God is generous and so he calls us to be as well. What we do with what God has given us shows the world where our hearts are at and helps proclaim the gospel. We want to glorify God with every area of our lives, and that includes what we do with our finances.
How much should I give?
The short answer – 10% of your gross income. But here’s why… The Bible tells us we should set aside a portion of what we earn to give back to God as a way of showing our trust in Him. This is called a tithe – which literally means 1/10th. This principal is first defined in the Old Testament in Deuteronomy 14:22 – “You must set aside a tithe of your crops – one-tenth of all the crops you harvest each year. Bring this tithe to the designated place of worship…” Later in the Bible in Malachi, God even takes it one step farther and says “Test me in this…and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” God knows how much we trust in our money to provide for us. But he wants to protect us and keep us in check and make sure that we still trust in him to provide for us more than we trust in money.
Why should I automate my giving?
There are lots of reasons to automate your giving. No more checkbooks and envelopes to deal with on Sunday mornings. No more feeling guilty if you forget (don’t worry, we’ve all done it!). And it is an easy way to keep yourself disciplined just like you do with all of your other automated payments each month.
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7