We have a saying in Christian circles that goes something like this: “As an army of God we are the worst about shooting our own men.” My blog crockpot has been heating up a topic I have been holding back for two years out of fear that I will get “shot” by more believers in Christ than anyone else who would read this. I am afraid of being accused of sharing my heart on giving for personal attention, or to rob God of His glory, or to gain people’s approval. At one level I don’t care what other people think because God knows my heart. I should prepare to tune out those who would try to judge my motives for writing on this topic. At the same time I’m human. I care about how I’m impacting others through this blog. However, I question if I have the emotional energy to take care of any critics. Thus, this unresolved tension has been a key reason I have not written on giving sooner.
There is a biblical passage that has also contributed to my resistance to write on giving. Matthew 6:1-4 says, “Be careful not to practice righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Randy Alcorn, the author of Money, Possessions and Eternity, states that “we should be sharing our testimonies about giving to help the body of Christ grow in the grace of giving.” He rightly observes that the above passage has hindered many Christians from telling their story, but he points out that the operative phrase in this passage is “to be seen by them”. He says, “This is not a prohibition against others becoming aware of our giving, prayers, fasting, etc. Rather, it’s a command not to do these things in order to receive recognition from men. The Lord has used Alcorn to free me to talk about giving –understanding that some members within the Christian army will criticize me without understanding my motive.
So what is my motive? I want to share how God has grown my heart in the area of giving and the rewards He has shown me. I want to share the joy in financial giving. I want to share how God is faithful to His promises around giving. I want to share what God has been laying on my heart around future plans to give. I am passionate about the possibilities He is showing me, and I want you to know what they are! I believe the Lord is prompting me to write on this because He wants more Christians to catch the vision I believe He is showing me. In addition, we aren’t talking enough about giving beyond the tithe. We have been told for so long to “keep it a secret” that messages on financial giving tend to be limited to tithes needed to support a church budget. I have been active in church all of my life, and I don’t recall any pastor encouraging giving testimonies. I think if people could hear some testimonies around giving that was beyond tithing, many would be inspired to give more. The joy of giving is too contagious not to share!
The Lord has also given me a paradigm of living giving that I desire to share with others, which I began in my last blog. If you read my last post, “Inheritances vs Living Giving”, you will see this paradigm that leverages the power of compounding when money is given while time is on the side of the investor. I want to give you more ideas to ponder as you think about changing your family’s financial tree, while giving to the poor, the oppressed, the underdeveloped countries, etc. Why develop this? I think we’re missing the boat. I think our mentality of giving is more like giving the leftovers, when we can be intentional about giving in our younger years and watch God grow the dollars over time. It’s not about how much money you can give. It’s about God’s ability to multiply His resources when we do our part to grow it. This is based on Matthew 25:14-30, commonly known as “The Parable of the Talents”.
The cliff note version of this is that God gives one servant five talents, another servant two talents, and a third servant one talent. (Talents are a form of money.) The master goes away for a long time, and when he returns he wants to settle accounts with each servant. The servant who was given five talents put them to work and gained five more talents. The Master commended him and entrusted more to the servant. The second servant with two talents gained two more talents while the Master had been gone, and the Master was just as pleased with this servant because he doubled what he had. In both cases, the Master described these two servants as “good and faithful servants”. The third servant with one talent buried his, and the Master got angry and accused him of being lazy and suggested that he could have at least put the one talent in a bank to grow some interest. The consequence was that the one talent was taken out of this unfaithful servant’s hand and given to the servant who had ten talents. God expects us to utilize the financial resources He gives us and do the best we can to grow it. If we don’t, He knows how to move the dollars to faithful servants who will put it to good use!
I have a story to tell, and I suspect you do too. It is my hope that as I unveil how God has blessed my giving and develop the living giving model, some of you will share your giving stories with me. In the coming months expect to hear more about this topic. In fact, please begin praying about how you might participate in sharing your stories around giving.
