The Dangers of Not Giving

Yes.  This article is about giving. It’s about giving money. It’s about giving money to a local church. It’s about giving a large portion of personal income to the local church. It’s about tithing. It’s an article that is rarely published in a secular venue. Enjoy.

Most of us think about how much money we give away. Most Christians are familiar with the tithe, but only think of the high cost of giving away 10 percent of their income. The average household income in Loganville is about $75,000 and 10 percent of that is not a small amount of money. We all could use an extra $7,500 couldn't we? With $7,500 a year the average person could dramatically improve their lifestyle. You could fund a $400 a month car payment, $500 in new clothes, $400 in fancy dinners, and still have $1800 for a pretty decent vacation.

That's exactly what most people do. Well... at least in part. Giving is not easy! But have you ever thought about the cost of not giving? The cost of not giving is very significant. When you don't give...     

• you miss out on a very special way to worship God.
• you more easily feel disconnected from your church.
• you are exponentially more likely to be in deep debt.
• you are more likely to allow "stuff" to stress you out.
• you ignore a basic teaching in the bible separating your spirit from God's.
• you battle a twinge of guilt that does not have to exist.
• you never fully mature spiritually.
• you don't teach your children to give.
• you attend church on spiritual welfare from the people sitting next       to you.
• you leave the local church limping along instead of thriving.
• you are more likely to let your money control you instead of vice-a-      versa.
• you miss out on the joy of seeing God use your gifts to bless others.
• you prevent God from planting seeds of materialistic contentment in your heart.

We total up 10 percent of our income and say to ourselves, that's a lot of money. One lady actually said to me, "I can't tithe, I make too much money." That one still makes me smile. It's hard to honor God with a tithe when our society tells us we "need" so many things. Recent studies tell us that 21 percent of regular church attendees don't give at all. Another 71 percent of church attendees give about 2 percent of their income. That leaves 8 percent who approach a giving level that looks like a tithe. Yes, God's financial plan for his kingdom to advance on earth is the tithe. If God's plan takes flight then the church will shine, slick slimy preachers will finally be out of work and the widow and orphan will receive provision once and for all. Only a portion of church income will go towards staff salaries and building maintenance instead of 60,70, and 80 percent. When God's people get serious about following him and start honoring him with the tithe we can change the world! We will be a light on a hill just as Jesus called us to be.

So much is at stake! The mission of God's church is at stake. Our fellowship together is at stake. Each individual relationship with God is at stake. Shut him out of your wallet and you shut him out of your life. It's no different than shutting him out of your marriage relationship, your work day, your viewing habits, what you say, or how you act. When we say no to God in any area of life we pay a high personal cost.

It's not easy to surrender a portion of our income to God, but when we don't the cost is often higher than we imagine. In fact, we rarely trace our problems back to the source. It's often financial disobedience. We trust our money more than God. 

 "Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment." 1 Timothy 6:17 (NLT)

I know that I'm often tempted to trust in money more than God. I sometimes think that I could make two car payments on brand new cars with what my family tithes to the Orchard. Sometimes I think that if I skip a month I could afford a really nice T.V. that is 55" wide instead of 32" thick. Part of me would love to buy a new computer, a new camera lens, a limo for the homecoming dance… and I could if I didn’t tithe each month… but then I think about the high cost of not giving and I honor God one more time with my tithe.

When I give I find that I am content with the stuff I already have, that I am more disciplined in my spending habits, that I am more open to what God wants to do in my life, and more confident that my church is making a difference in the lives of others. When I give I change the world!

One of my greatest joys in life is to give a significant portion of my income for the benefit of God's mission on earth and for the people who are changed when that mission thrives! The cost of not giving is just too high for me to stop giving any time soon! You are invited to join me.