Dollars and Cents

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. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

I was recently asked by someone if I take donations for this blog/website. The answer is - No. I am not organized as a non-profit or any type of organization that is able to accept donations, nevertheless, the kind you can write off. Unless God tells me otherwise, I don't plan to structure this ministry in any such way (side note: I have listed two organizations at the end of this blog who I would recommend giving to in lieu of GetWisdom).

Despite not accepting donations, it made me glad that my writing was able to impact this person to the point where they felt compelled to ask about making one. You see, God loves cheerful givers. He loves when people are moved in their heart to give. Think of a time you felt an urge to be generous. Maybe you saw a Go-Fund-Me page for someone impacted by a tragic loss. Maybe you saw a homeless man on the streets and you felt moved to buy him a warm cocoa and lunch. Or maybe a neighbor was spending a holiday alone and you felt moved to invite them over for a meal. God loves when we give cheerfully, from our hearts.

You might have been taught about how we should give biblically. I know a lot of church organizations teach that members of the church should practice tithing. According to Smith's Bible Dictionary, a "Tithe" or tenth is the proportion of property devoted to religious uses in very early times. Here is what the Jewish law states from the Old Testament...

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. Whoever would redeem any of their tithe must add a fifth of the value to it. Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the LORD. (Leviticus 27:30-32)

Tithing, as spelled out in the scriptures, originally involved agriculture and livestock. But today, church organizations teach that one should tithe their income. That means you would be taking 10% of your income (arguably gross income - before taxes) and offering it to a religious institution as a gift. I don't think this is bad. I think, if you are moved in your heart to practice this, then it is good. But if are tithing out of obligation or guilt, you might want to prayerfully consider how God calls us to give.

Whatever we give, we should be offering it up with joy in our hearts.

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. (2 Corinthians 9:6)

Right before the foundation scripture (2 Cor 9:7 at the top), Paul reminds his audience that we will reap whatever we sow. Now, that might sound like it's a competition of who can give more money, but it's not. Paul is NOT referring to "the televangelist special" a.k.a. "give $100 and get back $100,000." Rather, it's important to note that we sow with our hearts, not our bank accounts.

Jesus made it easy for us to understand...

As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. (Luke 21:1-3)

It's not about the size of your gift. It's about the size of your heart. A poor woman offering up all she has to her name vs. the wealthy offering up a fraction of their gold. This situation reminds me of how so many billionaire philanthropists will pat themselves on the back for donating millions of dollars towards charities. I'm not saying their giving is terrible. However, the homeless woman at a shelter in Detroit that just gave her only pair of gloves to another person's freezing child is sowing and reaping more generously. It's not a competition of who makes more and can give more - God is measuring the heart.

I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve. (Jeremiah 17:10)

So what am I saying? Should you tithe? Should you give 10%? Should you give less? More?

I'm not saying anything. I have tithed. I have given less than a tithe. I have given more. You should decide in your heart what you want to give, as directed by the Holy Spirit. I will challenge each of you with this...whatever and however you choose to give, what is the expectation of your giving? Are you seeking some type of earthly reward (financial, possessions, healing, etc.)? Or are you seeking to please the LORD?

Those seeking the former should be reminded of Jesus' teaching...earthly treasures will perish.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. (Matthew 6:19)

Those seeking the latter should be reminded of what pleases the LORD...love and compassion.

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (Hebrews 13:16)

For those of you moved in your heart give, please prayerfully consider the following organizations.

Milele Foundation - https://www.milelefoundation.com/

Milele exists to change lives and empower communities through sharing the love of Christ.

We accomplish this by partnering with Ugandan communities to provide support through labour, healthcare, and project-based repairs and solutions to problems. Examples may include installing water systems, making repairs to buildings, providing new equipment to schools, and leading neighbourhood beautification projects.

We also negotiate opportunities to witness to people in the community through neighbourhood adult schools, and in-school services that teach people about the Love of Christ, giving them fresh eyes for the gospel and how it can change their families and their futures.

City Relief - https://cityrelief.org/

FOUNDED IN 1989, CITY RELIEF HAS MOBILIZED THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS TO COMPASSIONATELY SERVE THOSE STRUGGLING WITH HOMELESSNESS BY PROVIDING HOPE & RESOURCES THAT LEAD TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION.