Jym Shorts

Jym Shorts - August 3, 2017

by Jym Gregory on August 03, 2017

…for God loves a cheerful giver. – 2 Corinthians 9:7

Last week I gave you my thoughts on what the Scriptures have to say about giving/tithing and generosity. This week I would like to share with you some of my thoughts on where I think Christians should be focusing their giving. I do this because I have had more than a few questions directed toward me concerning not so much the “how much?” but the “where to?” of giving.

I cannot give a chapter and verse that tells you where you should focus your giving, because it simply does not exist. However, I do think that the Bible gives us some direction in this area, and then some good common sense should come into play as well, I believe. In what is now chapter 9 of Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth, Paul encourages the believers there to make good on a previous pledge that they had made to give a monetary gift to the believers of Judea who had been suffering under the hardships of a famine. Paul encourages the saints in Corinth to be ready to give the money to Christian brothers that Paul is sending to them, so that the gift can make its way to Jerusalem. The result of this generosity, Paul says, will be “overflowing in many thanksgivings to God,” and “will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others.” So we see that Christian offerings are more than obedience to stewardship obligations, but are also part of our worship and gospel ministry.

Now, where should we give? The biblical answer seems to be: to those who are in need (Gal. 2:10), to the advancement of the gospel (Phil. 4:10-19) and to those who serve in gospel ministry (Luke 10:7; 1 Tim. 5:18). Amounts are not demanded, nor are percentages given. However, my observations are these. First, I believe that Christians in our cultural context (the American church) serve best when we give the bulk of our offerings to the local church. In doing so, we support all three of these goals, and we assist in the edification of believers by providing for worship space, teaching and service opportunities, and support for those in our society with the greatest needs (James 1:27). Second, there are many millions of non-believers who will support worthy causes, and there are many companies and wealthy individuals who are generous in philanthropy. As a general rule, however, these people and organizations do not give toward the advancement of the gospel. Where the American Heart Association (for example) receives gifts and grants from many places, only believers generally support the church and its causes. Therefore, the vast majority of our family’s giving goes to the local church.

Please do not hear me saying that it is sinful for a Christian to give to a “secular” cause, like a hospital or university or other organization. Give where you choose to give. Remember, however, a gift to your alma mater is not the same as a gift toward missions, or your local church. I want to not only be generous in my giving, but wise as well. For the most part, I leave gifts to the university from which I graduated and to the March of Dimes to others, and I give where most of those donors would never consider giving – to the cause of Christ. I am not the arbiter of what makes for a “godly” gift, but as your pastor I simply offer my advice, which I believe is based on biblical wisdom. My “first fruits” go to the church, to missions, to other Christian organizations and causes; my “discretionary income” goes to graduation gifts, Girl Scout cookies, fundraisers and other giving.

At LifePoint, our finance team, deacons, elders and their designees try to be faithful in how your gifts to the Lord are distributed. Much of that goes to pastoral and staff salaries, to the functioning of the church building and grounds so that we have a place to gather as a local body of believers, and to the infrastructure that makes possible events like VBS, MUMs, children’s, youth and college ministries, Music Camp, etc. We also, in an attempt to be good neighbors in our community, open our doors to events like Bible Study Fellowship, Shop with a Cop, homeschool co-ops, and Feed the Hungry. I believe that an offering to a healthy, local church body is the best way to distribute my little amount into big, biblical causes.

So, for what it’s worth, those are my thoughts on this sensitive subject. Most of you have all this figured out, but I know that a few struggle with the “how much” and “where to” questions concerning stewardship. I hope this gives you food for thought. If you would like to see where your offerings to LifePoint are going, you are always free to ask for a church budget from the office.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Jym

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