Why not double your giving?

ElElohe · Feb 9, 2005

Interesting perception, as giving is usually touted as one of the least talked about and most feared topics among pastors in my experience.

New_Wineskin said:
That's why the two most sermonized topics are on giving ( to the club ) and club attendance .

ElElohe · Feb 9, 2005

I think you're still missing the point of the poll, and that may partly be my fault in answering your posts.

I'm not at all interested in how much a "true Christian" is giving with regards to this thread. The question is much more simple; I never intended to get into such a debate (though don't necessarily mind when it is warranted). The question is simply:

Why not double your giving?

Why not invest in eternity more than in the temporal things of this world? "Go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven." Matt 19:21

StevenL said:
If true Christians are giving like Jesus told them to, you have NO IDEA how much they are giving. And you shouldn't.

9-iron · Feb 9, 2005

Malachi 3:10 "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.

Click to expand...

I am not a Jew living under the law at the time this was written. This has nothing to do with the New Testament believer.

9-iron · Feb 9, 2005

Why not invest in eternity more than in the temporal things of this world? "Go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven." Matt 19:21

I don't have a problem giving to those who are truly in need. However, most I have encountered are looking for a handout. The Bible also says basically if you don't work you don't eat. A good example is a guy I gave money to and also bought him groceries while he was in between jobs. He then takes some of the money I give him and buys cigarettes and lotto tickets. Two days later he is back in my office asking for more money. Much easier to ask for handouts than go find a job. Therefore I am always leery of who I give money to.

As far a giving more to a church, I find it extremely difficult. Why? I have noticed locally that most churches are updated and remodeling their buildings. The problem I see with that is it makes the poor intimidated to come to those churches. I mean when a place is full of marble, plush carpeting, wood-grain molding, shiny tile floors, people dressed to a T, it can be intimidated for the poor to open themselves up to being cared and ministered to.

So in these two cases doubling my giving would be a futile effort.

ElElohe · Feb 9, 2005

I am not a Jew living under the law at the time this was written. This has nothing to do with the New Testament believer.

No, none of us who are saved are living under old testement law. Jesus came to fulfill the law, but He didn't discredit the law. Some things he changed, but He cited the OT in a positive light again and again and again . . .

9-iron said:
I don't have a problem giving to those who are truly in need. However, most I have encountered are looking for a handout. The Bible also says basically if you don't work you don't eat. A good example is a guy I gave money to and also bought him groceries while he was in between jobs. He then takes some of the money I give him and buys cigarettes and lotto tickets. Two days later he is back in my office asking for more money. Much easier to ask for handouts than go find a job. Therefore I am always leery of who I give money to. .

This is unfortunate though I assure you not isolated. But God will still reward you for your giving out of a pure heart.

When it comes to giving to the church or missions, this verse in Luke is very clear:
LK 10:5 "When you enter a house, first say, `Peace to this house.' 6 If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages.

There are organizations dedicated to financial accountability among non-profits. If you are skeptical about your giving, you can find research on reputible organizations there.

9-iron said:
As far a giving more to a church, I find it extremely difficult. Why? I have noticed locally that most churches are updated and remodeling their buildings. The problem I see with that is it makes the poor intimidated to come to those churches. I mean when a place is full of marble, plush carpeting, wood-grain molding, shiny tile floors, people dressed to a T, it can be intimidated for the poor to open themselves up to being cared and ministered to.

So in these two cases doubling my giving would be a futile effort.

This is a different issue and I've discussed that in the forums before. It is a concern though, and my wife and I give less to our church than other places because the church's priorities are not as we think they should be.

Thanks for you post!

9-iron · Feb 9, 2005

It is a concern though, and my wife and I give less to our church than other places because the church's priorities are not as we think they should be.

We can walk in agreement here. I prefer to give to other places and to individuals. I feel okay about giving to organization who feed the hungry, at home or abroad.

