Sustaining from Gratitude

Hello friends!

“So what should I give?”

This is such an important question. What should we give to our church? 

The easy answer is 10% of what you earn is what God calls us to give. When we give ten percent of our earnings back to God we live in a way that tangibly reminds us that all that we have belongs to God anyways and this 10% is all that God asks of us.

The answer that John Wesley (the founder of the Methodist movement) gave was more straightforward: “give all that you can.” This way of giving is more extreme and reminds us of our roots of a church that was completely set on changing the world around us and that much generosity does exactly that.

But as your pastor, I have two answers to this question. First, I want you to know that giving 10% of your income is exactly what the Bible calls us to do. It is not easy and it will completely revolutionize your life and priorities.

I also think we should give all that we can-- let me explain. If life is such that right that there always appears to be more week at the end of the money, then 10% of your income being given away does not seem like something you should do! 

But what would happen if you started somewhere. You can’t give 10%? Give 1 %. Give .5%. Don’t give a dollar here or a dollar there, set a percentage and stick to that.

Why a percentage? Because when we give a percentage of what we earn, we get to keep the benefit of the tithe that reminds us that all we have belongs to God. It lets us know that generosity is not made for what’s left over, but rather generosity comes first.

So if you’ve never given through a percentage before, let 2023 be your year. It will change you, it will challenge you, and it will show incredible returns. 

We participate in the work of the Kingdom of God through our generosity. Let’s get in the game!

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Michael