Blessings,
Lee Ann
Rock on Sistah! We can never out give the Lord!
Amen, Elizabeth! What you just stated is my most favorite mantra about giving with the Lord’s resources. It is so true, and I want everyone to experience it as true! Love you, Lee Ann
I heard a well known pastor and speaker (Wayne Barber) once say, speak (write) truth and then duck. As for me, I’m right there with you sister! Speak truth, for what others think will not count a lick on THE DAY! HALLELUJAH! AMEN.
That is great, Deborah! I hope I’m not having to duck much! I have been with Bonnie Mikes in our weekly prayer gathering, and a verse came to her and she didn’t know why, but she shared it with me. It was Isa 54:17, “No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” Deborah, I just broke down in tears. That verse was for ME. I am getting ready to memorize it!
Blessings,
Lee Ann
I’m with ya sister! Give and give and give some more. It feels great and it’s good for everyone! With sword and shield in hand, keep writing! ♥
Thanks, Dana! I appreciate your thoughts and your encouragement. Blessings, Lee Ann
Lee Ann: Thanks for using the gift of giving which the Lord has so graciously given you. The idea of “living giving” is right on! It is the Spirit leading us to reach out and manifest the work of God in us while we have the opportunity. That’s what people need; and we are called to respond.
Yes, we each have a story about God’s blessing us and our use of resources. May God continue to work His grace in your life in regard to giving.
Jerry Bardin
Thank you so much, Jerry, for your words of encouragement. Yes, there are many needs, and we have been given His resources to minister to those in need or who just need a blessing! Please be praying about the possibility of sharing some of your own stories. I am really excited about what the Lord is cultivating in my heart, not just with living giving, but in sharing it in writing!
Blessings,
Lee Ann
Joan Curtis wrote: LEE ANN,
KEEP ON YOUR PATH. ALAN AND I ENJOY AND
FEEL BLESSED READING YOUR BLOGS. YOUR
WORDS ARE A GIFT FROM GOD, KEEP ON SHARING
HIS WORD WITH EVERYONE.
JOAN
Linda Dill wrote: Wonderful message!!! LD
Bonnie Mikes wrote: Well Spoken!!!!! Blessings to you, Bonnie
Jan Hall wrote:
“For the lack of knowledge my people perish” Go for it Lee Ann!!!!!!
Jan
Amen, Jan!! Looking forward to golf tomorrow 🙂
Blessings,
Lee Ann
“If I were still pleasing people I would not be a servant of Jesus Christ.” Gal 1:10 All we can do is the things God puts on our hearts to do. If it is scripture and you’re getting flack for it, it is really God they are upset with and not you because you are merely being a vessel of God’s Word. God’s Word which will remain long after us!
I wanted to hear your stories, this blog was just too short:)
Conundrum: I love giving and want to give more but I’m pushing to get us to give even the ten percent. Jeff and I do not agree on which if these is right: a) the tithe is given entirely to the church and anything desired to be given to missions, local organizations and fund raisers should be on top of that. b) everything given should come from the tithe. Do you see either/both of these as biblically sound? Thanks for you wisdom!
Thank you for your words of encouragement, Alaina. I hear these words as affirmation from the Lord that I am on the right track to share what He’s been laying on my heart.
With regard to your question on which stance is biblically sound (or both), my understanding of Scripture is the first 10% (the tithe) is given entirely to the church, and any other giving (freewill offerings) should be above and beyond the 10% (firstfruit). Lev 27:30 says, “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.” It all “belongs to the Lord”, not to other organizations and other people. It would be a case of rationalization to say that all giving should come out of the 10%. Of course, you already know this, but giving is a matter of the heart. To cap giving at 10% for “all giving” is ultimately withholding from God. (Malachi 3 would call it “robbing God”.) In fact, I believe that the tithe (first 10%) is the FLOOR amount of giving, not the ceiling amount!
