>GOD WANTS YOU TO GIVE > >The person sitting next to you in church hands you the offering >plate, and you hesitate, then drop some pocket change in to avoid >feeling guilty. Perhaps you don't feel as if you can afford to give much >right now, or don't trust that the money will be used faithfully. Maybe >you silently think, "This isn't really that important. God will >understand if I don't give." > >But God wants you to give. If you don't, His work on earth will >be hindered, and you won't grow much in your relationship with >Him. > >Here are some biblical principles that can help guide your >financial giving: > > * God has made it possible for you to possess all the money >you currently have. If it weren't for Him, you wouldn't have >it in the first place. > > * You're accountable to God for how you use the money He has >entrusted to you. > > * God wants you to tithe (donate 10 percent of your income) to >support His work on earth, such as your local church and >other ministries. > > * God wants you to contribute additional funds called >offerings whenever His Spirit leads you to do so. Offerings >might honor God in gratitude for a recent financial blessing, >such as a bonus or income tax return. > > * God wants you to give regularly. Establish a habit of it. > > * God wants you to give in proportion to your income. He wants you to >be generous with what you have but doesn't expect you to give more than >you're reasonably able to give. A rich >person would be able to give a higher amount than a poor >person, but if both give what they can, God will be pleased. > > * God wants you to give cheerfully. > > * Churches and other ministries should always fully disclose >their budgets, since they are accountable to people who >donate funds to them. > > * God doesn't expect you to respond to every appeal for money, just >the ones He prompts you to heed. > > * Your motives are important when you give. Don't give with >ulterior motives, such as to elicit favorable attention from >others or to attempt to earn extra credit from God. Giving >that pleases God is motivated by gratitude for who God is and >what He has done in your life. Give to glorify God and to >help other people, whom He loves. > > * God will bless you when you give, by providing for all your >needs and transforming you more into the person He would like >you to be. You never need to worry that giving your money to >God's work will leave you without enough for your own needs, >and you'll always be spiritually enriched by giving. > > * God wants you to give sacrificially. Consider the ultimate >sacrifice He made out of His love for you. > > * God will enable you to keep pledges He leads you to make. > > * When you are prosperous, you should help others in need. >When you're in need yourself, you should accept help from >others. > >-- By Live It Editor Whitney > >----------- > Stephen F. Olford is the founder of the Stephen > Olford Center for Biblical Preaching in Memphis, > Tennessee. He has pastored churches in the United > States and abroad, written numerous books and > traveled the world in conference and crusade > ministry. > > Adapted from The Grace of Giving: A Biblical Study of > Christian Stewardship, copyright 2000 by Stephen F. > Olford. Published by Kregel Publications, Grand > Rapids, Michigan, www.kregel.com, 1-800-733-2607. ********************************************************************** This mail is generated from JOYnet, a Jesus Youth mailing list. To unsubscribe, send a mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For automatic help, send a mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In case of any issue related to the mailing list contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] To know more about Jesus Youth, visit http://www.jesusyouth.org **********************************************************************
