![]() ![]() Giving is a spiritual issue and in fact, a relational issue with God. If we understand Jesus’ words that our “treasure” is an indication of our “heart,” how can churches and pastors avoid teaching on the important issue of giving? Knowing God through Giving But in a similar sense, each believer must come to understand that giving is not just about “doing their duty.” Giving is actually a deeply personal indicator of our spiritual maturity as well as our love for God. Stewardship is not fund-raising it’s basic discipleship. ![]() If churches and pastors they have communicated somehow that “stewardship” messages are primarily about fund-raising, then they are responsible to change that attitude internally. I have come to realize that we are not mature disciples if we have not embraced the reality that materially we are stewards instead of owners. However, there is no other area of spiritual growth where we make the assumption that believers will grow without reminder and exhortation. I assumed – and it was partly true – that if people are growing spiritually, they will learn to give. As I would preach expositionally through a book of the Bible, I wouldn’t avoid the subject of giving, but I hesitated to approach the subject extensively as a topic, lest I appear to be focused too much on the bottom line of the church rather than spiritual discipleship. For many years as a pastor myself, I ventured into the area of financial stewardship and especially giving quite rarely. There is a perception (and a reality in many cases) that pastors are motivated to preach on giving only because of their own selfish concern about the budget or a building program. This humorous story identifies one of the key reasons why many pastors and churches avoid saying very much about financial giving. “Well, you…” said the second man, “I make $100,000 a month and I tithe faithfully to my church… My Pastor will find me J." “How can you be so sure?” the first man asked. ![]() The first man said, "Aren’t you afraid we’re going to die here?" "Nope," said the second man. One man paced back and forth worried and dreadfully frightened, while the other man sat back, whistling and sunning himself. Part 3 – Biblical Financial Stewardship The Stewardship Taboo ![]()
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