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1. My giving is a private matter between God and me, no one else.

In many cultures, a person's checkbook is considered no one else's business. In a similar way, some Christians say that their giving is a private matter, information to which only God is privy. They point to Jesus' admonition in Matthew 6: "When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing."

But Jesus' words have to do with inner motives for giving, not with a privilege of privacy. Give to please God, not man. Generous Giving never suggests how much to give, when, or to whom, or asks you how much you have given in the past. Instead, Generous Giving provides supportive, non-judgmental environments in which Christians can comfortably discuss the challenges and the blessings of embarking on a journey of generosity.

2. The Bible is about religious and moral issues, and not about money at all, let alone charitable giving.

People sometimes believe that the Bible has only to do with "religious matters," that is, church attendance, individual conversion, and personal piety, when in fact, the Bible deals with all topics. The Bible covers the waterfront of human life because the Gospel of God's redemption extends across all aspects of human life.

The scriptures say, God reconciles all things to Himself through Christ (Colossians 1:20). "All things" certainly includes money and material possessions so it is no surprise to find that the Bible speaks plainly and frequently about these topics.

Christianity does not separate reality into "spiritual" and "material" spheres. In the Bible, all of life (including the use of money) is spiritual because God is involved in it. The Bible has much to say about giving; and these key Bible verses on money and stewardship offer an excellent place to start.

3. The Bible commands us to give in secret, so we shouldn’t be talking about this.

Jesus' admonition to "not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" is not a prohibition from public giving.

In Matthew 6:1-4, Jesus warns against doing things for the purpose of impressing others, yet this does not mean that everything about giving must be private or hidden. As sinners reconciled to God, David, Barnabas, and the Macedonians inspired others with their public generosity, and Paul publicly expressed his gratitude for the generous giving of his congregations (1 Chronicles 29, Acts 4:32-37, 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, 9:1-5; Philippians 4:14-18). In fact, because of the danger of the love of money, consulting openly with other believers about stewardship practices can be wise and even necessary. Your generosity may inspire others to give, providing them greater opportunity to praise God (2 Corinthians 9:11).

4. The tithe does not apply to Christians today, only to Old Testament Israel.

Jesus called His followers to give with great generosity, which makes the tithe a good starting point. The tradition of the Old Testament tithe was a mandatory gift equaling a tenth of one's income, but had a number of caveats. For example, Old Testament tithing applied to crops and animals from the Promised Land, not to all income in every time and place, nor was it limited to ten percent, for there were three tithes (two every year and one every three years) and many other offerings and gifts that were also part of traditional Jewish life.

The tithe may be a helpful guideline as it reminds Christians to give proportionally to the Lord in accordance with His blessings, since God owns it all. But by New Testament standards, settling for ten percent can position you to neglect true generosity. Biblical generosity calls for loving God with all that you are, loving your neighbors as yourself, (Luke 10:25-37) and imitating the sacrificial example of Jesus (2 Corinthians 8:9; 1 John 3:16-18).

5. Christians are under grace, not under law, so the obligation to give does not apply to me.

Yes, Christians are under the principle of grace, not the principle of law. In other words, righteousness comes not by behaving in the right way, but by trusting God for His salvation (Galatians 3:11). However, this does not exempt Christians from behaving in the right way.

Being saved by grace does not make adultery, murder, or theft an acceptable action, nor does it excuse Christians to be biblically disobedient to God's directive for Christ-modeled generosity. The law–God's will for how His children ought to live–is still be the standard and guide for Christians today (Romans 7:12). But grace–God's gift to His children–makes obedience an attainable reality. Grace is not only forgiveness for past sins but also empowerment for future obedience. Grace does not mean that God does not expect you to give generously; it means that He will give you the strength to do it and reward you accordingly.

The apostle Paul explains, "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion" (2 Corinthians 9:7). Yet, interestingly, this verse falls in the middle of a passage urging Christians to give generously (vv 6-15). Paul's point does not give license for selfishness, but cultivates a love of generosity. Paul wants Christians to feel free, creative, and excited to give far beyond the ten percent benchmark. This liberating freedom encourages you not to live selfishly but to excel in good deeds.

6. The Bible says that each man should give what he has decided in his own heart to give. So I am free to give as much or as little as I choose, even not at all.

The apostle Paul said, "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion" (2 Corinthians 9:7). Looking at only this verse, one might think that Paul says each person is at liberty to decide whether to give anything at all. But reading vv6-15 of this chapter tells a very different story. Paul's point is that he wants Christians to feel free, creative, and excited to give far beyond the ten percent benchmark. The Apostle Paul is reminding people that because Jesus has brought redemption, the tithe laws of the Old Testament have been replaced by the freedom to excel in Christ-modeled generosity.

7. I’m saved, so it doesn’t matter how much I give, or even whether I give at all.

Being saved is what matters most, but it does not exempt Christians from giving. In fact, it does just the opposite. In no way does giving (or any other good work) secure God's favor. However, once you are made new by the Gospel, that same Gospel changes you, inspiring you to practice generosity (and other good works) out of thanksgiving to and love for God.

