On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper…” 1Corinthisans 16:2
It was once said by an unknown author, “Your standard of giving is more important than your standard of living.” I am sure you understand the stab of this statement at our expectations and priorities we place on our living standards. We tend to place a high priority on having or reaching a standard of living in order to suit our chosen comfort zone. But the question we need to ask is; “do we place an even higher priority on the standard of our monetary giving to the Lord’s work each Sunday”? This is a challenging question because too often the answer will be uncomfortably in the negative. The reason being, we give to the Lord out of what is left over after we reach or maintain our chosen lifestyle. In other words we can easily give to God from what is left and not what is right! So what is right? What amount and how should we give to the Lord’s work?
The answer is in the above text. Our giving needs be a scheduled, planned priority. The measure and amount of our giving is to be according to our income, “…as he may prosper.” The ten percent tithe amount of the Old Testament economy does not apply as a ruling, but it does reinforce the priority of giving from God’s people.
May we be challenged on where our priority of giving fits with our standard of living and be joyful givers as the Lord has prospered us. It is true as Randy Alcorn wrote in his book, The Treasury Principle; “God doesn't look at just what we give. He also looks at what we keep.” (Grace Quotes)