It’s that time of year when many of us receive the green envelope from IRD. Maybe like me, when you see the envelope, you have those familiar thoughts, “I know I must meet my obligations, but I hope I don’t have to pay too much. I hope I have enough left to do with what I want”.
Sometimes you may have similar thoughts when it comes to Christian giving. “I know I should do this, but I hope it’s not too much. I hope I have enough left over to do with what I want”. Christian giving exposes our hearts. It shows us our priorities and where we place our trust.
In the Old Testament, God’s people were asked to bring an offering of their grain or fruit at harvest time. This offering was called the “first-fruits offering”, because it was the first part of their crops before the rest of the crops were harvested. They gave to God even before they knew whether they would have enough for themselves to get through the year. The first-fruits offering was a step of faith, a way of trusting God with their first and best. It was an expression of belief that God would take care of them, whether they harvested only a little or a lot.
Giving is an expression that God is our priority
God is pleased when we give to him our first-fruits, rather than what we can squeeze in around other commitments and priorities. Giving is an expression that God is our priority, and of deep gratitude to him, for he provides all our needs, everything we have comes from him (1 Chron 29:14). Ultimately, giving is motivated by Jesus’ sacrificial giving of himself to us on the cross. It’s a joyful, trusting commitment to God.
At this Sunday’s services, we’ll have a finance update. We do this regularly to keep you informed of our church’s needs. We encourage everyone who calls St Andrew’s their spiritual home to give prayerfully and regularly to the ministry of the gospel. The best way to do this is through our “Planned Christian Giving” scheme or direct bank transfer. We’ll also announce the launch of our newly upgraded online giving system, which helps you manage your giving more effectively.
We’re grateful to all those who’ve provided a thanksgiving gift for St Andrew’s 120th anniversary. This gift will be used towards much needed renovations (especially in the Life Centre basement), to replenish the CARE Fund to meet emergency needs of church members, and to bless our church mission partners in their ministry. We’re seeking $6M for this gift. The total given so far is $1.7M. A church member has generously offered a dollar-for-dollar matching campaign of up to $1M. We warmly encourage you to give towards this campaign by the end of June.
Thank you for your partnership in the gospel through your financial giving.
