HOW SHOULD YOU GIVE?

Giving is a by-product of faith. It is an outward expression of priorities and heart. If you put God first in your life, your wallet will be open to Him.

The miracle of stewardship is that the more you give, the more you receive. You won't always receive in kind, but what you receive is more precious than what you give, because God's gift to you is greater than your gifts to Him.

Give Firstfruits. Give God the first portions of your income. By doing that you constantly remember God's ownership. (Prov. 3:9)

Give Proportionately. Give in proportion to the income you receive, not a specific dollar amount. If you earn $100, a tithe (10%) would be $10. If you earn $100,000, your proportionate gift would be $10,000. God sees the $10 gift just as important and meaningful as the $10,000 gift. Proportionate giving challenges both the rich and the poor. (1 Cor. 16:2)

Give Sacrificially. At times God asks you to give until you can truly feel the giving. Giving sacrificially usually includes one of the following: a rearrangement of priorities, a change in lifestyle, or a forfeiture of something valued. When you give sacrificially, you give your best. (2 Cor. 8: 2-3)

Give Regularly. The Bible tells us to give "on the first day of every week." While money may be tight during some periods of time, for the most part, the failure to give is a spiritual problem. It is hard to imaging God accepting the excuses conjured up about not honoring Him with your treasures. (1 Cor. 16:2 and 2 Cor. 9:8)

Give Cheerfully. Receiving is great, but the exhilaration is greater when you are able to give to another person. The Holy Spirit uses your giving to deepen your faith in Christ. (2 Cor. 9:7)

Give Quietly. Your purpose should be to please God, not to be seen by others. (Matt. 6:1)

Tithe. Tithing is the practice of honoring God with one tenth (10%) of your income. God is not concerned about the size of the gift, but the motive for it. (Gen. 28:10-22) Tithing is giving God a portion of your best, not your leftovers.

Ronald J. Chewning is a certified financial planner who has worked as a stockbroker, and served as regional vice president for a denominational foundation. He recently opened his own firm called Stewardship Advisors. He and his wife, Phyllis, live in Beverly Hills, Mich., with their three children.

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