If you’ve been a Christian for a minute, you’ve been exposed to messages on giving to the church or requests to give to a capital campaign. There’s nothing wrong with messages on giving or fundraising for worthwhile ministry projects. The danger comes when giving is portrayed and communicated as a duty we Christians have to perform instead of a loving response to a God who’s been extravagantly generous to us.

The principle of giving is throughout The Scriptures. From the Old Testament to the New, generosity is the central theme of the Bible, best summed up in John 3:16, *“For God so loved the world that he __gave__ his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”*

God is a giver, and as his children created in his images, so are we, or we should be. __The effects of sin are what keep us from being generous.__ Sin makes us fearful, greedy, and selfish, and these feelings cause us to hoard rather than be open-handed.

__To non-Christians, the idea of giving is relevant and worthwhile, that is, if they have what they deem to be enough for themselves.__ It’s not that they don’t want to give; it’s that they have to consider their own situation first before giving to someone else.

__Christians are similar, except that we are taught that giving is a religious act and that we have an obligation to be generous.__ There’s a significant difference between feeling like you *have* to give and having the *option* to give. Feeling like you have to give because the Bible says so can easily lead to the wrong kind of giving.

## Money and The Church

__For many Christians, the topic of money discussed in the church makes them uncomfortable.__ It’s not that the topic makes them uncomfortable; they regularly engage in money conversations with their spouse, friends, and coworkers. __It makes them uncomfortable because when the subject is raised in the church, it’s almost always tied to an “ask.”__

__Church leaders do a disservice to their congregation when they do not teach God’s principles on finances and only focus on the passages related to giving.__ Giving represents a smaller portion of our finances. Even if you are a tither and give an additional 15% of your income above the tithe, that’s still only 25% of all your income. The Bible has a lot to say about the other 75%, yet, pastors rarely teach on it.

__The overemphasis on giving and the lack of Biblical financial education in the church make people calloused to the topic of money in the church or even resentful.__ I believe that’s why more than 50% of Christians give nothing measurable to their church.

## Loveless Giving

Of course, not everyone in the church reacts to messages on giving with opposition or resentment. For the true Christ-follower, the Word of God is sacred, revered, and honored. __When a pastor references and makes a case for giving using the Bible, the genuine response from these people is to obey and do as God says.__ Unfortunately, this can easily lead to loveless giving.

Loveless giving is serving and giving simply as a religious duty without being motivated by a love for God and love for people.

Obedience is an integral part of our relationship with God. However, obedience alone is not enough. The motivation for our actions matters infinitely more to God than our actions. This concept is explained well in the graphic below taken from the [Stewardship Impact Workshop](https://www.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/stewardship-impact), offered through CSN.


![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b28b3e945776e86f5212567/e0e18e09-04fb-42e0-a22a-89facb19656f/Screen+Shot+2022-09-01+at+8.42.36+AM.png?format=1500w)

*image taken from the [Stewardship Impact Workshop](https://membership.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/stewardship-impact-workshop-0a5f7c6e-d206-4406-80bb-0891ed1dd325) *

This graphic reveals four types of people and their responses concerning their possessions:

1. __Self-absorbed owner__ says, “I have full authority over my stuff.” These are the non-givers in your congregation.
2. __Obligated owner__ says, “I have full authority over my stuff, but I feel obligated to give something.” These are the non-tithing, occasional givers in your congregation.
3. __Obedient owner__ says, “I will obey what God says I should do with my stuff.” These are the tithers of your church who occasionally give above the tithe.
4. __Love-inspired steward__ says, “I have given God total control over His stuff.” These are the main supporters of the church. They are tithers and the first to respond when a need is presented, financial or otherwise.

Hopefully, you can see that there’s only one response that honors God fully, the one from the love-inspired steward. __The problem is most churches are satisfied with growing obligated or obedient owners.__ How can I make such a bold statement? Because they do little to equip people to be love-inspired stewards, yet regularly ask people to give.

