The Heart of the Giver

They are in awe at the sacrifice of Christ. They are renewed by the shedding of His blood. They are moved into action by the forgiveness that is freely offered. They walk in obedience because of the love they have for Him. They aim to live their lives for the One who saved them. Who are they? They are the believers with a heart of worship!

Because so much was given, true worshipers are givers from the heart. They give not out of fear, obligation, or self-gratification, but from a willingness to please the One that saved them. So what do they, the true worshipers, give? They give everything!! They give their time to advance the kingdom of God, they use their hands to prepare meals for the hungry, they use their skills to help with church administration, they use their gifts to edify the body of Christ, they use their testimonies to win the hearts of unbelievers for Christ, and they use their finances to aid in mission trips and for the relief of the poor. They leave nothing off limits! They give themselves and their substance fully, without grudge, to the One who gave His very life out of pure love. They have true hearts of giving.  

Their giving hearts are not their own, but of one that has been renewed by the blood of Christ. Their hearts imitate the One who died for them. For Christ, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, came not to be served, but to serve.  We all should work toward having the true heart of a giver because it shows, through our actions, that we are cooperating with the Holy Spirit to become transformed into the image of Christ. So, do you have the heart of a giver?

Meditate on this scripture which encourages presenting and submitting ourselves to the service of Christ…

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. (Romans 12: 1-2)

~Toni H.

Increasing Your Ability To Give By Financial Planning

My fellow bloggers and I here at Second Calvary Baptist Church have been discussing the topics of tithing and offering and their biblical significance to our life as Christians. We all agree on the several ideals in regards to giving which include obedience, our willingness to aid our local communities, and contributing to the church’s ministries and missions. But let us explore another facet to the subject of giving, a more practical side. Sometimes we may find ourselves in situations where we want to give more to a scholarship fund or an upcoming mission trip after we have already given our tithes. A possible solution to opening up a bigger window to give for such things may be to establish a realistic financial plan.

Establishing such a plan can increase your ability to give. Let me explain, with an example, why this is a plausible solution. I find myself, very frequently, becoming a victim of the Wal-Mart trap. I go into Wal-Mart sometimes with only an idea of what I am purchasing and end up spending way more than I anticipated. However, when I go to Wal-Mart with not only a budgeted amount to spend, but also a list of items to purchase, I find myself sticking to the plan that was created. I give this example to say this: If we create a financial plan for ourselves this will enhance our standard of living and also increase our ability to give more. If we ask the Holy Spirit to guide us, He will enable us to write a vision for our finances and make it clear and feasible.  If we map out our expenses on paper and maintain the discipline to stay committed to it, we maximize the usage of our income.

In essence, financial planning has great benefits. It’s the wisdom of God that enables us to plan with diligence which in turn, can create more opportunities for us to give to those charities, causes, scholarship funds, etc. that we hold so dear to our hearts.  

Meditate on these scriptures that encourage diligence in planning:

Who would build a tower without first sitting down and estimating the cost to be sure he has enough money to complete it?( Luke 14:28)

The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage… (Proverbs 21:5a)

~Toni H.

Above and Beyond

Most of the things we enjoy come through the hard work of another person, many of which may not receive the pay equal to the quality of their work. For example, when you go to a restaurant you are required to pay the full bill for your service. Tips are highly recommended when servers, waitresses and waiters are involved Some people don't tip. Then there are those who tip generously. In either case, there's a need and a service that takes place that too often doesn't match the actual "price tag."

Needs and services exist in the church. The people who attend need and are seeking something they cannot get in the world. And the church provides services to those who attend. What we sometimes fail to realize is that the church has a need also. The leaders of a church spend a great deal of time and effort into making sure the church operates effectively to meet the needs of the people. This is a full time ministry for some of them. Our lives are being enriched and blessed as a result.

Numbers 18:21-24 exemplifies how it takes finances to do God's work. "I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting. From now on the Israelites must not go near the tent of meeting, or they will bear the consequences of their sin and will die. It is the Levites who are to do the work at the tent of meeting and bear the responsibility for any offenses they commit against it. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. They will receive no inheritance among the Israelites. Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord. That is why I said concerning them: ‘They will have no inheritance among the Israelites." (NIV)

Our tithes and offering directly support the work of the ministry. God commands us to tithe. It's a requirement not a suggestion. Once we respond in the area of tithing, we need to give generously in our offering. Luke 6:38 shows us that when we are obedient to the Word of God in our TITHES and OFFERINGS, then we should expect an abundance of blessings; "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”(NIV)

Please remember that both the TITHES and OFFERINGS need to be given in your church. Go above and beyond tithing and offer a blessing more than the one you received. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in the area of giving above the requirement. He will show you and you will be blessed.

~Lynn

The Heart of The Matter..... Tithing

Our Christian walk is filled with many choices and decisions, confrontation of temptations that entice us, and the ability to choose how to respond to each. A lot of what others can see often is displayed on the exterior, which also embeds our speech and actions. We are all aware of the possibility that our outer shell can be a front, just a facade of what we want others to see, while our heart may reflect a different disposition. Sometimes the difference between the two is unintentional, but it does not negate the fact that there is a difference.  However, our God is one who pays no attention to that outer shell; He pricks the intent of our hearts.

