Expense to God

Video - "Why Give" from the Living Hope Church, Wa

"In your lifetime, you will have about 1.7 million dollars go through your hands....is it yours, or does it all belong to God? You do not own any of it, it is all given to us by God." As the video points out, "God could have taken His 10% off the top, but as a matter of faith he leaves it to us on how much to return to God."

An active Episcopalian, one who attends church on a regular basis, gives between 15 - 25 tennis balls to God each year.

Three Attitudes Toward Giving

From Ted Mollegon, The Episcopal Diocese of CT.

Three wide-spread attitudes about giving need more careful attention from church leaders. Probably all three types are in every congregation. The job of the leader is to move people higher up the ladder, no matter where they start today. A good stewardship sermon will reach people in each category, and help all of them to move ahead.

The "Dues" Attitude. The first attitude is that of paying one's dues. The basic thought here is something like the following: "I am paying the equivalent of a membership fee, and in exchange for it I am receiving something from the church." The "something" could be a general warm feeling or it could be a deeply moving inspiration. It might be a sense of ensuring the availability of the pastoral offices, such as Baptism, Holy Matrimony, or Burial of the Dead. Or it could be that the "giver" wants to establish eligibility for other benefits, such as pastoral counseling. Another motivation might be to buy entrance into a beneficial moral environment, which will help in the upbringing of one's children.....(This type of giver is often referred to as a consumer.)

The Goal-Oriented Attitude. A second attitude is that of one whose giving is motivated principally by the desire to see some particular thing done, perhaps helping those who have a particular need. A giver whose motivation is, for instance, to support feeding of the poor, or to support activities of the Sunday school (especially when the giver has no children in the Sunday
school), etc., is clearly giving charitably. One could refer to such giving as mission-motivated or, where applicable, as outreach-motivated. Such giving to benefit others is in accordance with the second of Jesus's summary commandments: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." (This type of giver is often referred to as a patron.)

Giving Out of Thankfulness and Love for God. A third attitude is that of the person who is giving to God in gratitude for what the person has received from God. Here, the attitude is one of thankfulness, and of returning out of plenteousness. In the ideal, this person is giving without attention to which of God's purposes the gift will be used for. The giver here is giving up any control over the gift, even indirect control. It is only when the giver totally releases control that the transfer can really be called a gift. Part of the giver's attitude may be that the giver never felt that they owned what they are giving away. (The Joyful Giver) Think of the idea that:

"All things come of Thee, O Lord; of Thine own have we given Thee."

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