AGWM News

What to do?

In this time of economic downturn we all are thinking a little more about our finances, especially as tax day approaches on April 15.

With the forlorn financial forecast we face, when many of us are cutting back on our spending, should we also cut back on our church-related contributions?

First, the Bible admonishes us to pay our tithe always, not just in the prosperous times. We need to continue giving 10 percent of our income to the Lord through our local church during both the good and difficult days. God will honor us as we do (Malachi 3:8-10).

Second, we should also continue giving to missions. Here are some reasons why: 

1.     Missions is at the heart of God. John 3:16 tells us that God gave His Son so everyone in the world might be saved. 

2.     We have a responsibility to take the gospel around the world (Mark 16:15). We can’t go everywhere, but we can support missionaries who do. Of the nearly 7 billion people in the world, 4.4 billion have not heard an adequate presentation of the gospel. There is still much work to do. 

3.     Missionaries and all ministers deserve our support. Paul reminds us: The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. … “The worker deserves his wages” (1 Timothy 5:17-18). 

Paul thanks the church at Philippi for giving him financial support in his missionary endeavors (Philippians 4:10-19). He says about the financial gifts they sent him: They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God (verse 18). 

4.     Missionaries use our offerings to spread the gospel around the world, often to the poor and needy. The United Nations estimates that 25,000 people die each day of hunger or hunger-related causes. The Bible declares: He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses (Proverbs 28:27). 

We are told we will be rewarded even if we give a cup of cold water (Matthew 10:42). 

Click here to read how one AGWM ministry is literally doing this. 

5.     Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:19-20: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” 

Everything else we spend our money on will one day get old and worn and have to be thrown away. Eternity gets closer with each passing day. Sending our money ahead seems like a good idea.