• Español
  • Historical Archives
  • Convention
  • Contact Us
Support the Ministry Give
Mennonite Church USA Mennonite Church USA Mennonite Church USA Mennonite Church USA
  • About
    • What We Believe
      • Statements and Resolutions
      • Confession of Faith In a Mennonite Perspective
    • History
    • Find a Church
    • FAQ
      • FAQ about Mennonites
      • FAQ about MC USA
    • Executive Board Staff
    • Church Structure
      • Area Conferences
  • Ministry
    • Church Vitality
      • Women in Leadership
      • Church Planting
      • Wellbeing in Ministry
      • Ministerial Inquiry Form
    • Faith Formation
      • Children and Families
      • Faith Formation with Youth
      • Faith Formation with Adults
      • Christian Practices
      • Deep Faith Conference
    • Peacebuilding
      • Learn Pray Join
      • Israel/Palestine Initiatives
      • Undoing Racism
      • Undoing Sexism
    • The Corinthian Plan
      • Corinthian Plan Staff
      • History of the Corinthian Plan
      • Why Mutual Aid Matters
      • Corinthian Plan Subsidies
      • Wellness Incentives
  • Agencies
    • Everence
    • Mennonite Education Agency
    • Mennonite Mission Network
    • MennoMedia
    • Mennonite Health Services Alliance
  • Resources
  • Events
  • News & Media
    • News & Media
    • MenoTicias
    • Publications and Newsletters
  • Blog
Mennonite Church USA Mennonite Church USA
  • About
    • What We Believe
      • Statements and Resolutions
      • Confession of Faith In a Mennonite Perspective
    • History
    • Find a Church
    • FAQ
      • FAQ about Mennonites
      • FAQ about MC USA
    • Executive Board Staff
    • Church Structure
      • Area Conferences
  • Ministry
    • Church Vitality
      • Women in Leadership
      • Church Planting
      • Wellbeing in Ministry
      • Ministerial Inquiry Form
    • Faith Formation
      • Children and Families
      • Faith Formation with Youth
      • Faith Formation with Adults
      • Christian Practices
      • Deep Faith Conference
    • Peacebuilding
      • Learn Pray Join
      • Israel/Palestine Initiatives
      • Undoing Racism
      • Undoing Sexism
    • The Corinthian Plan
      • Corinthian Plan Staff
      • History of the Corinthian Plan
      • Why Mutual Aid Matters
      • Corinthian Plan Subsidies
      • Wellness Incentives
  • Agencies
    • Everence
    • Mennonite Education Agency
    • Mennonite Mission Network
    • MennoMedia
    • Mennonite Health Services Alliance
  • Resources
  • Events
  • News & Media
    • News & Media
    • MenoTicias
    • Publications and Newsletters
  • Blog
Home / Menno Snapshots / Spiritual practices in giving
Dec 19 2019

Spiritual practices in giving

Beryl Jantzi is director of Stewardship Education for Everence, an agency of Mennonite Church USA.

 

According to Scripture, what we do with our money has a profound impact on our relationship with God. If this sounds too strong, consider Luke 12:33-34:

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Fear is certainly a factor in how willing we are to separate ourselves from our finances.

But Jesus reassures us that investing ourselves and our money in the Kingdom is a spiritual practice that is worth the risk.

Growing in our faith as it relates to generosity is a process of spiritual maturation and trust. This is why pastors need to treat this subject as part of our core curriculum in Christian discipleship. Below are six key stewardship values found throughout the New Testament. As you begin a new year, consider ways to reference some key themes in your Sunday morning corporate readings, sermons and offertory prayers.