Giving does not determine salvation, but for Christians, the grace that saves them also leads them to give. In fact, the Bible says, if one claims to be saved but refuses to give to people in need, then he or she may be deceiving himself about being saved in the first place (James 2:14-17). Precisely because you are saved, giving matters greatly.

8. God loves a cheerful giver, but I am not cheerful about giving, so it’s better not to give at all.

God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7), but He also loves obedience and a willingness to seek His favor, even when it is done with trepidation or mixed emotions. Like so many areas of a Christian life, obedience in giving can be hard. The joy might only come during or after the obedient act. But the same God who loves the cheerful giver (v. 7) promises to give you the grace you need to give cheerfully (v. 8). Aspire to be a joyful giver, starting when necessary, by asking for His help.

9. I don’t owe God anything.

The Bible repeatedly refers to God as the owner of all things and all people (Psalm 24:1), especially those people He has redeemed from sin and destruction. When you think about it, Christians owe God everything–their existence, their future, the grace of everlasting life. By putting your hope and faith in Christ, He purchases you. He becomes not just your Savior, but your Lord and Master as well, to whom you owe it all.

And although God is your Lord and Master, He is a loving Father who wants you to know the joys that can only be experienced by living a life of Christ-like generosity.

10. I don’t owe my church anything.

Churches are God's vehicles to bring salvation and discipleship to the nations (Acts 2:42-47 & Acts 4:32-37). The number of ways each person is blessed by his own church and other churches makes the value of churches more tangible and makes it easier to see how the love of others (expressed in giving for missions, pastoral salaries, resources, projects and buildings, etc.) has an eternal impact on all church members.

As you have been blessed by your church, seek to act through your church to bless others.

11. I don’t owe the poor anything.

God teaches that Christians do owe the poor, although not in the way many people think. In God's economy, serving those in need is serving Him, and failing to serve those in need is failing to serve Him (Matthew 25:31-46).

Romans 13:8 says to owe no debt to others except love, and Jesus teaches that loving others means caring for them in the same way you would want to be loved. How would you want to be cared for if you were poor and in need while others around you had abundance?

Jesus makes the same point in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Providing care for the physically and emotionally wounded; being a parent to an orphan or unwanted child; providing job training and economic empowerment; and providing emergency relief after famine, war, disease, and natural disasters are all possible aspects of paying the Christian's debt of love. What Christians owe the poor is only what Christians owe Christ himself.

12. If I were to give to the church, it would only contribute further to the greed and corruption among church leaders.

Greed and corruption are entirely inappropriate among church leadership, but does your giving–or the giving of any other Christian–really foster these evils?

Giving to the church is an act of giving to the Lord. If Christians treat their gifts to the church, as they are "membership dues" in that church, they completely miss the points both of church membership and of giving. Likewise, pointing fingers at the motives and actions of pastors and other church leaders puts one at risk to be judged in the same way. (Matthew 7:1-2). The Bible says that the elders of the church are worthy of double honor (1 Timothy 5:17) which means that a critical attitude toward them is doubly inappropriate.

The church does not represent membership in God's club, nor is it the embodiment of the pastor or other leaders. Instead, the church is all the people who worship and fellowship there; it is their vehicle for Christian outreach to others, and, above all else, it is the bride of Jesus Christ, and should be honored as such.

13. I don’t have the spiritual gift of giving.

God gives different spiritual gifts to different people (Romans 12:6), and giving is one of the spiritual gifts (Romans 12:8). However, it does not follow from this that people who do not have the gift of giving are therefore exempt from the responsibility of giving or are deprived of the joys and privileges of giving. In the same way that not all Christians have the spiritual gift of evangelism, each is still called to be active in the sharing of God's Word. (1 Peter 3:15).

Yes, some Christians experience the calling of generosity more deeply than do others, but all Christians are called to give generously to the Lord (2 Corinthians 8:7) because each has received the generosity of Christ (2 Corinthians 8:9). Excel in your spiritual gifts, but be faithful in all of God's commands.

14. There’s a good chance my donation would be misappropriated or wasted.

Misappropriation of gifts is possible, but it does not excuse us from the Christian responsibility of giving. In fact, statistically, the chances of gifts being mishandled are quite low. When a donor gives to a ministry that has financial accountability structures in place, he or she can have great confidence that the donation will go to the right place.

Even if a gift were to be misappropriated, it is the goodwill of the giver, not the faithfulness of the recipient, which makes the gift worthwhile. In fact, Jesus tells His followers to give even to people whose intentions are unethical (Luke 6:27-36). How can this be? The answer is: Give because the Gospel is true, not because one has perfect assurance of proper financial management.

15. My donation will only encourage the poor to rely on handouts, rather than earn a living for themselves.

Debilitating dependence on handouts is a possibility, but it is not a reason to avoid the opportunity to give. God does not approve of idleness on the part of the poor. Paul who wrote to certain idlers at the church in Thessalonica said, "If a man shall not work, he shall not eat" (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Elsewhere, Paul writes to converted thieves that they should work so that they can have something to give to others (Ephesians 4:28). But rebuking the idle is God's business, not man's.

