Why We Give

Practice Supporting Your Church Financially 

As United Methodists, we believe in supporting our church financially.  The biblical understanding of giving is the tithe which is an Old Testament teaching about the law given through Moses requiring the Israelites to give a tithe or one-tenth of the produce of their land and livestock to support the Levitical priesthood (Leviticus 27:30-33).

Today, we view giving not as a rule, but as a way of living with the understanding that God teaches us that a generous life is the best life to live.  Giving is about acknowledging that God is the source of all things, including our possessions.  In a consumer culture, this is especially important to understand.  To give is about faith.  It is about growing in our trust of God, even with our finances.  To begin to give, choose a percentage and give it consistently. If you share your finances with a partner, talk to them about your desire to give and come to a consensus that you are both comfortable with. 

Allow God to challenge you when it is time to increase your giving.  Malachi 3:10 says, “Bring the whole tenth-part to the storage house so there might be food in my house. Please test me in this, says the Lord of heavenly forces. See whether I do not open all the windows of the heavens for you.”  What you will learn when you give is that you cannot outgive our God and this act of giving will help you grow in your faith and feel closer to your God. 

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