John Cline
In these past two weeks, our blogs have focused on Brian Kluth’s “practical advice about giving”. For this week and next week the two blogs will again feature Brian Kluth’s words, but this time with him writing about “10 reasons to give 10% or more”. Following are his words,
‘As materialism and consumerism have infiltrated our lives in recent decades, many people have drifted from any biblical moorings concerning their Christian giving. Here are 10 biblically based and practical reasons to make giving 10% or more to God’s work the highest financial priority in your life (this week’s blog will feature reasons 1 to 5, while next week’s will finish off the article with reasons 6 to 10).
1. It is a proven pattern of giving done by Christ’s followers for many generations. In 1899, a bibliography was compiled of books related to systematic Christian giving. There were over 500 books listed in this bibliography from over 100 years ago, demonstrating a long tradition of open-handed giving, and yet many Christians today do not understand the importance of faithful and generous giving. Read Genesis 14:17-20, Genesis 28:16-22, Leviticus 27:30, Proverbs 3:9-10, Malachi 3:7-15, Matthew 23:23.
2. It will give the Lord first place in your life. If I saw your financial records, I would quickly know who or what you value. By giving the best of what you have to God, you are expressing your allegiance to him. You will grow in your respect for the Lord and will see him working more actively in your life. Read Deuteronomy 14:23, Malachi 1:6-8.
3. It will bring God’s wisdom and order to your finances. If I get dressed in the morning and get the first button out of place on my shirt, all the rest of the buttons will be messed up. When it comes to finances, the first button to get in place is your giving. When you get this area in order, everything else follows. Giving is also the only known antidote for “affluenza” (the desire for more things), which permeates our world today. Read Matthew 6:19-21, Matthew 6:24-34, Luke 12:16-21, 1 Timothy 6:6-10,17-19, Eccelesiastes 5:10.
4. It will serve as a practical reminder that God is the Owner of everything in your life. By faithfully giving the Lord 10% or more of all you ever receive, you are actively acknowledging his ownership in your life. As someone once told me, “God owns it all and God loans it all.” We are not owners, only temporary possessors and managers of what God entrusts to us during our lifetime. Read 1 Chronicles 23:11-18, Psalm 24:1-2, Psalm 50:10-12, Haggai 2:8.
5. It will allow you to experience God as your Provider. One of the most amazing things about learning to faithfully give to the Lord is the joy you will experience when you see God provide for you in creative ways that show his love for you as your Heavenly Father. Read 1 Kings 17, Proverbs 3:9-10, Malachi 3:7-15, Haggai 1:4-11, Haggai 2:15-19, Luke 6:38, Deuteronomy 28, Philippians 4:15-19, Mark 12:41-44.’