I am landing on a) as being biblically sound. b) is rationalizing. It reflects a heart condition that doesn’t trust God to provide for your family if you gave the first 10% to the storehouse (church) and then give above and beyond. Malachi 3:9-10 says, “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 TO STORE IT.” It is a matter of trust. You either believe God is faithful to His promises found in this passage, or you don’t. Another great passage is found in 2 Cor 9:6-10. It contains a similar promise to those who sow generously. They can expect to reap generously.
I hope that helps! I am open to dialoguing further about this if so desired. I hope you’re doing well!
Blessings,
Lee Ann
Thanks Lee Ann, I’ve been going throught the OT looking at both personal giving and where the church should put its money and I feel both God’s people and the church are not using His money the way He wants and ultimately as you say, robbing God. I guess I just need prayer now both for me to bring this up to Jeff in a way that won’t make him defensive and if it does, he’ll eventually come to see it anyway, and also that I would have the courage to bring this up to the church as well.
Thank you again Lee Ann for your post.
What you wrote three years ago convicted me that the tithe belongs to the Lord indeed, and that giving to missions should be on top of that. Joyce and I have been practicing this for the last two years, and we have not missed one thing. I pray that as our youngest is getting a paycheck now that he would be equally convinced/convicted by what God says.
Bernhard
Thank you so much, Bernhard. The Lord has a way of helping those who are generous to “not miss” their giving, whether it is the tithe or giving above and beyond the tithe. I am so happy to hear your testimony!
Blessings,
Lee Ann
Dr. Linda Swank wrote:
Lee Ann
Thank you. I have been pondering the subject. Just met with my tax accountant yesterday realized I made much more than I realized and now am way short on my giving back to God. Thank you for speaking on this. It was another message from God that that all He has given to me is for His glory not mine.
Blessings
Thank you, Linda. God will honor you for tithing what is His. I am in a slightly different situation, but it has turned out positive like yours. Last year, I was giving my set percentage on income – only to find out that my tax bill was significant. It was so high that I had to liquidate mutual funds just to pay the tax bill. That was a first for me and very discouraging.
This year, I had to keep my base percentage at 10% for the tithe and just keep the rest of the cash UNTIL I knew what my tax bill was. My commitment to the Lord was I will give the additional set percentage to Him as long as I could “render unto Caesar what belonged to Caesar”. My CPA called me late yesterday afternoon and my tax bill is going to be way less than I actually thought it would be, which means I can do the extra percentage!! I can’t tell you how excited I am about that! God is so good.
Thank you for your continued interest in my blog. Please be praying about any giving stories you may want to share to show how God’s blessings were shown to you.
Blessings,
Lee Ann
I am SO thankful you told us of Financial Peace so many years ago. As you know the last several years have been difficult at best, but I see the hand of God EVERY DAY. My heart is overjoyed that my sons have seen it also. They have been students in a local Financial Peace class and have seen the rewards of giving. We aren’t masters by any means and fall back into the old habits of paying tithe at the end of the pay cycle instead of the beginning or paying the minimum in order to “enjoy” a “want”. In doing so we’ve seen the ache of missing the opportunity. I’d have never known about the “living giving” if you hadn’t shared your “joy” and the truth of God’s word. It’s changed our lives and hopefully we will live in a way that will make others hunger for the joy of giving, as well.
About 2 years ago I was quickened in my spirit that resources God provides for my family and I each day is not furthering His kingdom in the pocket of my landlord. Don’t get me wrong, he has been WONDERFUL to us! I am a VERY happy renter given my circumstances. Nevertheless, the truth is, he is not a godly man and serves only himself. I was challenged to look at where my faith was… truly was. Through nearly two years of prayer God has begun to reveal an answer. I have an opportunity to buy a house from a man that has been a godly mentor to my son’s over the last 8 years and that presently still serves the Lord with gladness. God’s peace does reign within when one seeks to honor Him. Understanding of God’s word revealed God’s desire to me… I’d have never looked any further than my own comfort without the light of His truth.
