Psalms 24:1 declares, "The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains," and in 1 Corinthians 4:7, Paul asks, "And what do you have that you did not receive?"
God owns everything and all blessings come from Him. We are to be good stewards – managers – of the many blessings for which we should be thankful. Money isn't our possession; it's God's possession, which we hold in trust.
God wants us to give not out of a sense of obligation, but voluntarily out of love and a heart that reflects sincere appreciation for the gift of salvation. Every Christian is ultimately accountable to give to God based on his own heart’s decision, but it is God’s will that believers excel in the grace of giving (2 Cor. 8:7-9; 9:7; Acts 5:4).
Automating your giving is one of the best ways to build faithfulness into your stewardship of what God has given you. There are two ways to give automatically.
Automated Bank Debit is the easiest and most effective way to automate your giving. Once it is set up, you may securely update or change your giving at any time simply by logging in using a unique username and password. Plus, there are no credit card user fees associated with Automated Bank Debit automatically deducted from your checking or savings account. Complete instructions are provided when you log in.
You may also choose to give online using your credit card through CashLINQ. Either way you choose, it's safe, simple and secure: all you’ll need are a few minutes to go through the one-time setup process.
1. Choose your donation type: One Time Gift or Recurring Gift
2. Enter Donation Amount
3. Login or Register if this is your first time giving via CashLINQ, verify your choices
using our secure servers
4. Acceptance and receipt of your donation.
4 Benefits to Giving Online
You are taking a step of faith - When you sign up to give online you are deciding in advance to faithfully give. God always blesses that kind of faith!
You will simplify your life - You won’t have to remember whether you gave this month or need to send in an offering by mail when you’re on a trip.
You will be helping the church - Every person who gives through automatic giving makes our record keeping much easier.
You can focus on worship at church - Instead of having to get out a pen and write out an envelope and check, you can focus entirely on worship.
Note: All contributions are 100% tax deductible. If you have questions at anytime, e-mail Kim (mvccofc@mountainviewcc.net)
Comments on Christian Giving from the Bible
1. God wants us to give not out of a sense of obligation, but voluntarily out of love and a heart that
reflects sincere appreciation for the gift of salvation. Every Christian is ultimately accountable
to give to God based on his own heart’s decision, but it is God’s will that believers excel in the
grace of giving. (2 Cor. 8:7-9; 9:7; Acts 5:4)
2. Christians who use their material possessions in harmony with the will of God serve as
witnesses to Christ. (Acts 2:47)
3. Christians who use their material possessions to meet one another’s needs foster love and
unity within the church. (Acts 4:32)
4. Christians should always give to honor God and not themselves. (Acts 4:34-36; 5:1-10)
5. Christians who are generous will motivate others to be generous. (2 Cor. 9:2,11)
6. If Christians put God first in all things, He promises to meet their material needs. However,
God sometimes allows difficulties and discomforts to come into our lives in order to refocus
our priorities on eternal values. (Matt. 6:33; 2 Cor. 9:8; Acts 8:1-3)
7. Christians should set aside part of their income as they are paid in order to systematically give
to God’s work. (1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:5)
8. When believers begin to give regularly and systematically, God honors their gifts even when
the gifts are not proportionately as high as they will be when these believers reach a higher
stage of “economic maturity.” (2 Cor. 8:10-12)
9. Christians in the church who do not have significant material possessions should not feel
inferior to those who do. (James 1:9)
10. A believer’s first priority should be to focus on godliness and contentment rather than on
riches, which often brings discontentment. (1 Tim 6:6-10, 17-19)
11. The way Christians use their material possessions and financial resources is an important-
measuring stick for determining their devotion to Christ. (Acts 4:32-35)
12. Christians who make financial commitments should be careful not to create embarrassment
by failing to follow through. (2 Cor. 9:3-4)
Frequently Asked Questions on Giving
Q What percentage of my income should I give to God’s work in the world? A There is no “set” percentage prescribed for giving in the New Testament. We are to give “as
each one determined in his own heart.”
Q What about the Old Testament tithe? Doesn’t the word ‘tithe’ mean ‘a tenth’? Isn’t 10% of my
income a good guideline? A In reality, the Old Testament Mosaic Law had a complicated formula of three different tithes,
which actually added up to 22.3%! The principle of giving actually precedes the Mosaic Law,
and as Christ came to fulfill the Law (not abolish it), the principle of giving remains valid
today. The tithe is not a limit. God's people in the Old Testament were to give nearly one-
fourth of their income each year. God doesn't own just 10 percent of our money; He owns
the other 90 percent too. Tithe and give with the right attitude. Not out of necessity, but with
thanksgiving to the Lord. Let your children witness your joyful giving and teach them the
importance of commitment.
Q So, can you recommend a starting point? A Many people over the years have chosen 10% as a good starting point. But we know that
some people who are just beginning to give to God’s work may developing in their trust of
God, and may not be as ready as some who are accustomed or experienced in this area of
obedience. The main issue for all of us is that a degree of sacrifice be involved; it is a fair
assumption that if our giving involves no sacrifice of personal lifestyle, then we are probably
not giving enough. The guiding principle is still: “as each determine in his own heart” through
the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Q Should my church receive all my giving, or should other Christian organizations be included
as well? A The equivalent of the Old Testament storehouse in the New Testament, as well as in our
present day society, is the local church. There are no specific directions in scripture about
giving to church ministries vs. Para-church or missionary organizations, since those
distinctions did not exist when the New Testament was written. However, Scripture is clear
that we are to support those who teach and shepherd us spiritually. We believe that there
lies the distinction between ‘tithes’ and ‘offerings’. Tithes are for the local church body.
Offerings are what we give to the poor, para-church organizations, other ministries, and so
on.
Q Are contributions to MVCC tax-deductible? A Yes. Mountain View Community Church meets the IRS definition of a non-profit organization
and is recognized as such. Gifts are tax-deductible.
Q Will I receive a statement for tax purposes? A All of our contributors (except those who have given anonymously) receive end-of-year
statements for record keeping and for tax filing. Quarterly statements are available upon
request.
Q How does the church receive tithes and offerings? A There are offering boxes set up near the doors at our services. You may also give online.
If you would like to learn more about financial stewardship and God’s plan for your money, visit our Crown Ministries webpage.
