Why I Give My Hard- earned Cash

If you haven’t been asked to give money to one cause or another, consider yourself living on another planet. From starving children in Africa to dog lovers’ associations in blue-hill neighborhoods, the list is endless. Some research shows that Christians get asked to give more than any other social group. From televangelists to humble local pastors serving on less than a dollar a day, the requests never stop coming.

We can’t deny the fact that the Bible is full of examples and teachings about giving. Probably the best form of giving we find in scriptures is God himself who gave his only begotten Son (John 3:16). Today Christians respond to God’s calling by doing and giving. Whereas the love of money is discouraged in scriptures (1 Tim 3:3; 1 Tim 6:10, Heb 13:5), the possession of it is encouraged (Deut 8:18; Ecl 10:9). Since money is a product of labor, money is ultimately a form of God’s time and talent, stored in the creation of the world made available to human use.

The average Christian has mastered the theology of giving. The hard part is that, with so many appeals for money from all kinds of organizations, the average Christian is bombarded with all kinds of options to give his hard-earned dollar. Choosing which organization to give to is becoming harder and harder. Should Christians be selective in where they give their money or should they give to any organization that has a good cause for the Lord.

Then there is the new era of spending more and more on personal goods and services. Television commercials are telling Christians to buy because they deserve good things too. Christian organizations and churches are competing for the same dollar that local and online stores are targeting. Organizations are also competing among themselves as the average donations to Christian organizations continue to suffer in favor of real value marketable goods and services.

The dwindling finances of Christian organizations and churches are not being helped by the commercialization of giving or fundraising. Some churches are promising prosperity and wealth to the giver, yet some of those who have been giving for years have not seen this promised wealth as of yet. Radio and television commercials of starving children make people give for the wrong reasons. Others are not giving because they think that organizations which advertise on radio and television are unethical.

Why are people giving less and less? Some people lack motivation to give away their hard-earned money because the church has failed to provide a compelling vision for how the money will make a difference in the world. Others see their giving as leverage on the future. Some don’t realize the church needs their money to be effective. Some lack the proper understanding of what the Bible teaches about giving. Some are just selfish.
Why do you give? Where do you give? Why don’t you give?
Any comments?