Giving
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
- Matthew 6:21
How are my tithes and gifts being used?
Tithe
What is the "Tithe" and how is it being used?
Malachi 3:8 “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. 9 You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! 11 Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 12 “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
- NOT giving a tithe is cheating and robbing God and brings a curse.
- Giving a tithe is recognizing that God owns it all and brings a blessing.
- A tithe is 10%. Not 6%, not 12%, not 15% - 10%. (Numbers 18:26-28)
- Net or gross income, which one should I tithe on? Would you rather God give a net blessing or gross blessing?
- We believe that we are to be faithful stewards of what God has given us - giving a tithe is one stewardship principle.
- We are stewards of our time, talent, and treasure - we want them all to be used to honor God.
Tithe on the tithe
The Wapak Church gives 10% of the tithe to missions. This tithe on the tithe is what supports our monthly missionaries and local ministries (currently we have over 40). It also helps us give to missions projects, and invest in opportunities where we partner with ministries who are sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Building
30% of the tithe helps us take care of the campus and building. landscaping, electric, water, mortgage, cleaning, maintenance, etc.
Ministry
30% of the tithe allow us to do ministry. Whether it's an All-Night Glow In for our students, a Candy Drop for our kids, a funeral dinner for a grieving family, laundry detergent for our community (Laundry With Love), Chocolate for our first-time guests, celebrating together at our All-Church Picnic, or even printing our weekly bulletins. There are so many ways that your gift allows us to love, share, give, and serve those around us.
Staff
30% of the tithe provides us with the ability to hire people to help do the work of the church. Planning and leading our kids, youth, and music departments, cleaning the church, answering phones, administrative tasks, counseling, teaching, taking care of the tech issues, etc.
Kingdom Builders: Plan, vision, dream
While there will be many people giving as Kingdom Builders, always remember every gift matters to God. It’s not the size of the gift, but the obedience to God’s voice that matters most. Now more than ever, make a plan to give, ask God for a vision in your generosity, and hold on to the dream of what God will do as you step out in faith!
- First, make a PLAN to give. When you have plans and are diligent, it leads to plenty (Proverbs 21:5). God is excited when you have a plan! Whatever the amount is - have the plan in place, work the plan and be obedient with it. Start there.
- Next, ask god to give you a VISION for what he could do through you with his help. This is beyond what you can do in your natural income. This requires you to take a step of faith. Additionally, Habakkuk 2:2 tells us to write that vision down and pray about it! God will supply all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). Stepping out in faith pleases God. When you look at what He has in His hands, it goes to another level!
- Lastly, what would be a DREAM amount you could give? Hold on to it. This number is only between you and God. Watch as each step of faith you take, God moves you closer to that dream. God can do exceedingly abundantly more than all we can ask for or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).