How is your giving?

Jesus said, ‘If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?’ (Luke 16:11 NIV). In other words, if you are not faithful to Him with your finances, He will not trust you with greater blessings. What does it mean to be faithful in your finances? Paul writes: ‘On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save as he may prosper so that no collections need to be made when I come.’ That means three things:

1) Regular giving. Note the words ‘the first day of every week’. This is systematic giving, not sporadic giving. It is not, ‘I feel good today, so I’m going to give to God.’ If you try that with your electricity bill, you will be without power! You’re not supposed to give by impulse but by a commitment to obey God’s Word.

2) Planned giving. You should put aside something from what you have earned. If you’re married, sit down and discuss it with your partner and decide the amount you feel God wants you to give each week. If you don’t plan it, you will not give consistently.

3) Proportional giving. The amount depends on how much you have put aside. If God blesses you financially, you should prayerfully consider increasing your giving. Bottom line: you are to return to God a percentage of what He enables you to earn.