What would happen if we all gave???

I often wonder how so many people can be hurt so badly in this great nation. We are such a blessed nation! We likely have no idea just how blessed we are. In America, if you have an income of $32,400 a year, you are in the top 1% of the wealthiest people in the world. It sounds absolutely crazy! Think about this...in India, the average adult has a total wealth of $7,024, and in Africa, it’s lower at $4,138. It’s no wonder the rest of the world is looking to the U.S. to help them. I understand that the measure of wealth is more complicated inside the U.S. Nonetheless, I have no choice but to acknowledge how blessed my family is.

Malachi 3:6–12 MEV

For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days of your fathers you have gone away from My ordinances and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of Hosts. But you say, “How shall we return?” Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me. But you say, “How have we robbed You?” In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, your whole nation, for you are robbing Me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this, says the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing, that there will not be room enough to receive it. I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that it will not destroy the fruit of your ground, and the vines in your field will not fail to bear fruit, says the Lord of Hosts. Then all the nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land, says the Lord of Hosts.

With all this in mind, I still have to question why there are so many hurting and in poverty in this blessed nation. The problem likely isn’t in what or how much we have but rather in what we do with what we have. Generosity is a cornerstone of the life and success of the church. Take a look at the 1st-century church…

Acts 2:40–47 MEV

With many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized, and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in the prayers. Fear came to every soul. And many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common. They sold their property and goods and distributed them to all, according to their need. And continuing daily with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

This obviously isn’t the model our society has encouraged, at least as a whole. However, this is the model that the church chose to embrace. As physical or spiritual needs arose, action was taken to meet those needs. 1st-century believers demonstrated their love for one another by giving sacrificially.

1 John 3:16–17 MEV

By this we know the love of God: that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. Whoever has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, but closes his heart of compassion from him, how can the love of God remain in him?

Again, it comes down to compassion for the hurting! John is literally questioning whether we can choose not to help someone in need and still love God. It’s impossible to love God and our neighbor and do nothing to help those who are hurting and in need.

Take a look at the word “Goods” in this verse. It means “course of life,” “living,” or “livelihood.” This Greek word is translated as “Life”. Therefore, the mentioned need is for food, clothing, and shelter. When we choose to give some of our livelihood to those who are hurting and in need, we are literally displaying the same sacrificial love that Christ demonstrated for us on the cross! Loving like Jesus is more than just lip service, it’s action! Love in Action!!!

1 John 3:18 MEV

My little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.

Let us be sure to love in deed and in truth! What would happen if we all decided to start giving? Here’s the problem…

– Tithers make up only 10-25 percent of a normal congregation.

Only 5 percent of the U.S. tithes and 80 percent of Americans give only 2 percent of their income.

– Christians only give at 2.5 percent per capita, while during the Great Depression, they gave at a 3.3 percent rate. - Taken from relevantmagazine.com, March 8, 2016

While these numbers seem alarming, there are some things we can change, and they could literally change the world! Tithing is really just one way that we could practice our generosity and follow the precedent that was set by Jesus and the 1st Century church. I believe we’ve spent too much time arguing whether or not we’re required to tithe. I believe there’s sufficient evidence in the scripture that we should tithe. That’s not the point I’m trying to make here. I believe it’s more a matter of generosity…

2 Corinthians 9:7–8 MEV

Let every man give according to the purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. God is able to make all grace abound toward you, so that you, always having enough of everything, may abound to every good work.

God says not to give grudgingly or of necessity but to give out of generosity. God loves a cheerful giver! We have to quit looking at what we might be obligated to do, but instead, what can I do? We shouldn’t guilt people into giving because that kind of giving isn’t blessed anyway. It’s truly a matter of the heart, not a matter of obligation. When you are out of love, give generously; God will bless you with abundance for every good work!!! So what would happen if we just started with 10%?

The larger point is what would happen if believers were to increase their giving to a minimum of, let’s say, 10 percent. There would be an additional $165 billion for churches to use and distribute. The global impact would be phenomenal. Here are just a few things the Church could do with this kind of money:

In five years, $25 billion could relieve global hunger, starvation, and deaths from preventable diseases.

– $12 billion could eliminate illiteracy in five years.

$15 billion could solve the world’s water and sanitation issues, specifically in places where 1 billion people live on less than $1 per day.

– $1 billion could fully fund all overseas mission work.

– $100 – $110 billion would still be left over for additional ministry expansion. - Taken from relevantmagazine.com, March 8, 2016

Those are just some things the church could accomplish if we all gave just the 10%. As a believer, my approach to tithing shouldn’t be centered on the Law but rather on grace to tithe. The full power of tithing is found in grace, not in fear! It’s about what I get to do, not what I have to do. Tithing is the foundation of giving for every believer. The kind of giving that will really change the world is that which is over and above the 10%. Imagine what we could accomplish if we committed our tithes to the church. We could literally change the world!