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Pastor · Sunday Schedule · FBC
News
2000
THOUGHTS ON CONTRIBUTIONS AND DONATIONS
I am not unmindful as we enter the holiday season there
are any number of requests for donations and that the church during this
season sponsors several different mission and ministry projects for which
they seek contributions. At the same time that all these other needs arise
the church is having to set its budget for the next year and conduct a
stewardship campaign to support the proposed budget. All of this makes me
very sensitive to the possibility of the accusation that "the church
is always asking for money."
I am sure, however, the accusation is true, especially
during the next several weeks, but I would like to offer a couple of
guidelines in reacting to this statement and determining how to respond to
all the requests.
1. Remember every request represents a form of ministry.
Someone is being helped. And, the people doing the asking are not the
beneficiaries. They are volunteers who themselves have given, including
their time to the ministry they ask on behalf of.
2. You hear lots of requests but that doesn't mean you
have to give to all of them. The philosophy of First Baptist is we let you
know the needs, then you choose which ones you would like to support, but
realize that though you have minimal interest in one special request it
may be a very important priority for another person and we have given that
person an opportunity to respond.
3. A good Biblical guideline for giving is the tithe,
10% of your income. If we reached this level of giving from the majority
of our members we would not need a fall stewardship campaign in support of
the next year's budget. But, we have very few members who tithe so the
fall stewardship campaign becomes a time of encouragement to think and
pray about how we use and spend our money.
4. We don't want you to feel resentful about being asked
or to give out of guilt. If this happens, tune us out when we talk about
money and drop the giving envelopes in a wastebasket. Giving should always
be an expression of thanksgiving. It should always be a joyful response.
It would be better for the offering plate to be empty than to ask God to
bless something that is not in our heart to give. But, if that be the case
as least allow for the possibility that there are others for whom hearing
the need and responding is very important. Let us ask and let them give
and let us praise God together.
Well, these are my guidelines and as we enter the
holiday season and you pass the red kettles entering stores and get
special solicitations in the mail and hear about requests in the church
may you find them helpful. I don't even ask that you agree with them all.
I just don't want giving to be such a touchy subject. I want us to be able
to talk about it and in the end discover in ourselves what it means,
"The Lord loves a cheerful giver."
Dr. David W. Andersen
        
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