God tells believers to give generously to the poor (Luke 12:33), period; He does not say to sit in judgment over them (James 4:11), especially not in judgment that results in a failing to give. Model Christ-like generosity not judgment.

16. God doesn’t need my money.

God doesn't need your money. In the Scriptures He says, "I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. ... If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it" (Psalm 50:9-12).

God clearly does not need your money or your generosity, but He wants your obedience and He wants you to have the opportunity to experience all the joys of generosity (Matthew 6:21). Christians give to God not because He needs it, but because they need it (Philippians 4:17).

17. The church doesn’t need my money.

God has, with sovereignty, built His church and will never let it expire (Matthew 16:18), so in that respect, the church does not need your money. But God's chosen means of providing for His church is through the gifts of the people (2 Corinthians 9:11), and in that regard, the church does need what you give. The fact that God provides for the church should make Christians more, not less, eager to give, as Christians, changed by the Gospel, participate with God in the work of His church.

18. I don’t agree with my church’s teachings.

Many people have used this excuse when a new pastor or lay leaders take a role in a church. Before you convince yourself to quit giving to your church, seek out published, thoughtful, biblically centered resources for study and ask your pastor or other leaders to study the contested issues with you in a small group setting. If humble and respectful investigation and dialogue does not resolve the issue, you should probably pray about giving and attending elsewhere.

However, any church worth attending deserves your faithful financial support. Consider that the Bible may allow freedom regarding the matter at hand and that you and others simply have different opinions. Do not withhold giving, as long as you remain a part of the church.

19. I’m not going to support my church’s endowment because that money just sits there.

An endowment can be an effective way to finance the Lord's work. Properly used, endowments can be financial tools that free churches to minister locally and globally, particularly when meeting long-term ministry needs.

The Lord connects His children to churches for His purposes, and so that they can provide support for one another's spiritual and material needs. If you have a serious conscientious objection to giving monies to an endowment, don't just withdraw your gifts. Rather, meet with your pastor to discuss your hesitations and ask about other, non-endowed church ministries to which you might give.

20. My pastor ought to get a day job, like the apostle Paul; that’s a more biblical way to minister.

Paul sometimes tried not to ask certain churches for money if he feared that his motives would be questioned or that he would be associated with those trying to get rich from preaching (1 Thessalonians 2:9; 1 Corinthians 9:3-14). Usually, however, this resulted in him asking for money from other churches (2 Corinthians 11:7-9). Why take money from some but not from others? It seems that Paul cautiously avoided taking money from problem churches, while he joyfully raised support from spiritually healthy churches. In fact, the normal pattern for healthy churches seems to be financial support for their spiritual leaders (see 1 Timothy 5:17-19; chapters 5 and 6 are largely about Christian finances).

Paul defended and engaged in this practice himself, relying on the support of others when he was in need (Philippians 4:14-19). In this regard Paul followed Jesus, who Himself relied on the gifts of others and taught His disciples to do the same (Luke 8:1-4; 10:7). In so doing, the early Christians learned how to trust God and rely on their family–the church.

Paul instructs Christians to share with those who teach them the Word (Galatians 6:6). He told the Philippians that he wasn't primarily concerned with their gift for him but with "what may be credited to your account" when they gave (Philippians 4:17).

In most cases, a pastor's ministry is his day job, and it is right for the church to give him due compensation. Such an arrangement is quite biblical and in keeping with Paul's own teaching in 1 Corinthians 9.

21. Money is the root of all evil; it has no place in the church.

22. I’m only one person. My gift is no good if no one else is giving.

23. I have more than I need. But I am not prepared to live like a pauper.

24. I have spent a lifetime securing my financial independence. I can’t throw it all away now.

25. I would like to give, but I’d have to work another job or drastically cut back my standard of living.

26. We would give, but we are a young couple with no nest egg. (Or) We would like to give. But we are only a few years from retirement, paying for two kids in college, and have very little saved. (Or) Next year I have a promotion coming. We will give then, but right now the budget is pretty tight.

27. I’m too young to give; I really just need to focus on being a student.

28. I am in the lower or middle income bracket. Giving is really the responsibility of wealthy people.

29. I’ll leave some money in my will. But I can’t give right now.

30. My financial advisor says I shouldn’t give anything this year.

31. I am already a generous person.

32. I already tithe out of my paycheck; I can’t afford to tithe out of my gross income.

33. I already tithe out of my income; my assets are my safeguard.

34. I already gave at the office.

35. I don’t give to my church because I already give to another ministry.

36. Stewardship is a lot more than money. I give my time and talents by teaching Sunday school and opening my home. I consider that to be my giving.

37. I've already given more than enough in the form of taxes.

38. As long as I don’t misuse, waste or steal money, it doesn’t matter whether I give.

39. I don’t give to the poor because I already give to my church.

40. I’ve already maxed out my tax deductions for this year. My gifts won’t count until next year, so I’ll give then.

41. Small gifts don’t really matter.

42. No one ever seems to appreciate my gift.