Posted on: November 6, 2008
Whether to help fund the budget or a special project, people may need help understanding how to give a gift to your ministry. Many times the head can talk the heart out of responding to the challenge set before us. Sometimes a poverty mentality, ‘I have nothing,’ or fear, ‘if I give I won’t be able to pay my bills,’ can serve as a speed bump to giving decision.
Head Giving
The first form of giving, head giving, is when people determine the amount to be given based on their monthly cash flow. This cash flow would include salary and auxiliary income from other sources.
Hand Giving
Another form of giving is called asset giving or gifts in kind. These are typically assets of value that if cashed in would provide currency to give. People need to be encouraged to consider what items of value they might have that they no longer want or need that they could give to a project they really believe in.
Heart Giving
The third form of giving involves the heart. Heart giving involves praying and asking God what He would like to give through us. We must pray, listen, obey his leading, and be ready to watch God provide the resources to give. This type of giving is similar to a faith promise simply because the heart is searching for God’s partnership in giving. God must provide. God must show up. God must resource this gift because this is over and above what we think we could give from our heads or hands.
God expects us to use wisdom and knowledge in partnership with God’s Holy Spirit regarding our giving. Luke 6:38 states:
“Give, and it will be given unto you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Roger Lane
Vice President
MasterPlan Stewardship Campaigns