Before you proceed, please read through our philosophy of giving:
It all belongs to God. Not just our money, but our home, our car, our time, our skills, everything! 1 Corinthians 4:7 states: “Isn't everything you have and everything you are sheer gifts from God?” The Message
Why give? 2 Corinthians 9:7 says “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” NIV
What should we give? 2 Corinthians 8:5: “but they gave themselves first to the Lord” NIV The first step is the surrender of all we are.
When should we give? We often talk about giving from the “first fruits.” God desires to be preeminent in our lives so we should therefore give God the first portion. 2 Chronicles 31:5 proclaims: “As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the first fruits of their grain, new wine, oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything.” NIV
How much should we give? 2 Corinthians 9:6 suggests we “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” NIV Since God owns everything, it is impossible to place a limit on how much we should give. The Old Testament talks about a tithe being one-tenth. Ask God to show you to be generous with not only your financial resources but also with your time and talents.
How should we give? Giving is an act of worship to God. In our obedience to Him, giving of our time, talents and financial resources should be an expression of our relationship with Him. Giving is not limited to what is placed in the offering plate each Sunday or even through use of this system. We need to realize that giving doesn’t just happen; it takes prayer, planning and sometimes even tough financial decisions in order to have the freedom to give more.
The church has many resources available to help you in this area, from Bible studies to educational seminars to one-on-one counseling. If you need assistance, please call the church business office or return to the church website and click the “finances” link. Remember, God owns it all and you have the honor and responsibility of handling God’s money. If you have not been tithing, this is a great first goal. If you are already tithing, pray and ask God to identify the giving level He has in mind. Whatever you do, give from the heart and in a spirit of worship.
Your site uses credit cards. Doesn’t the Bible speak against debt? The Bible does speak against debt. Rom 13:8: “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.” NIV
A distinction needs to be made between credit cards and debt. Proper use of a credit card, where a purchase is made and then paid off as soon as the statement comes, is not necessarily debt and is a justifiable use of a credit card and consistent with Scripture. The use of a credit card does not constitute sin. The misuse or abuse of it does. We would encourage anyone with debt to adjust their lifestyle in such a way to eliminate debt as quickly as possible and to live within their means.
If you are currently struggling with debt and would like additional information or help, please click here.
I have read the church's philosophy of online giving and want to continue.