As I read the parable of the rich young ruler (Mark 10:17-27), it clearly depicted the understanding that one could very well, in their own way of thinking, give their entire being to the calling of God. It shows how we can follow all the commandments and laws with strict obedience, but we never look into our hearts to see if the most important object of God’s affection is actually, His!! When confronted by Jesus, after disclosing how closely he lived for God, the rich young ruler was asked to give everything he had away to the poor and follow Christ. The rich young ruler responded by walking away, grieving.  Now, doesn't this request go straight to the Heart of the Matter? It’s not that Jesus wanted to see the young rich ruler without wealth, He wanted him to understand that he had not given his heart completely over to God in all things, even his wealth; he lacked trust.

So the question is have you gotten to the true matters of the heart in regards to God? Is your obedience and trust in His word manifested when you have the opportunity to give, which also includes tithing? Let God know that you trust him fully and that money has no bearing on your relationship with him. The heart of the matter is that everything was given, so why not give, with a cheerful heart.

Meditate on this scripture which encourages giving from the heart:

God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need……..You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion. (2 Corinthians 9:8, 11)

~Toni H.

Are You A Steward?

You have to pay the cost to be the boss is a cliché that rings in our society today. It alludes to the fact that to gain status, prestige, and success, you have to “pay your dues." Now let us refocus this phrase to our heavenly Father. He definitely paid a cost for us, through Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, so that we may have eternal life with Him when our physical life ends. Not only that, He went much further; He created an earth for us to inhabit, talents so we can make a living for our families, and gifts to serve His kingdom. All of this for His children, and in return, our Father in heaven expects us to be excellent stewards of the gifts, talents, and blessings that He has given us.

So what is a steward? A steward can be defined as a person who manages another's property or financial affairs; one who administers anything as the agent of another or others. We came into this world with nothing, so how can anyone assume that we are not stewards for the Almighty? We have always existed in a community with many people who aid in the development of our lives and careers, so how can anyone say they are self-made? We did not give ourselves our gifts, talents, or life itself, so we are truly stewards in every sense of the word. However, stewardship goes much deeper than the managerial component. Proper stewardship shows a great appreciation for the blessings, gifts, and talents that were given and it should produce a sense of integrity and healthy pride to be called a son or daughter of the Most High God.

I challenge us as a church and as individuals, to begin to utilize our time, gifts, finances, and talents for Kingdom advancement, community enrichment, and the edification of our fellow Christian and unbelievers alike. All this will prove that we are who we say we are, it will draw others to Christ where their gifts may be used, and ultimately, it will give all honor and glory to God. We were made in the image of God, so let us respond by being grateful and honorable stewards.

Meditate on this scripture that encourages stewardship:

“Each of you should use whatever gift you received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Peter 4:10)

~Toni H

Faith, Obedience, and Tithing

Faith, Obedience, and Tithing

When I decided to give my life to Christ I was excited about the changes in my life that were about to occur.  I knew that there were things, people and habits that I would have to give up. The one thing I honestly didn't consider giving was tithes. With four young children and a very minimal income it didn't even cross my mind. 

It wasn't until I attended a bible study that focused on tithing that I truly understood its importance. Tithing is an act of faith and obedience. I had to learn to trust God with what He had already given me by giving it back to Him. Luke 16:10 says “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." I had been entrusted with what belonged to God. Therefore it was (is) my responsibility to make a statement of faith and become a steward of tithing.  With tithing also comes obedience. Malachi 3:10 says, "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 there will not be room enough to store it." It doesn't say part of or some. It says the WHOLE tithe. These scriptures tell me that no matter what my circumstances are I must trust and OBEY God’s Word.

I encourage you today to begin to trust and obey God with what He has given you. In doing so, watch how the windows of heaven pour out blessings upon your life.  When we tithe, we receive many blessings from God. "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap" (Luke 6:38). My testimony is that God's promises of blessings are true! 

~ Lynn 

Cheerful Giving

Have you ever asked someone for something and they gave it to you with an attitude?  How did you feel?  When situations like this occur it can make you feel like you wished you had never asked.  No one wants to feel like they are an inconvenience to another.  A “gift” should make the recipient happy, not sad or angry.  Giving should be an act from the heart.  2 Corinthians 9:7 states, “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).”  God honors such acts and He blesses those who are willing to give voluntarily and with LOVE.  

Let your motives for giving be acceptable in the sight of God.  God desires what’s in your heart more than what’s in your hand. Service that is cheerful and voluntary, that is offered out of true love to Him is acceptable in his sight. God loves it because it shows a heart like his own.

"How can I be a cheerful giver?” Well, the greatest example is that of Jesus Christ who willingly gave His life that we may have ours.  God predestined for us to be conformed to the likeness of His Son (Romans 8:29). What better way for us to emulate Jesus Christ than to give selflessly the way He gave to us.  More importantly, our greatest motivation for generous and cheerful giving should be that it pleases God and that it reflects His gift of salvation to us. 

~ Lynn