I am often asked by other business owners, who have started to make some money, about giving.  They have very few people that they can talk to about how, when, where, and how much that they should give.  I am asked, "Do I give out of the gross or the net?"   I usually tell them that we were in the distribution business, and most distributors only net 1% to 2%, so 10% of the gross sales or billings would break us.  

The important thing is not the exact percentage, but what is the attitude of our heart?  They also ask, "Do I have to give a tithe to my church and offerings above that?"  If some business owners gave 10% of their income to their local church, then! they would ruin the church.  We need to support our local congregation, but God has much to say in scripture about how and where we should give.  Here are some simple scriptural guidelines that you may find helpful as you try to be responsible in your giving.  Let me encourage you to increase your giving percentage each year.  Decide as a couple before the year starts "How Much" that you will give of your profits, and then let God determine your income and the amount of your annual giving

Guidelines for Giving as a Biblical Steward

Remember that God owns everything, so that He does not need our money.  He is trying to raise responsible children- not money!  He wants us to learn to be profitable and valuable stewards, and He allows us to join Him in what He is doing in the lives of others.

1. We are to give regularly.  If we get paid weekly, or monthly, then we should g! ive as we make our living.  If we own a business, then once a year as we tabulate the profit, then we must give from that profit.  (I Cor. 16:2)
2. We should give proportionately.  The more money that we make, the more that we should give.  Interestingly, those that make more usually give a lower percentage of their income to charity. (I Cor. 16:2)
3. We should not give out of fear or trying to keep the law.  While we are not under the O.T. tithe, the 10% is a good start.  The three tithes in the O.T. added up to 23%. (Nu. 18., Dt. 12, 14, Mal. 3:10)
4. We should give out of self justification, because God will look at our heart and our motives.  (Pr.23:7; Luke 18)
5. We should give voluntarily out of love and gratitude to God. (II Cor. 8:3,8)
6. We should give cheerfully.  (II Cor. 8:7; 9:7)
7. We should give generously.  (Luke 6:38; II Cor. 9:6; I! Tim. 6:18)
8. We should give secretly without ostentation.  (Matt. 6:3,4)9.
9. We should give sacrificially.  (Matt. 12:42)
10. We should give to the poor, orphans, widows, and aliens. (Deut 14:28,29)
11. We should give to those who have helped us spiritually. (Mt. 10:10; Gal. 6:6)
12. We should give to others in the Body of Christ who are experiencing hard times.  (Acts 11:29; I Cor. 16:1; II Cor. 8:13,14)
13. We should give to those parts of the world that have never heard the Gospel of Christ.  (Matt. 28:19, 20)
14. We should give to those who are humble servants of Christ and do not use worldly methods to raise funds. (I Cor. 3:3; II Cor. 1:12)
15. We should give where the investment will produce the best spiritual return.

• Is the message scriptural?  (Acts 17:20
• Are people responding?  (Acts 16:14)
• Are the lives of the leadership consistent and modeling the message? (I Th. 1:7)
• Is the organization growing and reproducing?  (2 Tim. 2:2)
• Is there a standard of excellence?  (2 Tim. 2:5)

I hope that we will be reminded of these principles of biblical stewardship and giving as each of us reviews our giving plans for this next year.  Those of us that God has blessed as business owners will be held responsible by Him for our stewardship.

Giving Generously, Kent Humphreys