WHY GIVE

GIVING SCRIPTURES

Did you know that Jesus talked about money more than He talked about Heaven or Hell? Money is talked about more than any other topic in the Bible. This is because “where your treasure is, your heart will be also.” (Matt 6:21).

The following are scriptures that will help you gain a Biblical mindset about money as well as encourage you to live a generous lifestyle:

10 QUESTIONS ABOUT CHURCH AND MONEY

1. Does God need my money?

The answer is no. However, God does want your heart. In Matthew 6:21 the Bible clearly states that where you put your treasure is where your heart will be.

2. If my gift is a donation, what is the difference between tithes and offerings?

In the Bible tithes and offerings are two separate gifts. The tithe is 10% of your first fruits that God wants all believers to give (Malachi 3:7-12) and offerings are gifts that you feel lead, or prompted, to give.

3. If tithe means 10%, should I figure it based on my gross or net salary?

The Bible tells us to tithe from our “first fruits”. Today our “first fruits” is what we get paid for working. Every month numerous bills need to be paid from our check in order to survive. This is actually true for all but one bill and that is taxes. Taxes are taken from our check before we even receive it. However, this does not change the fact that our “first fruits” is actually the gross pay before taxes.

4. Isn’t tithing an Old Testament law? Do I still have to tithe if I am no longer under the law but under grace?

Tithing is a precedent that predates Mosaic Law. You will see in scripture that Abraham tithed, gave a tenth, of everything that he had (Genesis 14:18-20). Jesus also affirms tithing in Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42.

5. Does God ever mention money in the Bible?

The Bible talks about money more than 800 times. It will provide you with standards to live by in areas such as debt, savings, budgeting, investing, giving, receiving, etc. God is interested in how you manage your money because it affects every area of your life. A recent statistic from Financial Peace University states that 37% of all marital problems are derived from financial situations.

6. What does the church do with the money that I give?

The Church is called to equip the saints for the work of the Ministry as well as take care of the poor and needy. At City Life Church, we spend 64% of the money God provides on Ministry, Missions, College Ministry, Benevolence and Staff to facilitate all of this. 25% of the money God provides is spent on Administration and Facility needs. City Life Church is part of a larger group of Churches worldwide known as Every Nation Ministries. The final 11% of the Church Budget goes to this organization.

7. Is my gift to another non-profit organization considered a tithe?

In Malachi 3:10, God is pretty clear that the tithe is to be brought to the church where the work of the ministry takes place.

8. Is money really the root of all evil?

This is a common misconception in the Bible. 1 Timothy 6:10 does not say that money is the root of all evil, but it does say that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil . The Bible warns us over and over not to focus on getting rich (Proverbs 28:22).

9. Should I wait until I can afford to tithe?

We think a better question would be, “can you afford not to tithe?” With so many promises from God’s word associated with tithing, tithing should be a lifestyle to you. Tithing is not something God does to you, it’s something God does for you! He doesn’t want your money; He wants your heart! The promises of tithing include, but are not limited to, spiritual blessing, emotional blessings, financial blessings, etc.

10. Does City Life Church offer a class that will help me with my personal finances?

We have a class called “Financial Peace University” and occurs within our Small Group Ministries. In this class you will learn basic Budgeting skills that will allow you to take the first step in becoming a good steward of what God has entrusted you with. For more information on this class, please email Heather Mattingly.

HAVE QUESTIONS

Do you have questions about your online gift or questions pertaining to your account information? Please contact us at info@clchouston.com or (713) 300-9928. We would be happy to address any questions for you!

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