Most of us will know the story of generosity told in 1 Chronicles 29. King David stands before the leaders of Israel. He encourages them to join him in consecrating themselves to the Lord by giving money to build a temple. And the people rejoice as they see their leaders respond ‘freely and wholeheartedly’ (v9) to his call.
If you are in church or charity leadership, the chances are that you have found yourself in a similar position. Standing in front of a group of people and encouraging them to fund something. It could be anything from a new toilet to an innovative outreach project. Or just the seemingly bottomless money pit that is youth work!
However, unlike King David, you may not have been inundated with gold, silver, and precious jewels. In fact, for most church and charity leaders, money is a scarce commodity and asking for it is incredibly awkward.
What can we do?
For the last twenty-five years, my life has been immersed in the world of finance. And now, as Head of Giving for the Evangelical Alliance, I am repeatedly asked how giving can be encouraged. This is a fantastic question that unfortunately does not have a one size fits all response. But there are practices we can put in place to help others respond generously.
Be imitators of God
First of all, we should say that God is generous. And in Jesus, He has generously given Himself to us and for us. As we and our churches progress in our discipleship journeys, ones where He becomes more as we become less, we should expect to find ourselves becoming more generous. God is the ultimate giver, and through the acts of tithing and giving, He is inviting us to be the same. King David understood this, starting his ‘ask’ by sharing what he was personally willing to give.
Most of the time when we move in the gift of generous giving, it is not because we have an abundance of finances. It is because the Holy Spirit has moved us and want to share our faith through what we have. Because generosity breeds generosity, we should celebrate when someone gives abundantly – whether the amount is monetarily great or small. I am sure that those who responded to King David’s rallying cry were motivated by the generosity that was all around them.
Share the need
There are many fantastic reasons. and splendid examples, in the Scriptures for releasing our money for the Kingdom. Yet the recent Stewardship Generosity report reveals additional, and reasonable, requirements many people have before they can generously give.
Firstly, they need to know there is a need, and they need to be asked to help meet that need. This may seem obvious but it is often overlooked. Many years ago, I read that 80% of funders give because they are asked. The implication was that if they hadn’t been asked, they wouldn’t have given. So we must not be embarrassed about sharing our churches’ and charities’ financial requirements.
Secondly, people want to feel connected to the cause they are giving to. Recently, I stood at the front of the church I co-pastor with my husband and asked for funding for a new boiler. As it was mid-winter, I started by asking who liked to be toasty warm in those cold months to raise their hands. Unsurprisingly, everyone’s hand went up. From this connection point, I was able to explain what we wanted and why we wanted it in a way that everyone could understand.
Give reassurance
Finally, our donors need to trust their money will be used effectively. This is a massive obstacle for some givers, but one that can be easily overcome. A clear and accessible set of accounts, made available in something as simple as an old-fashioned newsletter, can reassure people. Donors want to steward their finances well, and knowing their gift is being used responsibly is part of that.
‘They had given freely and wholeheartedly’ (1 Chronicles 29:9)
We all know the verse ‘God loves a cheerful giver’ (2 Corinthians 9:7). My prayer is that any changes you make to your personal giving, or any influence you exert in this area for the charity or church you represent, will be done wholeheartedly and joyfully. Together, united and moving in the generous will of God, we can achieve so much!
Wendy Pawsey
Wendy is Head of Giving for the Evangelical Alliance. She has more than twenty-five years’ experience of managing and growing finance in the worlds of banking, church leadership, charitable organisations and fundraising.
An Elim minister, she is also a trustee for Regents Theological College, and a board member for Fundraisers in Christian Organisations. She is married to Marcus, mum to three gorgeous children, and nan to a crazy cockapoo.
Wendy is a regular church and conference speaker – if you would like to contact her: wendy_pawsey@yahoo.co.uk
Generous with a Capital G
Imagine what the world could be like if we all embraced a lifestyle of abundant generosity – the churches that could be planted, the charities that could be founded, the lives that could be transformed.
Encouraging us with the part we could play, pastor and fundraiser Wendy Pawsey skilfully guides us through the Bible’s rich teaching about money, giving and tithing. Sharing the experiences of many ordinary Christians, she helps us reflect on how we could use the financial resources God has given to us to bless others, and be blessed ourselves.
A generous life has the power to change lives today, and to leave a legacy that impacts the world of tomorrow. Review your attitudes to money, and take Wendy’s Thirty-day Generosity Challenge to discover the joy and privilege of being generous with a capital G!
Published September 2024 (Instant Apostle), £12.99 / £6.99 Kindle
Part of The Big Church Read
Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash