This is probably the most common question among Christians. “Why should I give away my hard earn money? The church is corrupt! I give to charity that’s enough. We believe our God resides in heaven, right? Do they have ATMs up there? I thought not. And so God doesn’t need our money.” Even if he did, no amount you give could repay him. Not only that, you could give 100 million in the basket, and still not pay yourself to heaven.
So if he doesn’t need our money, then why do the church want our money?
Firstly, if you don’t want to give then the simple answer is don’t. That’s not what God wants. To give is an offering of our faith and trust in God. After our family, what is the thing we love/need the most in this world? It’s money, it’s our time and so what else could he have tested us with? A test of faith in our time of need. A test of trust when we have nothing else. A belief that our contributions will not fall shy in the Kingdom of God.
Secondly, it’s not a church requirement, its biblical and as followers of Christ we follow his word. We need to begin to change our mindset from, it’s my money, to, it belongs to God. Only then will be begin to feel comfortable to part ways with it. God doesn’t ask us to just give, he asks us to be cheerful givers. How can you happily give away your money when you’re barely surviving. If anyone could turn that situation around, wouldn’t it be God? The bible shows us that those who gave with faith and trust never went without. God wants to meet with your needs, are you prepared to meet with him? Again, it’s not the financial transaction, it’s you putting your faith in God’s hands.
MALACHI 3:10-12
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.
Does this mean I should only give in my time of needs? Not at all, as disciples we should have a giving and serving heart. It should be a characteristic. To give when we see someone has a need, when God has convicted us and make it a general habit. We shouldn’t give for a return, but one of the beautiful things we find with giving is seeing how God out gives us. He takes us from nothing to something. He multiplies our deposit.
So, Why Give to the Church?
Alright, let’s get straight to the point: why should you give to the church? I mean, isn’t it enough to give to people directly or donate to worthy causes? Good questions, all of them. But here’s the thing—when we talk about giving to the church, we’re talking about supporting God’s house.
The church is his house. Yes, you can give to individuals, charity etc but primarily we are to give to his storehouse. I understand there are concerns about giving to certain churches. Pray about this, ask for help and guidance. However, so long as you’re giving with the right heart, don’t worry about the rest as God sees your heart.
Below are scriptures on giving amount, giving in difficulty, why, blessings and the poor.
GIVING THE AMOUNT YOU’RE ABLE TO GIVE
2 CORINTHIANS 9:7
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
MARK 12:41-44
And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
DEUTERONOMY 15:10
You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.
GENESIS 14:19-20
And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
DEUTERONOMY 14:22-23
You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year. And before the Lord your God, in the place that he will choose, to make his name dwell there, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and flock, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always
SCRIPTURES ON GIVING DURING FINANCIAL INSECURITY
MATTHEW 6:26
Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
2 CORINTHIANS 8:2-3
For in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,
PHILIPPIANS 4:19
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
1 TIMOTHY 6:17-19
As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
BIBLE VERSES ON WHY GOD ASKS US TO GIVE
PROVERBS 3:9
Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.
2 CORINTHIANS 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake, he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
1 TIMOTHY 6: 9-10
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
LEVITICUS 27:30
A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.
PSALM 37:21
The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;
HEBREWS 13:16
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
PROVERBS 21:26
Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give!
MATTHEW 6:21
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
JOHN 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
OFFERING SCRIPTURES ON BEING BLESSED THROUGH GIVING
2 CORINTHIANS 9:6
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
LUKE 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
2 CORINTHIANS 9:10-11
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
2 CORINTHIANS 9:6-7
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
PROVERBS 3:9-10
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
PROVERBS 19:17
The one who is gracious to the poor lends to the LORD, and the LORD will repay him for his good deed.
PROVERBS 11:24-25
One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.
MATTHEW 6:4
So that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you
MALACHI 3:10-12
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.
GIVING MONEY TO THE POOR
ACTS 2:44-45
And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
ACTS 20:35
In every way, I showed you that by working hard like this we should help the weak and remember the words that the Lord Jesus himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
PROVERBS 28:27
Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.
MATTHEW 19:21
Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
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