MONEY-GIVING-COMMANDED

Perhaps the saddest observation of all is that the spending habits of people in the church differ little from those of the world. The lifestyles of most professing Christians are not substantially different from anyone else’s. Too many in the church have adopted the world’s indulgent attitude toward money. Almost every form of materialistic extravagance and excess has found its way into the fellowship of believers. It is as if the church has forgotten Jesus’ mandate to invest in eternity.

John MacArthur

Investing in Eternity.

God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving.

Randy Alcorn

I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare.

C.S. Lewis

When we come to the end of life, the question will be, “How much have you given?” not “How much have you gotten?”

George Sweeting

Men of Integrity, v. 1, n. 2

In light of God’s promises, believers who refuse to give obediently don’t have a money problem – they have a trust problem.

Rod Rogers

God is pleased when you give beyond your ability to give. The point is God is pleased when you give sacrificially. Salvation is free, but stewardship is costly. Few of us really give sacrificially. Most of us adjust our standard of giving to our standard of living. Instead, we should adjust our standard of living to our standard of giving.

Rod Rogers

Four common sinful attitudes keep God’s people from giving:

1. Perverted Priorities

2. Lack of Contentment

3. Lack of Faith

4. Covetousness

Rod Rogers

A preacher paid a visit to a farmer and asked, “If you had 200 dollars, would you give 100 dollars to the Lord?” “Sure would,” said the farmer. “If you had two cows, would you give one cow to the Lord?” “Yeah, I would.” “"If you had two pigs, would you give one of them to the Lord?” The farmer replied, “That's not fair. You know I have two pigs.” There is no other time for giving but now. It will never be easy.

Kent Hughes

Preaching Today #205.

There are three kinds of giving: grudge giving, duty giving, and thanksgiving. Grudge giving says, “I have to”; duty giving says, “I ought to”; thanksgiving says, “I want to.”

Robert Rodenmeyer

Quoted in John Blanchard, Gathered Gold, Evangelical Press, 1984, p. 113.

In my opinion, the idea that we should postpone generous giving (to the church) until our debts are paid or until we get a raise or until the children are grown up or until we have bought a house is contrary to Scripture. We may be able to give more then, but we ought to give generously now.

Wayne Mack

Strengthening Your Marriage, 1999, P&R, p. 104-105, Used by Permission.