10 Benchmarks for Giving
Here are 10 benchmarks that you can use to navigate your giving potential in helping to build a home for Creekwood Church.*
1. Determine to give by revelation rather than by reason.
People that give by reason do the following: They look at what they have, figure out what is "reasonable" and commit that amount. It takes no faith to give by reason. Reason simply asks, "What can I afford?"
On the other hand, people that give by revelation do this: They start the process by going directly to the Lord and praying, "Lord, what do you want to give through me?" This kind of giving requires faith. Hebrews 11:6 says, "Without faith, it is impossible to please God." Then once you have settled on the amount God puts in your heart, ask Him to guide you in the steps you should take in being able to fulfill that offering.
2. God came up with the idea of multiplication.
If you give him your time, he multiplies it. If you give him your money, he multiplies it. If you give him your talent, he multiplies it. If you give him your energy, guess what? He multiplies it.
It's the same principle as planting seeds. 2 Corinthians 9:10 (GW) says, "God gives seed to the farmer ..." Farmers know that seed must be given away for it to increase. If you keep seed in a sack, it doesn't do any good. But when you plant it, it multiplies. When you plant one corn seed, do you just get one corn seed back? No, you get a stalk with hundreds of corn kernels. When you plant one watermelon seed, do you only get one seed back? No, you get a bunch of watermelons with hundreds of seeds in them. God multiplies whatever little bit you give him.
3. God gives cheerfully and he wants us to be like Him.
The scripture says that God "loves a cheerful giver." When God throws blessing our way, He does not do it with a grudge or hesitation; He does it with joy because we are His children. We ought to give in the same way. Let me say this very clearly: if you are upset by the idea of giving to this campaign, then do one of two things. Either get your heart right and become joyful in the process or just don't participate. Although the former would be better than the latter, God would rather you didn't give at all than to give without your heart in it.
4. If you are married, come to an agreement in your giving.
Jesus said that "if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven." It is important that we involve our spouse and even our children in praying and discerning what God would have each of us to give. I would encourage each head of household to gather your family together to do two things. First, spend some time talking about what resources God has put into your hands and will put into your hands over the next three years. Then pray together and ask the Lord to help you settle in on what it is He would have you do.
5. Make your gift a "sacrifice" to the Lord.
When the widow gave her two mites, it was a huge sacrifice because it was all she had. Her gift put her at risk... she was left totally dependent on God! And Jesus commended her offering above those that gave more than her, because they had not given sacrificially. God does not measure our giving by the size of our gift, but by the size of the sacrifice. He does not count how much we put in an offering as much as He counts how much we have left. You will know when you've given sacrificially, because it impacts your lifestyle. You may have to give up a vacation, sell a possession or give up an investment, but remember that you can never "out-give" God's ability to bless.
6. Your offering should not put your family's well-being in jeopardy.
While our gift should be sacrificial and significant, that does not mean that it should leave your family in a position of going without the essentials of food, clothing and other daily needs that God expects us to be responsible towards in our home. While it is important that we are willing to sacrifice some of our wants and extras in life, He does want us to be able to provide for the basic needs of our spouse and children along the way.
7. One of the great lessons that Thelisa and I have learned is that you cannot out-give God. Whatever you give him, He takes and multiplies. This was a lesson we learned on a personal level. There have been several times in our marriage when God told us to give away significant possessions or very large sums of money. Each time we obeyed, God would replenish it in greater ways than ever before.
8. When you build God a home, He will build your home.
God has always blessed my family, partly because I have spent the better part of my life blessing other people. When you get involved in building God a place that Creekwood Church can call home, I believe that there will be a reciprocal covenant blessing that will come upon your home and family. God said in Genesis that seed produces after its own kind. Apple seeds produce apples. Well, in this case we are planting "home" seed and it will produce a home harvest.
9. Once you decide on the amount of your gift, pray over your offering before you bring it.
If you have a family, I would encourage you to gather your family together, hold hands and have a prayer of consecration similar to this: "Dear Heavenly Father, this is a big step for us. We're asking You to strengthen our faith and help us to grow closer to You through our giving. We thank You for blessing us in such a way that we are able to be a blessing in helping to build Your church. We are giving with cheerful hearts because we love You and know Your promises are true. We stand on Your Word that as we delight in You, the desires of our hearts are granted unto us, according to Psalm 37:4. Thank You for using us to grow Creekwood Church. In Jesus name, Amen."
10. Finally, give without regret.
The Bible promises this when our trust is in God... "You won't regret it. No one who has sacrificed his home, spouse, brothers, sisters, parents, children - whatever - will lose out. It'll all come back, multiplied many times over in your lifetime and then the bonus of eternal life" (Luke 18:29-30, Message).
That's a promise of Jesus Christ directly from his lips. "So always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Cor. 15:58, NIV).
*Adapted from Northstar Church, "10 Benchmarks to discern god's voice in your giving" by Pastor Blaine Bartel
Stay tuned for our Celebration Sunday announcement coming soon.
DOWNLOADS ::