However, I do attend a church on occasion and my children are active in Sunday school there. I feel obligated to give to this place as my family is ministered to there.

Telrunya · Feb 9, 2005

9-iron said:
As far a giving more to a church, I find it extremely difficult. Why? I have noticed locally that most churches are updated and remodeling their buildings. The problem I see with that is it makes the poor intimidated to come to those churches. I mean when a place is full of marble, plush carpeting, wood-grain molding, shiny tile floors, people dressed to a T, it can be intimidated for the poor to open themselves up to being cared and ministered to.

You ought to come to my church LOL. We're trying to build a new church true, but thats only because the one we're in now is literally falling apart at the seams. We're not going for the marble and shiny tile floors. Our folks are not normally dressed to a T but wearing a T...shirt that is. Oh We'll have the wood grain molding but thats only because we live in the northwest and wood is cheap. Especially since many who go to my church are tradesmen and have ready contacts for building supplies.

BTW What's wrong with Aggies? It's an excellent engineering school.

Diane_Windsor · Feb 9, 2005

I'm a job seeker with no income.

daverain · Feb 9, 2005

.

Giving is great!

("It's better to give than to receive.")

However...

Sadly many Christians feel that they need to do 'beyond' what Christ has done for them. Christ has died for them on the cross, yet to them (sadly) MORE is requred.

I've got the verse:

Galations 3:10 "Anyone under the law is under a CURSE."

We CAN eat Pork

We CAN work on Saturdays

-Peace in Christ.

.

viperblue72 · Feb 9, 2005

As far a giving more to a church, I find it extremely difficult. Why? I have noticed locally that most churches are updated and remodeling their buildings. The problem I see with that is it makes the poor intimidated to come to those churches. I mean when a place is full of marble, plush carpeting, wood-grain molding, shiny tile floors, people dressed to a T, it can be intimidated for the poor to open themselves up to being cared and ministered to

I attend a church in a very poor community and yet my church falls into your category. We have grown tremendously in the past few years, and it is mostly poor people that are the new members, and we also have severeal people a week who come and ask for service in the way of food and things. I dont think it really intimidates them at all.

daverain · Feb 9, 2005

.

9-iron said:
As far a giving more to a church, I find it extremely difficult. Why? I have noticed locally that most churches are updated and remodeling their buildings. The problem I see with that is it makes the poor intimidated to come to those churches. I mean when a place is full of marble, plush carpeting, wood-grain molding, shiny tile floors, people dressed to a T, it can be intimidated for the poor to open themselves up to being cared and ministered to.

Yes.

I feel this as well.

People feel the need to 'dress up',

so,

how COULD this make one feel, who is NOT?

Yet...
------

When doing 'street ministry',

most dress in 'jeans and a t-shirt'

(Why not go to church in jeans and a t-shirt ; and do 'street-ministry' in a suit-and-tie?)

?

Also:
----

If one MUST give to a church

(keep in mind Galations 3:10, however.),

WHICH ONE??

(=Which denomination is WITHOUT ERROR?)

(Is not 'non-denominational', also a denomination?)

Helping PAUL is one thing

(Paul was an APOSTLE who had 'signs and wonders' following him, and he did NOT speak error.)

P.S. Please read my marriage-threads

(There MAY be a few 'tables to overturn', as it were.)

-Peace in Christ.

.

ElElohe · Feb 9, 2005

daverain said:
.

Yes.

I feel this as well.

People feel the need to 'dress up'

.

There are regional differences here. Our church is one where you won't, you just won't see anyone in a jacket, let alone a suit. However, in NE men wore suits regularly. HOWEVER, others in the same church were certainly dressed down.

Perhaps it has to do with the church's dynamics as much as anything, but as James said, don't show partiality.

Why not double your giving?

Why not double your giving?

Fear of loss

Shortage of opportunity

Burden of debt

Lack of motivation

Mistrust of charities

Disagreement with spouse

Wouldn't be able to meet my current expenses

Other, detailed in following post

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