Where You Give Matters

Two landscapers were working vigorously in a park. One man was digging a hole, and the other man was filling it up. They were making good time, but what they were doing didn’t make sense. So a bystander asked them about it.“We’re planting trees. I’m digging the hole. He’s filling it in. But the guy who puts the tree in is sick today.”You can work really hard and yet accomplish nothing. Right? Most of us have done that to some degree.It’s the same way with generosity. Every follower of Jesus ought to be generous. It’s a primary characteristic of someone who follows Jesus. But, where we give, matters. There are so many pleas for help and so many places we could give to, it’s important that we think through both, how much we give, and also, what we give to.As Christians, I am convinced that it is Biblical and practical for us to give through the local church. Here’s why:

• Biblical precedent. In the Old Testament, tithes were to be given to the local synagogue where the people lived and worshipped. It’s what Malachi was saying in his command from God, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house” (Malachi 3:10).
• Accountability. When you give through your local church, you know that there is a system in place for gifts to be handled with integrity. (If you don’t know that, you should find a church where it is). You know and can watch those who are leading the church, how they live, and that they are prudent and careful in their own personal financial dealings. That cannot be said about all charities.
• Priority. When you give through the local church, your gifts directly impact eternity. I know that there are a lot of good charities that we can give to (Linda and I give to others beyond our tithe). But I know of none that so directly affect eternity as the church. The local church is God’s plan for his Great Commission. And there is nothing that is more important than people’s eternal destiny.
• Impact. Churches like ours, not only make a difference in our local communities, we impact the world. Our gifts accomplish ministry here as we minister to children and reach students and adults. Our church is filled with life transformation stories because of the gifts that people here give. But those gifts also feed and clothe the poor in this area, enable people to minister in South America, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Gifts given through The Bridge impact eternity around the world.

I know of no place where you can give and accomplish more than giving through this local church.

I hope you are a generous person. If you are not, you are missing out. I wish I could convince every follower of Jesus the joy that tithing brings. But that joy is experienced best when we know that it is being used for things that matter.What could possibly be more valuable than souls?