  1. Intentional Giving: To be intentional in giving means to develop a plan and then to live the plan. It requires thought and conversation rather than a last-minute reach for the wallet when the ushers begin their ritual walk down the aisle with a basket in hand. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7a
  2. Regular Giving: The difference between intentional giving and regular giving has to do with when you receive your income. If you are a salaried employee, you are compensated weekly or biweekly in most cases. If you are a business owner, your compensation may be less regular and predictable. At a minimum, give in relation to your rhythm of compensation, and as you are able, give according to the cash flow needs of the congregation. 2 Corinthians 8:1-2
  3. Generous Giving: This is the most basic of the principles. Give until your giving makes a difference in YOU and your lifestyle. If your giving doesn’t make a difference in how you live, if it doesn’t stretch you, if it doesn’t on occasion cause you to do without or to do with less, would you consider it to be generous? For giving to be an act of faith, it will cause us to lean a little more (or a lot more) toward The Giver of all good gifts. Consider the story of the Macedonians as our model. 2 Corinthians 9:8
  4. Giving First: Giving first means giving before saving or spending. Too often the approach is to first take care of ourselves and then give God the leftovers. This act of faith makes a point of activating our trust with whatever intentional practices we have put in place. Deuteronomy 26:1-2
  5. Proportional Giving: Proportional giving is a way of leveling this spiritual practice for all people, rich and poor. The biblical practice of the tithe is about the percentage of the total given, not the amount of the gift. Giving a tenth was the instruction in the Mosaic code explained in Deuteronomy 14:22-29 and reinforced later by Jesus in Matthew 23:23.
  6. Cheerful Giving: God loves a giver who has been able to move from duty to delight. It’s interesting that this instruction from Paul on our attitude about giving is the most familiar of texts about giving. Be cheerful that you CAN give! True joy is always about living and giving beyond our own needs and situation. A life focused solely on self, limits what God would otherwise be able to do with us as co-laborers in building the kingdom. 2 Corinthians 9:7

What would be said at the end of our life if our obituary would be written based on the expenditures recorded in our check book or credit card statements? What do these records of our life testify to about where our treasure truly lies?

 


Mennonite Church USA logo Give to Mennonite Church USA today at http://mennoniteusa.org/give.

 


  • Posted in Menno Snapshots
  • Tagged Beryl Jantzi, cheerful giving, Everence, finances, generous giving, giving, money, Scripture on stewardship, spiritual practice, stewardship, tithe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • E-Mail
Official comments policy for users of Mennonite Church USA’s websites and other social networking tools. We reserve the right to remove any comment that violates this policy.
  • The purpose of comments is to engage in constructive dialogue.
  • Please provide your own full name.
  • Be respectful. If you’re offering criticism, focus on others’ ideas — not their motives, person, character or faith. Consider the log in your own eye before pressing ‘Enter.’
Comments are moderated. Comments with any content that is deemed obscene, libelous, defamatory or hateful toward an individual or group will not be approved. Comments will remain open for 10 days.
    --
Política de comentarios oficiales para los usuarios de los sitios en Internet y otras herramientas de redes sociales pertenecientes a la Iglesia Menonita de EE.UU. Nos reservamos el derecho de eliminar cualquier comentario que viola esta política.
  • El propósito de los comentarios es entablar el diálogo constructivo.
  • Por favor brinde su propio nombre completo.
  • Sea respetuoso. Si ofrece críticas, enfóquese en las ideas del otro, no en sus motivos, su persona, su carácter o su fe. Considere la viga en su propio ojo antes de apretar ‘Intro’
Los comentarios son analizados. Aquellos comentarios que contengan contenido que se considere obsceno, calumnioso, difamatorio u odioso hacia algún individuo o grupo no será aprobado. Los comentarios permanecerán abiertos por 10 días.

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Explore categories

Search

3145 Benham Ave. Suite 1
Elkhart, IN 46517

718 N. Main St.
Newton, KS 67114
Phone: (866) 866-2872
  • News & Media
  • Español
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
  • Convention
  • Resources
  • Give
  • Staff
  • Employment
©2020 Mennonite Church USA   |   Subscribe to PeaceMail to receive news and blogs compiled into one weekly email.   SUBSCRIBE