How Much Is Good Enough?

Last night I was sitting around with a bunch of the guys from Church, and we wound up talking for some reason about church giving.  A couple of the guys were beating themselves up over not meeting their 10% “expectation.”  We all hear how we are supposed to give our 10%, and many tie that amount to “how good a Christian” you are.  Some in the “Gospel of Prosperity” cults even believe if you give that much or more to them, you will get rich in money yourself.  Unfortunately, the Bible says none of those things.  What happens when your church expects 10% and you want to give to another cause that is worthwhile?  Some places even put you in the sinner category for that.

Jesus made a point to quote Hosea 6:6, “I want your mercy not your sacrifices.”  It’s all God’s money anyway…He could take it all tomorrow.  He wants out hearts.  Giving money to the church because it’s your membership fee and ticket to Heaven is simply not true.  Now, I am not saying that 10% is not a good number for giving, because there sure are many needs out there that are important to get involved in helping with them.  But, giving because you think you have to or because you think that will make God happy and get you the E ticket ride to heaven is not where it’s at.  And if it's used to gold plate the church doors...well, you get what I mean.  Give wisely.

Paul makes a good point when he says “faith without works is dead.”  He didn’t say, faith without tithing 10% is dead.  (Still there are many non-Christians who do good works…sadly, many times a lot more than some Christians do.)  Our faith should motivate us to want to give of our talents, resources and time without applying percentages to give us a passing grade.

There are people out and about who spend a fortune on their own excessive pleasures and give little of what they have in abundance, often far less than ten percent.  There are others who have little and live frugally and giving ten percent means not eating.  I certainly can’t see holding that against the poor person, but I sure can see judgment being levied on the rich one.  I remember Jesus saying much the same thing when the “poor widow’s” two copper coins meant more than the rich man’s gift that he could easily afford.  Being a widow without son’s to care for her was literally a death sentence in ancient Israel.  To those to whom much is given, much is expected…whether it’s money or time or talent.

More than anything, God wants our hearts and our hands.  We’re here to reach out to others who need us.  The money will follow our heart…maybe you’ll want to give 20%...who knows!