Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Luke 6.38)

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” Malachi 3.10)

In our culture, giving is a personal, private act; and churches have a reputation for using guilt and pressure to elicit financial support from reluctant members. Nevertheless, we all know that generosity is a quality and value of God’s; and we consistently admire generosity in others.

So, here are a few questions and answers concerning giving…

Why give?

Giving is a natural human response to the generosity of God. God gives us life and provides for our needs; so we follow God’s example and give generously to help others.

Who gives?

Jesus taught his followers that people either live for God or they live for material wealth. It’s impossible to be faithful to God, unless we are faithful with our money. God invites everyone to participate in his work through the sharing and giving of financial resources.

When and how much?

The act of giving to the local faith community goes back thousands of years. The Bible refers to a tithe—the regular gift of 10% of our income. If you have no habit of giving, you could start with a smaller amount and work toward a tithe. The important thing is to establish a regular habit of giving to God’s work.

Give where?

If you take part in a local church, then this is the place for your tithe and offerings. Crossroads serves this region and the world by welcoming, teaching, helping, encouraging and empowering people of all ages, background and abilities. This sacrificial and strategic work is only possible as we share our resources.

What happens when I Give?

God accomplishes his plans with the help of human workers, and those who give receive– abundant blessing from God. According to the Bible, and our common experience, God’s reward comes in many forms: joy, satisfaction, protection, provision and more.