America is becoming a much more frugal society and taking measures to spend within their limits because of today’s economy. However, giving may still not be the priority it should be for Christian families or individuals. Either by way of barriers, or excuses giving doesn’t find its way as a top priority in the family budget.
Why giving isn’t a top priority
- I’m in debt, but am planning on giving after my debt is paid off.
- There isn’t enough money leftover to give after bills and other expenses.
- We give, but not as much as we should because of other priorities.
For Christian families and individuals, giving must be the first priority in the budget. Crown Financial Ministries says “for many Christians, the tithe should be the beginning of their giving, not the limit.”
Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35)
Society is quite the opposite with much of the focus on receiving or getting
As with many others, our family didn’t always give as a top priority. We always felt like we needed to find a way to give more, but we let other priorities and obstacles get in our way. Time spent reading what the Bible has to say about giving and through learning in Biblical studies; God convicted us to take a leap of faith.
We found we were looking at giving backwards. In other words, we were adding up expenses we felt like we needed and after the expenses couldn’t find much to give each month.
Focus on giving 10%
After prayer and discussion, we decided to eliminate saving for such expenses as Christmas and refocus our monthly budget to give 10% of gross income.
This was quite a liberating experience . We knew God was now in control of our finances and if it was meant to have money for Christmas and other expenses, He would provide for us. Afterall, we believe Christmas is about Christ’s birth. Through a pay raise and bonus that year, our family was provided enough money to meet all expenses. We believe God provided for us because we gave first to Him and this has not changed since.
He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully (2 Corinthians 9: 6-11)
Times are tough today and it’s always easy to find an obstacle to giving. However, giving requires a change of heart and the proper attitude of giving to God out of your love for Him. If this is your belief, nothing could be more important than making giving the top priority in your family budget.
How to move giving to the top of the priority list
- Start with a minimum monthly tithe. 10% of gross income is easy to compute. Ask God to direct you if He wants you to give more.
- Pick a set time to give each month. The first two payments after receiving each paycheck should be giving first, and debt reduction or savings goals.
- Take advantage of giving conveniences. You can give through many online bill pay services or online with your church.
- Create a giving based budget. Prioritize your expenses with giving 10% of gross first by considering nothing else. Then, allocate the remaining funds to other expenses. If you are short on expenses, consider adjusting your spending habits. If debt or other issues are preventing you from meeting those remaining expenses, seek the assistance of a financial counselor.
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