Blessed, Not Burdened
We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
Winston Churchill
Sometimes it is our perspective that changes the conversation. Such is the case in the conversation around tithing. As Director of Legacy Giving, I come alongside churches from Burlington to the coast and have met so many fine folks in the last eight years. In my tenure, it has been my experience that “perspective” can change our conversation about giving, particularly the giving of the tithe.
Across the years I have met “tithers” from all walks of life, all kinds of backgrounds, and all levels of income and expenses. One of two perspectives seem to prevail: Tithing is either a blessing or a burden. For those who find tithing a burden, giving is an obligation, a payment, or something they “got to do.” While their giving is useful for mission and ministry, it is less than useful for the giver. Tithing is meant to be a blessing, not a burden.
For those whose perspective of tithing as something we “get to do,” rather than “got to do,” tithing brings blessing. In fact, their giving is not just something they do at church, but usually it shows up in their daily lives. They give time (and money) to civic groups, to blood drives, to neighborhood groups…the list goes on. It seems it is in their DNA to give.
I believe it is in our DNA to give because we are made in the image of the original Giver. God has given us everything we have and when we give, we are living into who we are created to be; we are living into the image of the One who created us. God has given us everything we have, and all God asks is for us to care for it the way God would. To do this, we open the book, The Bible, which has over 2,500 verses about giving, generosity, and caring for others, particularly those in need. As the Churchill quote (above) says, meaningful living is found in giving. Givers are blessed, not burdened.
I believe it is in our DNA to give because we are made in the image of the original Giver.
Lynn Benson, Director of Legacy Giving
We at your UMF welcome the opportunity to come alongside you in mission and ministry, especially around this topic of giving. In fact, it is in our mission statement: Helping God’s People Pay It Forward. There are so many ways to pay it forward and our website is a helpful place to start (or continue) a conversation around this topic.
November is naturally a month to think about and talk about giving. We have so much to be thankful for and a tangible way to show our gratitude is by giving. Giving is a way God blesses us, not burdens us. Become a tither and let God show you the blessings God has in store for you.
The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.
Proverbs 11:25 (MSG)
This article was submitted by Rev. Lynn Benson, Director of Legacy Giving for the United Methodist Foundation, Inc. If you would like more information regarding UMF, you can contact Lynn at [email protected].