Giving is extremely important. It isn’t important because it provides the funds for the ministry. It’s important because it increases people’s trust and intimacy with God, which should always be the focus of The Church. You will never develop generous givers out of poor stewards. __The predictable outcome from teaching on giving, while ignoring stewardship education, is at best obligated or obedient owners.__

## Conclusion

A truly generous person is generous in all areas of life, not out of a sense of obligation but as an expression of love. __Teaching and equipping God’s people to be good stewards of ALL God has entrusted to them will make them lifelong, love-inspired stewards who give willingly and generously.__

At CSN, our mission is to equip and train church leaders to teach God’s financial principles so people can experience financial freedom and the joy of giving. We’d love to come alongside you and help you develop a culture of good stewardship and generosity in your church. You can learn more about us and how we can help [here](https://www.christianstewardshipnetwork.com) .

*[Image](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b28b3e945776e86f5212567/e0e18e09-04fb-42e0-a22a-89facb19656f/Screen+Shot+2022-09-01+at+8.42.36+AM.png?format=1500w) used with permission.*

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A truly generous person is generous in all areas of life, not out of a sense of obligation but as an expression of love.

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## Why do you want to buy a house?

God has designed us to live and give generously. So our money decisions matter. And purchasing a house is one of the biggest money decisions you will make.

There are several reasons why you may want to buy a house. Maybe you think that homeownership is just what you should do because, after all, you are a grown-up. Maybe you want a place to call your own, one that places no limitations on the color of your walls. Maybe you are getting married and homeownership seems like a good next step in the relationship. Maybe you think homeownership helps your finances more than renting.

There are many reasons why you may want to own a home. But desiring homeownership doesn’t necessarily mean that you are ready to own a home.

### HOMEOWNERSHIP ISN’T FOR EVERYONE (AND THAT’S OK)

While homeownership may be the right decision for some, it may not be the best move for others. Sure, owning a piece of American soil sounds appealing. But if you rent, let me put your mind at ease, there is a time and place for renting as well. You are not a bad person because you rent.

Consider the often-overlooked costs of homeownership. There are homeowners association fees, taxes, insurance, landscaping costs, and general maintenance that your finances must cover. For renters, your landlord takes care of those expenses. If your hot water heater breaks, you don’t have to pay for its repair or replacement. You just need to call your landlord. He or she takes care of it for you.

Homeownership encompasses much more than just paying a monthly mortgage bill. You simply might not be ready for these costs and responsibilities. And that’s OK.

But I also do not want to discourage you from homeownership.

### THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON TO BUY A HOME

There are several potential motives behind a person’s desire to own a home, but here is the most important reason—homeownership is a long-term strategy to free up future cash flow. And it is for this reason why I do not want to totally discourage you from future homeownership.

What does it mean, “Homeownership is a long-term strategy to free up future cash flow?” It means that you buy a home to, one day, be free of a house payment (you pay off your mortgage) and have more money available for other purposes. This cannot happen with renting.

Too often we consider having a mortgage as part of life. We view mortgage payments just like a water or electric bill—something that will always be there. But that’s not the correct view. Mortgages can and should be paid off.

Take a second, and imagine life without a house payment. For those who desire to live more generously, to use their resources for something greater than themselves, image how a mortgageless life could ramp up your financial generosity. It is a nice thought, right?

This is the most important reason why you would buy a home—to, one day, be without a house payment.

### YOUR GUIDE FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP READINESS

So should you really buy a house? It is an important question. Taking the plunge too early can create some serious financial stress. Consider the following three questions as a guide. If you can answer “yes” to all three questions, you may be ready for homeownership.

__1. Do you plan on living there for at least five years?__ The financial gains of homeownership can be limited if you sell the house too quickly. There are upfront costs to overcome and most of your mortgage payment goes toward interest during the first years. Experiencing any true financial gain from homeownership takes time. So if you are planning on moving within five years, consider renting.

