About Giving (FAQs)

Why do we give to the Church?

Giving is part of our worship to God and is one way in which we thank Him for His provision. By giving back to God through the church, we enable His work to be done in our community and beyond.

We recognise that everything we have comes from God and so we give back to Him in gratitude and joy for his blessing towards us.

Giving (or tithing as it's also known) is a biblical principal. In the Old Testament, God commanded His people to give a tenth of what He had blessed them with (Lev 27:32, Num 18:26, Deu 26:12, Mal 3:10) and in the New Testament God calls His people to be generous and cheerful givers (Acts 10:2, Rom 12:8, 2 Cor 9:7, 1 Tim 6:18).

So, each of us should decide before God how much to give as a worshipful response for all that the Lord has done for us. The Apostle Paul says: For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich (2 Cor 8:9).

Many people feel that giving a tenth of their income is a good amount to give to the church; however others choose to give more because they want to. All we ask is that you pray about it and ask God how much you should be giving. This is between you and God.
What happens with our giving?

At the Church of the Good Shepherd (CoGS) the vast majority of our income is received from the congregation. The money given is used to fund our worship, discipleship, mission, fellowship and our resources (buildings, administration and staff salaries).

We also have to make our parish share payment to Chelmsford Diocese which funds the clergy and diocesan administration. The chart below show's how our church's income is spent.

The Church Council (PCC) agrees a budget every year, based on the agreed priorities as proposed by the ministry leaders. Each year an annual report is produced, which gives account of all income and expenditure.
Does the Bible tell me how much l should give?

Interpreting the Bible requires some careful thought, drawing together all the different strands, and bearing in mind the context in which the various verses were written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

We should give what we have decided in our heart, not under compulsion or with reluctance. It should be proportional to our income and given as our first outgoing. Giving a tithe (10%) appears before the giving of the Law, and is a good baseline to aim at. God promises His provision to us if we are open and honest about what we give to Him. But we are not bound by rules, rather the guidance of the Holy Spirit connecting to our heart and spirit.

Giving is ﬁrstly an act of worship, a spiritual discipline which his good for our soul, an outward sign of our gratitude and a demonstration of trust and faith in God's provision. The following are some of the Bible passages about money: 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9, especially 9:7, 1 Cor 16:1-2, Luke 21:1-4, Gen 14:18-20, Mal 3:6-12, Ac 5:1-11, 1Ti 6:6-10, 1Ch 29:1-20,Pr 11:25, Pr 22:9 and Mt 6:25-34
Instead of giving financially, is it OK to cover my own expenses I make for the ministry I serve in?

This issue here is that giving money is an act of worship and a spiritual discipline. Expenses are to do with reimbursement of costs associated with ministry. It is best to claim the expenses as this helps us to know how much each ministry costs. If you don't want the money, simply put it back into the collection. Best of all, decide what you will give to God, and keep this aspect separate to expenses.
I volunteer my time for free at church. Does this mean I can factor this into how much I give financially?

God has given to each of us time, talents and money. Jesus calls us to commit our whole life to following Him. When we choose to follow Jesus, we commit the whole lot to Him, every day, wherever we are. Time is a different category to money, so trading one for the other is not a helpful approach. Church is a community where we each contribute our time, talents and money for the benefit of all.
We have a mortgage and young children, so money is very tight. Is it OK that as a family we can't give much money?

If you bought a house and had children before you heard teaching on the principles of Christian giving, then you have to start where you are. As time progresses and financial choices become available, you can then increase how much you give. God will honour whatever is given with a good conscience in His sight.
I'm single and on a state pension only. What advice would you give me?

It is a real challenge as we get older to know we have enough money for our care. God will honour whatever is given with a good conscience in His sight. Jesus was truly impressed by the widow who gave two very small copper coins, because she gave all she had to live on. Ultimately, it is the heart with which we give that is more important than the amount.
My spouse is not a Christian, so I feel uncomfortable giving any money at church. ls that OK?

You should honour your spouse by ensuring there is openness and honesty in this matter, and your spouse should also respect your wishes, in finding agreement to give of what is actually yours to give.

Numbers 18:26

Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord's offering.

Leviticus 27:32

Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod will be holy to the Lord

Deuteronomy 26:12

When you have finished laying aside all the tithe of your increase in the third year—the year of tithing—and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your gates and be filled...

Malachi 3:10

"...Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this," says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it..."

Acts 10:1

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.

Romans 12:8

...he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

2 Corinthians 9:7

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

1 Timothy 6:18

Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share...

2 Corinthians 8:9

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

1 Corinthians 16:1

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

Luke 21:1-4

And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had."

Genesis 14:18

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all.

Malachi 3:6-12

"For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. Yet from the days of your fathers you have gone away from My ordinances and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts. "But you said, 'In what way shall we return?'"

"Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation.

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this," says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it."

"And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," says the Lord of hosts;

"And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land," says the Lord of hosts.

Acts 5:1-11

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."

Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?" She said, "Yes, for so much."

Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

1 Timothy 6:6-10

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Proverbs 11:25

The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.

Proverbs 22:9

He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.

Matthew 6:25-34

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."