Coming Home to Freedom: Why do you give?

Devotional Reading: 1 Corinthians 16:1-4

Recently a child asked, "Why do they ask for money at church?"  Being a pastor I gave a very lengthy response.  "Well, everything belongs to God, so we give back to God to show our appreciation. God gives us talents and gifts and so we use some of those talents to serve God. God gives us time, so we use some of our time to worship God.  God gives us money, so we give a portion back to God." Of course, the child was not satisfied and responded back "God didn't invent money."

Why do we give money at church? Do you know what your answer to that question is?

I give because I was taught to give.  My parents gave me a ten dollar allowance and it was routine to take one dollar and put it in the offering plate.  I give because I believe it is what God asks me to do.  It is an act of faithful obedience.  I give because it keeps my priorities in perspective.  If I have open hands with my income than I don't place my trust in it, but in God.  I give because God has been faithful and provided for me during difficult times when I remained faithful in tithing.  I give because I believe in the mission of the church.  I give because I think the world would be a better place if we all gave.  I give because I love Jesus.

Why do you give money to the church? What motivates you to place money in the offering plate?

Paul asked the church of Galatia and the church in Corinth to set aside money at the beginning of each week to be contributed to the collection for the Lord's people. In 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, Paul doesn't give a reason for the gift.  The side notes in my Bible recognize that there is evidence of a famine in Jerusalem at around the time of Paul's writing this letter, so it is suggested that perhaps this was what motivated the people to give. Another suggestion was that the Gentiles had a sense that they owed the Jews a debt and so contributed to the "mother" church.  Paul seems to indicate in this passage that he doesn't want to make a big show of the collection, so he is asking them to make it a routine habit to set aside money each week so that he doesn't have to take a collection.  Whatever the reason, it seems as though his request is not a surprise.  The church from its very beginning has been collecting money to do Kingdom work.

So, why do you give money to the church? Faith? Obedience? Trust? Support in the mission?


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