Men's Conference: Iron Sharpen's Iron
Village Bible Church || Sugar Grove, IL
Who Should Give?
What do we believe about our stuff?
Very simply, everything we have comes from God and it all belongs to God – not to us. Stewardship is defined as …”using God-given abilities to manage God-owned properties to attain God-ordained results.”
The Lord owns all of our possessions. As stewards we simply manage and administer things on His behalf. He entrusts possessions to us and then holds us accountable for their use. The recognition that God owns it all is crucial in allowing Jesus Christ to become the Lord of our money and possessions.
Our responsibility is summed up in this verse: “It is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy” (1 Corinthians 4:2).
Our money is a blessing and a tool we use to worship Him by giving to the church, providing for our families and enjoying God and the grace that He gives us. You may have a lot or you may have a little, but the real question is: are you worshipping God with your stuff and do the firstfruits of your checkbook reveal that?
How much should I give?
The Old Testament law required a tithe of 10% plus other festival gifts. Overall, Old Testament Jews were required to give around 30% of their income to the Lord. The New Testament does not say how much we should give today but rather seeks to deal with the heart behind our giving. 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 say that our giving should be cheerful, regular, sacrificial and generous. Many Christians like to start with the goal of a 10% tithe. That's a great general goal to set and one that we even suggest you prayerfully consider. Remember, however, that the New Testament does not prescribe a percentage; through prayer we must seek to have a clear conscience with regard to our giving. God might lead you to give only 5% for this season of your life – or he might lead you to give 95%! However He leads you, remember Jesus' words: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).
Who should give?
Christians should give faithfully to their local church. If you are not a Christian, don’t give. Seek to deal with the larger issue: your sin and Jesus’ forgiveness of that sin. We are less concerned about the amount people give than with the number of people who are giving. God is building His kingdom through the church, and He asks that all believers share in this joyous responsibility. This mission is bigger than just a few of us and takes everyone’s effort and faithfulness.
How Can I Give?
Click Here for ways to give to the ministry of Village Bible Church.
