Giving & Generosity
There are more than 2,300 verses in the Bible about money, possessions, and giving. How we approach these things plays a significant part in the life of faith.
Whilst money, for many in the world, is often a source of anxiety and stress, embracing biblical principles in your approach to money and generosity, is actually a path to joy.
Giving
Two things to grow in giving;
- Get clear on the biblical concept of stewardship.
- Start the journey of giving.
Biblical Stewardship
Stewardship is the biblical understanding that you don't own anything. God owns everything (Psalm 24:1). If God made it and you have access to it, you are a steward. You are accountable to God for how you work with what God owns, which is everything (including your money!)
Remember;
- Our value is not tied to our money. We find our identity, worth, and security in Christ alone.
- Material wealth is a trap and can be very deceiving as we are addicted to more.
- The best way to avoid the trap of material wealth is to give generously. Being rich is not a sin, but being selfish is.
- We can’t take it with us and it’s all God’s anyway so give generously, give freely, give cheerfully and give expectantly (2 Corinthians 9:6-8) and give in faith expecting God to generously meet all your financial needs.
Giving
We ask all those who call New Community their 'home' to prayerfully consider the amount that they give regularly - and to review that sum as their situation may change. Responsible, joyful giving is one of the marks of a believer!
Start the journey of giving today. For some FAQs on giving see here.
Generosity
In the story of the Bible, God is depicted as a generous host who provides for the needs of his guests. However, humans live from a mindset of scarcity and hoard God’s many gifts.
Watch the video below from The Bible Project on Generosity, which explores God’s plan for overcoming our selfishness by giving the ultimate gift of himself in the person of Jesus.
One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell
- Proverbs 11:24-26
Ideas for growing in generosity
- Cultivate gratitude. Part of growing in faith is to be overflowing with thanksgiving. Learning to be thankful for all the things, big and small, that God has done and given us, helps us to be more content and satisfied. The more content you are, the less you strive for more, and the more generous you become.
- Think biblically. Do some Bible study on giving and generosity. Read, for example, 2 Corinthians 8:1-4, 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, 1 Timothy 6:17-18, Proverbs 3:5-10. After looking at these verses, consider what God might be saying to you, and what changes you might make.
- Make giving your first priority. Without intentionally prioritising giving upfront before anything else, we will easily forget. Set up your giving first, before anything else.
- Make a budget and pay close attention to your finances. Factor in financial generosity in your budget. Create a "generosity" pot that you can give from.
- Learn to accept generosity. Get good at receiving! Cultivate an attitude of "if I have it, I will share it, and if I need it, I will receive it".
- Prepare for opportunities to be spontaneously generous. Put aside some money, or buy some gift cards, that you can give away whenever you come across someone who might be blessed by a gift.
- Think about ways you can be generous with things other than money. How can you share your possessions? How can you be generous with your time or talents?
- Embrace simplicity. Simplify your possessions or lifestyle; the more we can be free from the trappings of materialism, the easier we will find it to be generous.
- Pray about it! Ask God where he would like you to focus your generosity.
- Start where you are. Then ask yourself what would the next step be? Giving more? Increasing your giving? Getting out of debt?