I can relate to your Christmas blog in the fact… I, too, love to HELP! And I DAILY struggle w/the question, “What IS God’s yoke for today?” I have NO desire to put on anything else, but I often find myself exhausted which I’m afraid is a sign that I’m working in my own strength. Can you shed more light on how one is to determine what the “yoke” of God is for the daily living?
I love you, dear friend! Please don’t stop sharing the wisdom God is imparting to you. The realness with which you live God’s truth is so appreciated. I am just one of many who are grateful.
May the abundance of God’s peace and joy refresh you soul.
Dear Lyrinda:
Thank you so much for your kind thoughts on my latest blog. I am responding to your question via email as I am not sure if you will notified of my response through the blog. (I think you have to check a box requesting to be notified by email when there’s a response.)
You ask a hard question! I agree that fatigue can be a sign that we’re trying to do things in our own strength, but in your case, that would be harder to discern. If my memory serves me correctly, I think you’ve indicated that you’re having to work 60 hr work-weeks with some software/system change. If you are having to work these kind of hours on top of the responsibility of raising your sons, anyone would be fatigued!
On a daily basis, maybe the way we discern “What is our Yoke for today?” is to recognize where God is at work and join him. Henry Blackaby, who authored Experiencing God, quotes Jesus in John 5:19-20, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.” The idea is that God is actively at work not only in our lives, but in the lives of those around us. When God reveals a need or reveals how He is at work around us, then that is our invitation to join Him! I have heard other Christians frame this around the “interruptions” in our day. Many of us miss opportunities to minister to others when our day has been interrupted, yet there may be a divine invitation to be involved in those interruptions instead of viewing it as an inconvenience.
That is my best shot at trying to determine our yoke day by day. When we are commanded in Luke 9:23 to deny self, take up our cross daily, and follow Him, maybe our yoke represents the sacrifices we make to partner with God to further His kingdom when He reveals how He’s at work in our daily lives.
Lyrinda, I appreciate your words of encouragement. You are a precious sister in Christ with such a sweet spirit, and I feel very blessed that God has allowed our lives to intersect over the years. You are a beautiful model of God’s love to those around you. I hope you have a great week. You are dearly loved by me, Lyrinda!
Blessings,
Lee Ann
Debbie Mielke wrote:
Lee Ann,
That was fabulous! You are so funny. You spent the whole first and second paragraph apologizing for something that is true to your heart that will certainly change one’s life if they just listen. I don’t think people know exactly what to do or where to begin to be honest with you. Our younger generation is doomed unless they can catch on to this valuable information and start saving NOW!!!
In my personal opinion, don’t worry so much about pleasing others. This is something most everyone CAN achieve by just sacrificing that extra blown $10 per week on lunches, or that extra beef tenderloin instead of meatloaf. This is attainable for most people. It is correct that times are tough, but,.. people also have been saving and hanging on to that money just for fear of the economy. I see this great opportunity to begin your lessons. I see parents needing a plan with their children starting at age 6 or 7. They need to learn to put a nickel in a checking account each week and watch it grown. They need to be accountable for their choice of spending to groom them for the future of saving. Putting the money into the right investments is crucial for it to compound over years. This is all where I see you doing wonders and it’s totally from the heart to save families from disaster,poverty, and despair. Along with that comes health failing issues. Then the story becomes a gloom and doom one for old age when it doesn’t have to be like that. I am so passionate about this subject too. So I say,.. “Go for it!” Everyone knows your heart and that you could never hurt a flea if you tried! We all know what a pure and compassionate loving being you truly are. When we say we love you,… we say it from the most Godliest place in our hearts. You imulate exactly what I believe is Christ-like. I wish I could come 1/10th of the degree to being like you in Faith, Love, Dedication, Service, and Compassion. These words only scratching the surface Lee Ann. I will NEVER forget you coming to my rescue at home with Allen….. There are very few that would honestly do that.
Now get on with the next story that moves your heart and I’ll see you tomorrow. 🙂
Blessings always,
Debbie
😀