New Here?Faith and Percentages
Sean Roberds | Feb 05, 2014
When it comes to giving I think it is important for us to think in terms of percentages instead of amounts. The Story of the Widow’s Offering (Mark 12:41-44) helps us to see why percentages are an important way to think about giving. The rich people in the story were giving large amounts of monetary gifts that made it appear that they were very generous. The widow gave a very small monetary gift worth about a penny. Some of us would tell her not to bother, just keep it, thinking her gift wouldn’t make much difference to the bottom line. To Jesus, however, her gift made all the difference because it exposed her heart and proved her faith. The difference wasn’t the amount it was the percentage. The widow’s percentage was far more impressive than the large amounts of money that had been given that day. What the rich gave may have seemed remarkable but it was a very small percentage of all that they had. The widow’s 100 percent may not have made a difference to the treasury’s bottom line but it proved where her faith and heart were invested. She was 100 percent sold on God and that’s what matters most to Jesus. Her faith meant a lot more than the temple’s bottom line. In the Church if our faith and our hearts are in the right place then the budget’s bottom line will take care of itself!
The Bible teaches percentages and when we give we need to think and plan in those terms as well. We know that giving 10 percent is the minimum of what the Bible teaches us to give. But what do you do if you are not giving 10 percent. If you’re not giving at all or just giving small amounts then jumping up to 10 percent is going to be a big challenge. Some of you can make that jump, you have the resources and you simply need to do it. You’re going to have to make some big changes but you can do it. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21). For others the jump is just too big. If you gave 10 percent of your income you couldn’t pay your bills. I understand I’ve been there! So you are going to have to do some tough calculating and figure out what percentage you can give now. Maybe it is only 5 percent or just 3 percent, perhaps even 1 percent. Whatever the percentage is it needs to be sacrificial. Next, plan to tithe whatever extra money you receive this year. Tithe your tax refund, any bonuses you receive or that surprise check Aunt Lucy sends in the mail. You weren’t planning on this money anyway so tithe it. Finally, make a long range plan to work your way up giving a true tithe. Rearrange your spending priorities and pay off some debt or whatever needs to be done. It might take a few years but not only will you be tithing but your heart will be transformed and your faith will strengthen.
Those of you who are tithing, congratulations, you are doing what God requires and I know it is not easy. Let me issue you a challenge however. Can you also increase your percentage? Could you give 11, 12 or 15 percent? The question that should be asked; what percentage is sacrificial for me? Remember 10 percent is just the minimum requirement. What if you stretched a little bit beyond 10 percent? It could make a big difference. What if you designated a few percentage points beyond your 10 percent to pay down the church debt? That would be a huge help to the church. Perhaps, you could stretch a few percentage points above the tithe to give to missions. That would make a big difference as well. Where ever you are in your giving there is always room to grow.
This Sunday, February 9th is the day we will dedicate our pledges to the church. You can write down an amount on the card if you wish, that’s fine with me, but when it comes to giving I want us to begin to think in terms of percentages. What percent of all that I receive do I give back to God? Remember the story of the widow. The amount we give doesn’t mean a whole lot. The percentage we give is what really counts and is a true measure of our heart and faith.
Grace and Peace,
Sean
