1.   Giving a regular amount is a good personal discipline; it also helps the church to be able to budget. A guideline for how much to give is 10% of your net income with the suggestion that you give 5% to your local church and 5% to other causes or people. If everyone across the parish of Aldridge gave an average of 5% to the Local church, it would eliminate any financial shortfall.

2.   Work out the amount you will give and factor it into your monthly or weekly budget first - as a priority . rather than waiting to see how much is left at the end.

3.   Consider giving by standing order to the church. You can set it up for the day after you receive your income and in doing so, you will be making a priority of giving back to God; the biblical way of saying this is ‘offering him your first fruits’. A standing order is preferable to loose cash or envelopes as it helps the church to budget.

4.   If you are a tax payer, then make sure you are gift aiding all the money that you give. For every pound you give, gift aiding it makes it worth an extra 28 pence.

5.   Review your giving annually. If your income increases with either promotion or inflation, increase the amount you give likewise. (Equally, this one works the other way round too!).

6.   Consider leaving a financial gift to the church in your will.

7.   Read something to get a better theological grasp of giving and money. For example:

             Keith Tondeur,    Your Money and Your Life  (very practical book)

             Stuart Murray,      Beyond Tithing                   (very challenging book)

             Craig Bartholomew, Christ & Consumerism   (accessible academic book)

8.   Talk to someone in leadership about your giving. Hearing someone talk about giving can make us feel guilty, anxious or angry. If so, talk to the clergy, the wardens or the treasurer about your giving.

9.   Raise your families with the habit of giving; teach your children to give.

10. Set yourself an experiment to see how little you can live on for a week or a month and commit to giving any surplus away.

      Then reflect on the experience prayerfully.

 
                     Rev. Richard Taylor 18.9.06 - linked to sermon 'money matters 3' - click here