Why Should I Give Money To The Church?

Unknown – Possibly J.VanderBom or J.W. Deenick. Trowel & Sword, April/May 1955. 

Preamble: The question of giving to the church is never far from the minds of church leaders, and particularly treasurers in their efforts to balance budgets. Rather than looking at this in purely fiscal terms, the author of this article looks more closely at the mindset behind giving. (Think of the woman who gave all that she had – a penny). When it comes to “cheque-book Christianity” mentioned below, this has in recent times been replaced by electronic transfers; particularly since the forced closure of churches during the Covid pandemic. Many have continued that practice after the churches reopened. So the question remains, is the offering like any other bill requiring payment, either weekly, monthly or even annually or do we still differentiate between paying a bill and giving back to the Lord what He has given us? 

Why Should I Give Money To The Church?

The Rev. Arnold Brink, writing in “the Banner” under the heading “Not Yours But You”, gives the following answer; Probably the first answer that springs to mind is, “That is the only way the Church and schools and other Christian institutions can operate.” Although the answer is true enough, it does not establish a very good spirit for real stewardship. Our eyes range often too close to the horizon and then we see the Church too much in terms of its faulty human representatives. We become critical of those human leaders and of those imperfect institutions and it becomes easy to conclude that they are not worthy of our support. Or, although we may not feel critical towards the Church, our giving then may become a matter of a quite loveless obligation.

In that spirit, a conversation like the following may ensue when Church members meet the Church treasurer on the street on Saturday night. The member asks: “What am I owing to the Church budget?” The treasurer does a bit of rapid calculation and says, “Well, on the basis of so-and-so much per family, your share is so much.” “All right,” says the Church member, “I’m paying bills anyway, I’ll pay that one too.”

You see what is happening. The “support of the Church”  becomes one of the financial obligations of life, like paying the rent or the food bill. Paul sets giving on a higher level when, in 2 Corinthians 8:5, he commends the Churches of Macedonia, that “first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.” This rests stewardship squarely upon Christian consecration. Giving then is a matter of loving obedience to the Lord.

Of course, we believe we are justified by faith. But that is the faith of a living, active human being. It is therefore a faith that expresses itself in works. Therefore our life of gratitude cannot be separated from our knowledge of sin and of the way of salvation. But we are still naturally selfish and find it hard to part with that which we have come to think of as “our own”.

The Bible recognises that spiritual problem. It is claimed that one word of every seven in the New Testament deals with material things. The spiritual must come to practical expression in material terms.

We are beset with a “get all you can” type of thinking. Its object is money and social position. With such motives gripping church members as well as those outside, the need of the hour is not so much for more money for the church but a new appreciation of the joyous, worshipful spirit that ought to be behind and interwoven into our giving. Then it becomes, not “cheque-book” Christianity, but real Christian Stewardship!

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