Faithful Giving is Not an Obligation, but Rather an Opportunity
Tax collectors were not highly regarded in Biblical times because they were generally thought to be corrupt. Today’s tax preparers are much more trustworthy, but the process of paying taxes remains distasteful for many because it feels as though the government is taking our hard-earned money.
In case you lost track, it’s April already and the deadline for filing our tax returns is next Tuesday (April 15). Perhaps you’re due for a refund; perhaps you’ll owe some money. Either way, it’s an obligatory ritual to which we must abide every year, and most of us understand that the money is necessary for our country to operate. But what about our voluntary giving?
There are a number of Scriptural references to financial stewardship in the church, but one of the most familiar is this passage from II Corinthians 9:7-8, which states that “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
Only once in my six years at Oak Chapel have I addressed this issue of monetary giving from the pulpit, and the reason is that you have been very faithful, giving from the heart. Please know that our church greatly appreciates your generosity, and we encourage you to continue your faithful support because God does, indeed, love a cheerful giver and that we can abound in every good work.