begin to do that, we will begin to move into the “giving joyfully” mode.

In every age, man has been instructed to give or sacrifice to God.

Genesis 4:3-5 - “And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell”

Deuteronomy 16:17 - “Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you.”

1 Corinthians 16:1-2 – “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also:2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 – “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”

With these verses in mind I would like to make a few suggestions:

1. Together with your spouse (if you have one) determine the amount that you purpose to give to the Lord’s work on a weekly basis, after determining that amount stick to it and write that check first before giving any attention to other bills. That amount is what you have purposed and should only be given to the Lord.

2. Since the Bible tells us we are to give on the first of every week, our giving should be done on a regular basis. Since some people are only paid on a bi-weekly basis you may wish to give on a bi-weekly basis. After all if you were not paid in a given week you did not prosper any that week. Others may wish to divide that amount and give a part of it every week.

3. A very important part of your giving is to be consistent. The elders have set forth a budget and are depending upon that money being there when it is needed. If you are out of town or on vacation, consider leaving your contribution with someone to put it in for you. If you are uncomfortable with that, either give it the week before you are going away or the week you come back.

I would like to encourage each family and/or individual to honestly examine yourselves in the area of giving. Are you giving as you should be? If not, why not make the commitment to begin. If you are, take a look to see if you may be able to do more so that the good works of this congregation will not be hindered.

--Lamar