[good samaritan]

Sean I was kidding a little with that last post. The thing is in our country we have very few literally poor people that can't give. There are many people who aren't good stewards and their finances are so poorly managed that they feel like that giving to the work of God is the corner they should cut. If I don't teach giving (many times sacrificially) then not only will people not do it.

Unless directed by God otherwise I will always teach tithing as a good place to start with our giving. I will not belittle or ostracize those who do not, but will make them feel apart of our assembly. Just because they don't give doesn't mean that they aren't going to heaven that is up to God, but I hope that many who think they can't afford to give will one day have the faith to try. I have just been working on updating our church bylaws and I have changed tithing to regular giving with a side note saying preferably tithing.

We have people in our church now who I have used in the church who don't financially support the church with giving. It disappoints me, but I don't call them to the office nor do I teach on giving because of them personally (I teach things I feel the Lord has for the church as a whole not because of isolated circumstances). No one knows what others give in our church; people don't know who tithes or not and I plan on it always staying that way. Those who feel they can't afford to give will never be able.

My wife told me recently that she should just go shopping and spend the money when she wants to get something. Her point was we will always hustle some way to take care of the bills, but if we leave money in our account it is going to disappear anyway. At least she would have the things we need and that is true with giving to God. If people generously give to God the money will come from somewhere and If they are about to loose a house or something it probably has nothing to do with giving that $20 or $30 in the pan on Sunday. There was probably something wrong anyway. Put God first in everything and that is in the new and old testaments. God is the judge of the amount and I certainly communicate that, but we can each have our opinions to the side.