We recognize that God is the source and giver of every good thing -- including our life, health, strength, skills, and opportunities to earn money and accumulate wealth.
Giving expresses our recognition that ultimately everything comes from and returns to God, and that God is the owner of everything. What we "own" is really entrusted to us, entrusted to us to use for a short time for the good of many: for the good of our families, our neighbors, the stranger, and the world.
Scripture says we honor God by giving our wealth. Our giving expresses our desire to honor God as the source and giver of every good thing in our life. We desire to tell God how we want to honor him.
The Biblical tithe (10% of our income) is an expression of faith - that our lives will be blessed more as we live on 90% of our earnings than if we had kept all 100% for ourselves -- that God will provide for us and bless us more through giving them through hoarding, or through spending everything we earn. Tithing expresses this confidence to God.
Our giving accomplishes many things: supports our pastoral staff in their ministry to our congregation and to others; strengthens our church for ministry in our region; extends our ministry around the world; impacts the poor and needy in many ways; honors God in our expression of his Lordship; and most significantly, deepens our trust and commitment to God as an essential and elementary spiritual discipline. Pray for the impact of our combined giving so that God's will may indeed "be done on earth as it is done in heaven."
Giving is a privilege and joy. Jesus said that it is better to give than to receive. Thank God for the privilege of giving. Give with cheerfulness and joy.
If you're not yet confident that God will provide for us and bless us, then ask God for help in this step of faith and trust. Begin moving torward tithing. Start with 5%, and increase it each year by another 2% or even 1%, until you reach the tithe within just a few years. You'll be amazed at how freeing it can be realize that not only can we live on 90% or less of our income, but that God can use us as philanthropists... for the healing of the world!