__2. Will your mortgage payments be less than 30 percent of your after-tax pay?__ Avoid being house poor, where all your money goes toward your mortgage payment. Give your finances the flexibility for you to live a life of generosity. If your after-tax pay is $4,000 per month, I recommend that your mortgage payment should not be any greater than $1,200 ($4,000 x .30).

__3. Do you have at least 20 percent for a down payment?__ If your mortgage is more than 80 percent of your home’s value, you could get hit with private mortgage insurance (PMI). PMI is an additional monthly fee lenders charge because you are considered a higher-risk borrower. PMI is to protect the lender not the borrower. Yes, according to the lender, you are a risky borrower.

That’s a thought to ponder. Even if the lender does not require 20 percent to avoid PMI, 20 percent is still a good indicator that you have handled your finances well and are ready to buy a home.

If you can answer “yes” to each of these questions, you are probably ready to buy a house. Buying a home is a big deal. It can be a tremendous blessing or a financial nightmare. So take time and consider whether you are really ready to buy a house or not.

*[Image](https://www.artrainer.com/post/should-you-really-buy-a-house) used with permission*

You were meant for more. Your money was meant for more. You and your money are meant for an exciting, adventurous, and satisfying purpose. You were designed to live and give generously. And deep inside you know this and want this.

Art Rainer

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There are many reasons why you may want to own a home. But desiring homeownership doesn’t mean that you should.

Should You Really Buy a House?

## I think the most important principle is *you can’t effectively help needy people you don’t know*. Now, there are exceptions. You might say, “I know the people who work with them, and I financially support their ministry.” But the principle still stands that someone has to actually know the people being ministered to.

We’ll never have a heart for people we don’t see and spend time with. If we don’t know anyone who’s poor—if we don’t go out in our communities to meet people, strike up conversations, and get to know them—we can’t see what we can do for them. We need to take the initiative of volunteering at a soup kitchen, doing downtown ministry, or participating in some other outreach to those in need.

We can also encourage our churches to support these ministries, and then start volunteering ourselves. Churches often get involved in a ministry when some members are invested in giving of their time and developing relationships.

Nanci and I have experience that in our home church, Good Shepherd Community Church. One of our members walked away from his very profitable medical practice and set up what’s called The Good News Clinic in one of the poorest areas of our community. Churches support them. People volunteer, including physicians and nurses, as well as trained therapists and people with counseling skills because the clinic’s patients need more than physical care—they need emotional and mental care too, and most importantly they need to hear the Good News of Christ.

*But you’ve got to get out there and actually connect.* Certainly, missions trips to poor parts of the world are important, though they don’t involve the poor in our own community. But there are truly poor people around us. We need to meet these people and see what’s being done for them, instead of writing them all off as drug addicts and people who are just trying to bleed the system. Many of these people have very complex stories that involve abuse, hurt, and pain, and some of them are veterans. You just don’t know until you get close enough to meet them and minister to them, as God’s Word calls us to do.

## For some of us it’s a question of walking down the block and getting to know the poor. For others it’s driving twenty miles to find a homeless person. Perhaps I must take regular trips away from the cozy suburbs to the inner city. Whole churches have become involved in projects of helping the poor. Some youth groups take regular trips to Mexico. Others put on camps and evangelistic Bible clubs for inner-city children. Churches can go to the ghettos, the jails, the hospitals, and rest homes—wherever there is need.

God links our efforts for the poor directly to our relationship with Him. May he one day say of us what he said of King Josiah: “He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?” ([Jeremiah 22:16](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Jer%2022.16)).

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How Do We Best Help the Poor and Needy in Our Communities?

