Growing Giving God’s Way

Is your “grow giving” goal; “give no more”?

At the core of a Christian leader seeking to “grow giving” and maximize gift income is an understanding that there are two distinct paths: the world’s way of raising resources and God’s way.

Following God’s path is key to growing giving because then the outcome will be what Exodus 36:6-7 notes when the people were restrained from bringing anymore, “because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.”

Are you able to say “give no more” to your constituents?

Are you able to say “give no more” to your constituents? Most often this eternal path will seem foolish to those employing the materialistic worldview (1 Cor. 2:14).

Here are ten questions to assess whether your ministry efforts are following the ways of God’s Word:

1. Are you leading by example as a transformed generous giver to the cause you are asking others to give to (1 Cor. 29:3; Luke 6:40)?

Growing giving starts with you conforming to the generosity of Christ!

2. Do your efforts acknowledge that God owns it all (1 Cor. 29:14)?

In God’s economy there are infinite resources. God’s blessings are his gifts to us, which he will use to advance his eternal kingdom.

3. Is your priority on transforming stewards by growing givers hearts to be rich toward God (Luke 12:20-21)?

Do your efforts facilitate a rich heart which results in a generous person rather than on how much money is given? Since God owns all, believers are to be managers or stewards of what God entrusts to them, to honor and glorify God (1 Pet. 4:10). God desires disciples who follow him wholeheartedly.

4. Do you acknowledge that one of the single greatest deterrents to generous giving is the assumption that the earth is our home?

Scripture tells us that we are aliens, strangers, or pilgrims on this earth. If we think the earth is our home, then we will believe we own (rather than God), our car, home, retirement etc. Yet we take none of our stuff with us. We are to be ambassadors for Christ as we pass through our time on earth. To “grow giving” ask constituents to steward/manage what God has provided not what they think they “own.’

5. Do you use words that are biblically sound?

The world’s way uses the word “donor” which implies ownership rather than steward or manager. If you donate blood, you are giving of what is yours. Instead of using donor use steward, giving/financial partner, or manager to reflect God’s way. Similarly, the prevalent secularized use of the word philanthropy as acts of beneficence to humanity is now common instead of the biblical meaning of philanthropy as God’s love of human beings. Words matter!

6. Do your communications reinforce that giving is to God (Rom. 12:1, Phil. 4:17) as a spiritual decision?

Giving is a worshipful obedient act of returning to God from what he has provided. Giving should be directed to God and his work, not an organization. As a result, eternal rewards of crowns and responsibilities are waiting (Luke 14:12-14).

7. Do you acknowledge and teach others that a steward’s giving has three purposes?

It is a tool to further God’s work, a test to see the amount of responsibility the stewards will be given in heaven and a trademark/testimony of their lives as Christians on this earth (Luke 16:1-9).

8. Is a major assumption that God is the one who stirs hearts to give (1 Chron. 29:9, 2 Cor. 9:7)?

When giving opportunities are shared, it is the Holy Spirit who stirs and motivates hearts not how you dress, the words you use, slick presentations or guilt producing techniques such as getting something in return. Prayer matters!

9. Are you competing with other ministries for limited resources (Ps. 90:1-12, 2 Cor. 4:16-18)?

There is no competition in the kingdom. Encourage cooperation as it is all God’s work with unlimited resources.

10. Do you believe that God will supply all your needs (Phil 4:19)?

When God changes hearts, the result will be joy-filled generosity that will fulfill all the needs but not necessarily all our wants.

How are you doing in reaching a goal of saying “give no more”?

If this topic interests you, provide an email with a return address to Wes.Willmer@gmail.com and his book, Stuff and Soul: Mastering the Critical Connection will be mailed to you.

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Wesley K. Willmer, Ph.D., CCNL was a founding board member in 2008 when the Christian Management Association and the Christian Stewardship Association merged to form Christian Leadership Alliance. Wes currently serves on the Alliance’s Advisory Council. See further elaboration on God’s way in these Biblical Principles for Stewardship and Fundraising.