Tag: giving

Are you Reaching your GIVING Goals?

by timhowington, posted in Basic Money Management, Generosity

Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  2 Corinthian 9:6-7

What are your Giving Goals?

At the end of the month or the end of the year how much money do you hope to have given away?  What about your lifetime?  What kind of impact do you hope to have made through your generosity?  A lot of people spend time thinking about how to maximize their time on earth and even how to use their God-given talents to make a difference in this world.  But what about your treasure that God has entrusted to you.  God does expect us to have an impact with our money (see the verse above).  It is interesting that He allows us to decide as to how we are going to participate in this manner. “Each one mustdo just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”  He wants us to willingly, good-heartedly, and even cheerfully give towards His Kingdom.    

Your Family has Potential

We all have different family units. No matter whether you are single or married, a parent or childless, if you are a Christ-follower you are one of the change agents. No matter the shape of your family, you are part of the family of God and represent Him in the world. Each of our families are a testimony to what God can do. We are blessed so that we might be a blessing and point the way to Jesus. The Christian family is one of the most powerful entities in all the earth. We have the potential to be one of the greatest change agents for good in our world.

Continue reading “Are you Reaching your GIVING Goals?” →

Be Generous in a Crisis

by timhowington, posted in Generosity

Step 2 Financial ideas for a CrisisI must tell you about a young couple I know. They are an inspiration to me. In the middle of this pandemic, he lost his job, and her hours were cut back. But they have a tremendous heart for generosity, and they view their giving as separate from their normal expenses. Said another way, their giving account is not intermingled with their living account. So, during this crazy time, they were able to give $4,500 towards a cause that the Lord laid on their heart to give to. Wow!! Continue reading “Be Generous in a Crisis” →

Your Year End Giving Makes a Difference!

by timhowington, posted in Budgeting, Generosity

consumption-520085_640This time of the year many of us are evaluating our generosity goals for the year.  People who study generosity say that

  • 31% of all giving happens in the month of December
  • 12% of all giving happen in the last 3 days of the year

Why so much at the end of the year?  Simple put, human nature.  End of the year bonus are part of it but for a lot of us we just need a real deadline.  And midnight on December 31 is as real as it gets!! Continue reading “Your Year End Giving Makes a Difference!” →

3 Ways to Purposefully Give Back to the Community

by timhowington, posted in Generosity, Giving, missions, non-profits, Stewardship

Our community is awash with spring fundraisers.  It seems like the majority of the churches are having spring-break mission trips.  All of the the nonprofits are targeting tax-return season.  It can be overwhelming, and if you are not careful, you can become a bit jaded or bitter towards the requests or potential requests you are receiving.  However, if you have a plan for your finances (specifically your giving dollars), this can be one of the greatest times of the year for you.  Giving opportunities, when you have money set aside for giving, are some of the more encouraging uses of your finances.  It’s like being a kid in a candy store with a little change!

I heard of a man recently say, “I wish all these kids would stop sending me letters about their mission trips.”

What??? Continue reading “3 Ways to Purposefully Give Back to the Community” →

What Should I do if I don’t Feel Led to Give to a Missionary?

by timhowington, posted in Generosity, Giving, missions

Treasure Principle.png

Don’t give.

You may not believe this, but missionaries are not assuming that you are going to give to their ministry.  They hope you might.  But honestly, they have no idea where God is going to send the money from.  All they can do is meet with folks, share their vision, and wait to see what happens.  They don’t think less of you or judge you.  They just want you to consider their cause. Earlier I wrote an article entitled “Why Would I Say “No” To a Missionary?” where we addressed the great opportunity to be involved as a financial and prayer partner with ministries around the world.  However, the reality is that the Lord will not lead us to support every cause we are exposed to.  He knows, and we know, that we have limited resources and must be strategic with the money we are stewarding. Continue reading “What Should I do if I don’t Feel Led to Give to a Missionary?” →

Generosity while Spring Cleaning

by timhowington, posted in Generosity

spring-cleaningThis is the year that I am going to clean out my garage.  No, really I am!  I say that every year and I piddle at it most of the time but this is the year that I am going to go for it.  I am getting rid of the extra stuff in my house.  I even have a box or two still unopened from when we moved in 13 years ago.  I wonder what’s in there?

So, what do spring cleaning and generosity have to do with one another?  What if you and I used our spring cleaning ritual to finally get rid of that extra stuff?  What if we emptied our homes of the things that we don’t really need?  What if instead of hoarding things, we gave them away?  What if we gave some of our furniture away before it was completely dilapidated?  Or did a hard sift in our burgeoning closets? In our community, there are countless families who would benefit greatly from extra clothes, decent furniture, kitchen appliances, and seldom used sporting equipment. Continue reading “Generosity while Spring Cleaning” →

Alms Giving Gives the Giver Confidence

by timhowington, posted in Alms, Generosity, Giving, Poor

Have you ever wondered if your faith is genuine? You may be able to recite all the creeds and your behavior is consistent with what you read in the Bible and the Christian subculture you associate with. But, you are looking for something deeper. Something that reassures your heart as well as your mind. I ran across a passage in 1 John 3 that is both convicting and comforting all at the same time.

17 But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him 18 little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. 19 We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him 20 in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.

Continue reading “Alms Giving Gives the Giver Confidence” →