“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” Hebrews 13:16 God’s Word has a lot to say about being generous but it also repeatedly cautions us to be wise in our affairs. We’ll talk about how you can be both wise and generous 
<ul><li>Despite uncertainties about the economy, let’s look at how we can be generous at year-end. It’s a time to be thankful for God’s provision and to show our gratitude.</li><li>Psalm 106:1 tells us, “Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”</li><li>We want to show our gratitude with our giving. But this isn’t just about writing checks to various ministries with funds we have left over when all the December bills are paid. </li><li>We must also be wise about our giving. Proverbs 3:13 teaches, “Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding.”</li><li>The first step in becoming a wise giver is taking some time to think and pray about where to give. </li><li>Your local church</li><li>Ministries you are passionate about</li><li>Distributing Bibles</li><li>Crisis pregnancy centers that offer alternatives to abortion </li><li>How do you find ministries that are doing the work you’re passionate about? Make sure that the ministries you support are, first, efficient, meaning that administrative costs are kept to a minimum and, second, that they’re effective and actually making a difference. </li><li>The National Christian Foundation can guide you through the process and make excellent recommendations. </li><li>Also Another at ministries through the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.</li><li>ECFA provides accreditation to Christian businesses and ministries that adhere to standards of responsible stewardship, including doctrinal issues, governance, financial oversight, transparency, staff salaries and truthfulness. </li><li>There are organizations claiming to be Christian ministries that are fraudulent, so be careful. Another good place to check for potential fraudsters is at MinistryWatch.org. </li><li>MinistryWatch creates profiles for church and parachurch ministries. It identifies organizations and their leadership that may be engaged in misleading behavior, or wasteful spending practices. MinistryWatch also identifies ministries that operate in good faith and are run efficiently.</li><li>You may want to do some giving outside of Christian ministries. Check out potential charities at Give.org. It’s an arm of the Better Business Bureau that evaluates and accredits charities based on various standards including: complaints, donor privacy and conflicts of interest. Give.org also lets you file a complaint against a charity, read and write reviews, and get tips on giving.</li></ul>On this program, Rob also answers listener questions:
<ul><li>I’m going to send a large sum of money to a relative. What is the safest way to do this?</li><li>I have 5 rental properties and am looking into an LLC, but my insurance company suggested an umbrella policy. What’s your advice?</li><li>We’re living with the in-laws until we can afford a house. We’re close to affording a townhome, but now in-laws are in a financial deficit. How do I care for my immediate family and now extended family?</li></ul>Resources mentioned 
<ul><li><a href="https://www.ncfgiving.com/">National Christian Foundation</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ecfa.org/">ECFA</a></li><li><a href="https://ministrywatch.com/">Ministry Watch</a></li><li><a href="https://www.give.org/">Give.org</a></li><li><a href="https://www.eventideinvestments.com/">Eventide Investments</a></li></ul>Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000 or email them to Questions@MoneyWise.org. Also, visit our website at <a href="http://moneywise.org/">MoneyWise.org</a> where you can connect with a MoneyWise Coach, join the MoneyWise Community, and even download the free MoneyWise app.

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“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” Hebrews 13:16 ﻿God’s Word has a lot to say about being generous but it also repeatedly cautions us to be wise in our affairs.

Wise Year-End Giving

Jesus taught more about money than He did about love. Rob West shares that Jesus' teachings declare there is nothing wrong with attaining wealth honestly, but amassing it through theft and corruption dishonors God.

The MoneyWise Minute is a great way to be reminded of God's financial principles with actionable items you can easily apply to your daily life.

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Jesus taught more about money than He did about love. Rob West shares that Jesus' teachings declare there is nothing wrong with attaining wealth honestly, but amassing it through theft and corruption dishonors God.

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The Chesley's share their inspirational generosity journey. Click the Generous Giving link below to learn more about this organization’s vision and purpose.

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Should You Really Buy a House?

How Do We Best Help the Poor and Needy in Our Communities?

The Chesleys - Terrifyingly Exhilarating Generosity

Jesus On Economics

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