Giving: How Much is Enough

"And so the people were restrained from giving because there was more than enough." Exodus 36:7

Dear People of St. David's,

I pray that you are well and have been considering making plans for your giving in these quieter summer months. It makes such a difference to have a plan. It brings purpose. It brings joy. It makes a difference to the receiver and in your own life. Being proactive in your giving opens the way for God to guide you and encourage you and will give you a better sense of God's generous giving in you life.

All well and good, you say, Frank, but how much is enough? Well the Bible and our Church teach tithing or giving away ten percent of your income for God's purposes and for the good of others. It doesn't have to be to church alone, though I do have a slight bias that way. There are certainly important causes and institutions outside the church that need our support. And please don't make it some kind of legalistic challenge for your life. That's the quickest way to spiritual failure I know and may limit some of you in how much God may be calling you to give. I like to think of the tithe as a goal, like loving your neighbor as yourself. Some days are better than others, but we strive to reach it and trust that God will use our giving in effective ways and forgive us when we fall short.

I don't know the answer to how much is enough, but there is an upper limit as witnessed in the quirky little scripture quoted above from the Book of Exodus. Moses and the Hebrews are gathering treasures to build the ark and the tent of meeting to worship God in their desert wanderings. They pray together and people being bringing gifts to be used for the construction of the worship space. At some point their generosity exceeds the needs of the plan and Moses has to tell them to stop giving because they already have more than enough. I'd like to see that in our own time, but it does give us a sense that giving has limits. That there will be moments, milestones, achievements that let us know that we have given enough and can either rest or invite God to redirect our plans to some other purpose.

When I was younger and even less subtle than I am today (hard to imagine), a friend once asked me how much was enough to give. I responded without even pausing for breath, "That God has given you everything you have and only wants ten percent back. You get to keep ninety percent and in giving will get to see God at work." He reminded me of this years later and I apologized for being so blunt. Apparently he wasn't looking for an apology, but was bringing it up to thank me for setting him on the right path of giving. It has been his pattern for over twenty years and his stories and the people he has come to know through his giving has helped to make his life as rich as anyone's I know.

When you're making your plan, set a limit for your giving. See how it goes and then, if you can, push it a little. I think you will find that you won't miss it, even at ten percent, and your life and the lives of those around you will be blessed immeasurably.

Grace and Peace,
WFA