 | Learn about giving |
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At Breath Of Life Worship Centre, we believe that our commitment to giving financially says as much about our spiritual maturity as does our commitment to worship, Bible study, prayer, serving and community.
Giving financially to the church is not the equivalent of paying membership dues. In fact, it is a spiritual act of trust, obedience, and worship to God. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." [Matthew 6:19-21]
We believe that giving financially to God's work is a heart issue. "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." [2 Corinthians 9:7]
We also believe that God blesses those who trust Him.
Honor the Lord with your possessions, and the firstfruits of all your increase: so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. [Proverbs 3:9-10]
As followers of Jesus Christ, we understand that everything belongs to God. Thus, we look upon ourselves and "our" possessions with an understanding that we are actually stewards of God's possessions rather than owners. A steward is a manager of someone else's property. The Bible teaches that God owns it all and that we are merely stewards of His resources. God says, " Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me." [Job 41:11] "'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD Almighty. [Haggai 2:8]
Three Implications:
1. He can have anything He wants whenever He wants it: We are to hold everything loosely.
2. Every spending decision is a stewardship decision: Every line in our checkbook represents the way we are spending Someone else's money.
3. We can't fake stewardship: Our checkbook gives us away.
Typically, people don't give because:
1. They don't plan to give.
2. No one ever taught them to give.
3. They don't believe that they could give and still have enough.
God says, "Trust me with at least 10%." ("tithe" = 10%) "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse-the whole nation of you-because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." [Malachi 3:8-10]
Tithes is 10% of what your gross is not what your net is. This is what we give to God every time we receive our paycheck or our trust fund, with offerings. Offerings are above our tithes and is left up to us what God has placed on our heart to give, but your tithe is 10% of your gross salary. This is what tithe is.
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