Should I Give to My Church from Government Stimulus?

Giving to my church has been something my parents taught me to do when I was young. It's a natural part of life now--not just because I was taught to do it, but because it is Biblical and glorifies the Lord. Giving is a stewardship principle that recognizes that everything we have belongs to God. Everything the government has belongs to God, too. It's not really ours. When I was a kid, I learned about tithing (giving 10%) and grew into giving offerings (giving beyond 10%).

A question posed recently, now that people have been receiving money from the Federal Government, asked if people should be giving to their church from the stimulus payments they receive.

When considering whether to give or not, one needs to know what the money is. Is it income? Is it your money? Does it belong to someone else? Let me illustrate with another common question: Should I give to my church if I receive money back from my tax return? Technically, if you file a tax return and get money back, it is money you have given to the IRS to hold onto through the year as you've earned income. In this case, a tax return is not technically income, and you are not required to give to your church from it. Again, when I get a tax return, I prefer to be generous and will often give a portion to our church, and, since I give regularly, that is an offering to the Lord. If a Christian has not been giving to their church through the year, then a tax return is a good way to catch up on one's giving to support their church.

Now, let's consider stimulus payments. The stimulus payments that the U.S. Government is distributing are for the purpose of infusing cash into the market to stimulate financial stability and growth. (We may argue the logic of where the money will come from and how the money has been designated, but that is a subject for another day.) In essence, the government is giving us all money it hopes we will spend. In this way, it is income. Due to it being "stimulus," we will not need to pay taxes on the income with the IRS. But, knowing the purpose of the income in this case--a stimulus--it is appropriate and right to tithe and/or give offerings to your local church.

Giving is a principle found throughout the Bible. It was exemplified by Abraham when he gave tithes to the priest, Melchizedek (Genesis 14:20). Later, in the law tithing was commanded (Leviticus 27:30). In the New Testament, the principle of giving is built on grace and love. We are to purpose in our hearts based on our love for God and others (2 Corinthians 9:7) and give in a way that mimics God's love for us (John 3:16). Anytime giving is done, it is exercised by faith knowing God sees what we give (Mark 12:42) and that He rewards us accordingly (Malachi 3:10; Luke 6:38, 2 Corinthians 9:6).

My prayer is that you will know the grace of giving! It is definitely more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35)! Any time God blesses you with income, recognize God is the One Who blessed you, and give back to Him.

Considering the challenges churches have faced during Covid, your giving would be a huge blessing! Consider this. In a church of 150, suppose we estimate 50 will not receive stimulus payments due to being ineligible. That means 100 people will each receive $1,400 (in this recent round of stimulus payments). 100 people multiplied by $1,400 is a total of $140,000. If each person gave a tithe from their stimulus payments to their church, then the church would be blessed by an additional $14,000, on top of what is given each week from "normal income," to do God's work.

In a day and time when 1 in 5 churches are facing the possibility of closing their doors in less than 18 months (largely due to Christians not attending and giving), it is imperative for Christians to prioritize the Gospel and their giving. How many churches would be able to recover and keep sharing Christ if their members simply gave a tithe every time God blessed with income? Let's step up and be faithful to the Lord in every area of our lives, including in our finances. After all, it belongs to God in the first place.

Parenting Principle:
Giving is an important part of worship to teach our children. As they grow up, teach them to set aside at least a dime for each dollar they receive from a gift, allowance, etc. Then show them how to give to the Lord. It used to be easier to see how giving was done with actual money. Giving digitally makes it a little more difficult to see and understand for younger minds. Be open about how you set aside a portion of your income to give to God, and assure your child about the blessings God has given you over the years for giving. Your influence will help their faith soar!

If you would like to give to the Lord to support Gospel ministry through Open Door Baptist Church, please visit our Giving Page.

By Dennis Schaffer, Pastor/ODBC