Principles for Giving

How much each of us gives is between us and God, but He has given us some biblical guidelines to help us.

1 Putting God First
With our money as with all aspects of our lives we are making sure that God is first in our lives and that what we give is the best of what we have, not the 'leftovers. (Deuteronomy 26: 1-3)

2 Prayerfully
As an act of worship and thanksgiving (1 Chronicles 29: 10-14)

3 Proportionately
God's people have often used a guideline of 10% of their income as a starting point for their giving (Leviticus 27:30).  In 1 Corinthians 16:2 Paul encourages Christians to give a percentage of our income rather than a token amount.  The Church of England is suggesting 5% of our income.

4 Planned
Christian giving is not about our loose change as an afterthought.  Rather it is about committing to God what we have prayerfully decided to give. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

5 Sacrificially
We acknowledge there is a cost to our giving.  (Luke 21:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8:2-4)

6 Cheerfully and with Thankfulness
It is because we have received from God that we are free to give to Him in return.  We give with grace, from the heart, with open hands, not clenched fists. (Matthew 10:8 and 2 Corinthians 9:7).