HOW DOES GIVING AFFECT RELATIONSHIPS WITH CHRIST

          We spend so much time talking about giving, and how it helps churches pay their bills and do mission work, and in the United Methodist Church, pay ministry shares (apportionments). Sometimes, we get really fancy and talk about giving back to God; and about tithing or proportional giving. And then, maybe, just maybe, we talk about generosity and how important it is to everyone’s spiritual journey.

          But, what if, we talked about giving, as intentional (on purpose), and proportional (giving specifically related to income), and how important those two aspects are to giving. Because not only does it:

·        Make our hearts sing; and

·        Enable God’s work to be done through our local churches; and

·        Change our relationship with money; AND

·        Strengthen our relationship with Christ!

          As Christians, we are New Testament people; we are children of God, and our sins have been forgiven because of Jesus Christ. In the Gospel of John, Jesus Christ said he was

·        The Bread of Life (John 6).

·        The Light of the World (John 8).

·        The Gate of the Sheepfold (John 10).

·        The Good Shepherd (John 10).

·        The Resurrection and the Life (John 11).

·        The Way, Truth, and Life (John 14).

·        The True Vine: (John 15)

          If Jesus is all those things, and all those things define our relationship with Jesus Christ and his relationship with us; when we are generous, and we think of money with our hearts instead of only our heads, then when our giving is intentional and proportional, our relationship with Christ is increased exponentially.

          For many of us, work on the financial aspects of our church and our church’s work is focused on the fall season. It is “only” summer; but now is the time to start talking and sharing about our relationships with money and giving. Don’t wait!