On Giving (part 2): Regularly

Last week Pastor Stephen opened our brief word of exhortation series on the topic of giving by focusing on the aspect of giving cheerfully. Which is also a good opportunity to remind everyone that our Word of Exhortations are posted under the blog section on the church website if you ever wish to go back and review them.

One section of our church membership covenant states that “We will contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel to all nations.”  This morning, I am going to focus on the second adverb in that sentence and exhort us as a church to contribute Regularly. What is regular?

Regular giving is the act of prayerfully determining the rhythm and pattern by which you give, and then being faithful in that practice as an act of worship. Not under compulsion or legalistically, because giving regularly should not feel like just paying another monthly bill, but out of joy as we are invited to join into the work that God is doing. We see this in Paul’s instruction to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 9.

“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

So why does it matter if we give regularly?

 There is an obvious practical benefit to regular giving as it establishes an identifiable trend and expectation that assists in the formulation of the church budget, the maintenance of the expenses of the church, and the projection of future staffing, ministry, and mission support capacity.

But I do not believe that these practical benefits are the primary reason we should prioritize regular giving. We should give regularly, because like any spiritual discipline done consistently, it grows our faithfulness and inclines our attention and heart away from the temporal, toward the eternal.  Intentionality and faithfulness to give regularly, establishes giving as a priority out of our firstfruits, not our leftovers. It increases our dependence on Christ, softens our temptation toward greed and selfishness, and grows our joy in worship of the God who is faithful to meet our needs. At the end of Philippians we see Paul express his thankfulness to the Philippians who were consistent in their support of his ministry, and the reason for his thankfulness has everything to do with what their faithfulness is producing in them when he says “Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Church, may our spiritual growth and fruitfulness abound through the faithfulness of regular giving in a heart of worship to our great God.