Attitudes toward giving (continued)

• Elements of giving, continued

  • Planning

    • Giving should not be haphazard, but done with proper planning and management. II Corinthians 9:7

    • Demands thought, premeditation, intent

      • Strike a balance between church collection and charity

      • II Corinthians 8:13-14

    • Consider the gift itself

      • It’s ours – Acts 5:3-5

      • God placed it in our care

  • Following through

    • Determining to do what we’ve purposed

      • Called to be steadfast – I Corinthians 15:58

      • Sign of maturity – Ephesians 4:14-16

    • Review and revise the plan

      • The OODA loop – Observe, Orient, Decide, Act

      • Incomes and circumstances change

      • Ability to “do less with more”

        • Learned trait

        • Comes with time, practice, and purpose

• Individual charitable giving

  • Who is needy? Psalms 41:1-3

  • Where do we find them?

  • What are they in need of? Isaiah 58:6-11; Romans 5:6

  • Acts 4:7-10 – Jesus helped the helpless. We should stribe to do the same.

  • How much to give?

    • According to need and ability.

    • Final rule is within the heart – II Corinthians 9:6-11

    • Example at the judgment – Matthew 25:32-46

    • Act of faith – James 2:15-17