Generous Givers
After Sunday’s sermon, I hopped in the car and drove to Nashville for a conference on donor development in Christian schools. Part of the program was a panel of “extraordinary givers”, interviewed about the factors that determine their giving decisions. One of the panelists heads the DeVos Family Foundation, funded by the billionaire founders of Amway. The other is a best-selling author and recently retired executive at Chic-Fil-A. Their comments illustrate the three bullet points Pastor Ben highlighted with regard to giving:
1. Give with a discerning heart
2. Give with surrendered will
3. Give with selfless investment
Both men described a process of discernment wherein they consider return on investment, the growth potential of an organization, and the ability of an organization to steward a gift well. They noted it is possible to give too much to an organization and shared a philosophy that no gift be larger than 10% of a campaign goal or 5% of an operating budget. They spoke of diversifying their investment portfolios so that impacts were made in a variety of sectors. And finally, both indicated a desire to have a relationship with someone within the organization and confidence in its leader. These are clear examples of discernment used to ensure wise stewardship of the resources entrusted to them.
But practical considerations tell only half of the story. Both men spoke of prayerful deliberation which is the “surrendered will” Pastor Ben listed. One of the men mentioned continued giving to an organization he no longer cared to support, simply because the Lord had not released him from it. And to another organization, he gave an amount far higher than what he felt comfortable because it was the amount he felt called to when he and his wife arrived at the same number after prayer. His desire was to carry out God’s will rather than his own.
Finally, selfless investment… giving with no agenda for personal gain. One of the men noted experiencing real joy in giving and believes it is his spiritual gift. He added that the last thing he wants after he makes a donation, is a gift from the recipient, especially with their logo on it! A logo covered trinket is an easy temptation to resist but recognition is less so. It can be difficult to separate the joy of giving from the joy of being recognized for the gift. The Bible warns against seeking attention with our giving in Matthew 6:3-4a.
“But when you give to the needy, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be in secret.”
A dramatic illustration of this point is found in the account of Ananias and Sapphira from the book of Acts. The couple announced a large gift to the church but misrepresented the degree of sacrifice involved. Though they had in fact made a generous gift, the Lord was displeased with their desire to appear even more generous. Accolades for generosity was the motivation for the gift. It was not a selfless investment and the Lord made an example of their hypocrisy.
If we desire to be generous givers, the only acceptable motivation is the advancement of God’s kingdom. And if believers answered this call faithfully, who knows how many non-profits would be fully funded? Giving as a percentage of household income averages between 1.7% and 2.2%, falling far shy of the 10% that God requires. With about 63% of the US population identifying as Christian, the national giving average should be skewed much higher. If cheerful giving has not been a hallmark of your spiritual disciplines, there is no time like the present to obey God’s command and bless the socks off a non-profit who needs you!
~ Melissa Gibbs has been a member of LIFE Fellowship for over 10 years, is the mother to four boys and widow of the late JD Gibbs. She also is a founding board member of Ambassador Christian School.