Stewardship is the heart of giving
God sees you as a steward.  He has entrusted us with the management of His assets.  He created the whole world, including us, so he owns everything.  Everything we own is actually God’s possession and God will always own everything.  That means not just your money, but your possessions, your job, your family, your time, your abilities and your life.   He is the owner and we are the faithful stewards.  Realising this shows how generous God is and also what a privilege and responsibility we have before him.

Sadly, our sinful nature fails to see or honour God’s generosity and care for our lives. Our materialistic and self-serving tendencies cause us to be stewards for our own self-benefit.  Perhaps that is why Jesus spends more time teaching on issues of stewardship than any other.

Giving is all about the Gospel
When we realise that everything we have, including our money, is actually Gods, then giving makes more sense.  But no matter how much we may be told to be generous and to give, because of our sinful hearts, it still won’t make much sense unless we understand the gospel.  How can giving my money away be of benefit to me?

Grace of Giving
We need to first look at the gospel.  God has not only given us life and possessions and opportunities, he has given us Jesus.  Jesus is the one who redeems us at the cross.  We are rescued from judgement and death to freedom and life.  His redemption bought us back from death and brings us new life forever.  What a great and generous act by God himself.

2 Cor 8:9  For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

Amazing, with all the wealth and glory of heaven, Jesus gave it up to redeem those who were poor to give us the riches of heaven.  This is far greater than the passing wealth and comforts of our short lives on earth.  We have been redeemed to be joyful and faithful stewards who long to invest in God’s kingdom project on this earth as long as we live.

How does this relate to giving?
In the Old Testament God’s people Israel were called upon to honour God with their first fruits from the harvest and to be committed to a tithe as well as various other offerings.  The tithe was a tenth of what they produced or earnt and was to be given to support the temple.  Many people insist that the Old Testament tithe is still required of Christians today.  But the New Testament does not teach this, instead we see amazing examples of joy-filled generosity as people are keen to give so the gospel can prosper and people in need can be cared for.

“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” 1Timothy 6:17-19

Christians also know that any investment made in Jesus’ name will have benefit for eternity.  Giving becomes a joy because it expresses thanks and trust in God and gives him opportunity to keep demonstrating his care for us.

So how much should I give?

The gospel frees us from asking this question and turns the question into “how much can I give?”  One is minimal and self-centred and the other is maximal and trusting in God to provide for our needs.

Current giving habits?
There are 5 possibilities.

  1. Don’t give at all

  2. Give irregularly or haphazardly

  3. Give regularly

  4. Give proportionally (%)

  5. Give generously/sacrificially

Most studies reveal that most Christians fall into the first 3 categories.  But in view of the gospel, and for our own spiritual health and joy, we urge people to honour God and give generously.  Generosity will be different between individuals since we have different incomes, resources and obligations.  

A good place to start is with the 10% “training wheels of giving” amount.  Living off the 90% may seem scary but God knows our needs and supplies what we need to live.  It is better to live on less and have God’s blessing in my life and know I am trusting in Him, than to live off 100% and not have his blessing.

This 10% is for the growth of God’s kingdom so it may not all go to your church, although the Bible does give priority to the church ministry you directly benefit from (e.g. 1Corinthians 9:11, 14) However, your giving can be used to support gospel ministry in other ways. For example, through mission agencies such as CMS or AFES as our vision is global not just local. Our giving can also help in raising godly leaders and helping to develop gospel driven ministries.

The Bible also places great significance on how we treat and care for the needy and suffering in our world, so support for this is to be part of our giving as well.

Here’s how it might look proportionally:
Church 7%
Mission (eg CMS + MTS 3%)
Mercy (eg Compassion + Partners Relief Fund 2%) 

The Partner’s Relief Fund
This fund enables members to financially care for those in church who are in need. It is separate to the ministry budget and overseen by the staff and wardens. If you need to access funds please speak to a staff member or warden. All enquiries are treated confidentially. 

The God who keeps giving
In the end you are to decide in view of the Scriptures how you may wish to give as a steward of God’s money. But at Wild Street we encourage people to give generously and trust God totally. What we find is that the God of all grace, who has given us His own Son, keeps using our generosity to bring further spiritual blessing into our life and into eternity. If Wild Street is the church ministry you benefit from, be encouraged to take this to prayer, and, in view of the gospel, make your money count.

How to Give

There are several ways that you can support the work of the Gospel at Wild Street.

 

Direct Deposit
This is our preferred method as it costs us nothing and keeps you in control of your giving.  Through internet banking you can set up a regular donation into the church account from your bank account.

Please reference with your congregation name, (WSAM, WS5) or PRF (Partners Relief Fund)

Bank: Westpac
BSB: 032-197
Acc: 444233
Ref: Your congregation or PRF

Credit Card
Credit card donations can be made here via the website.

When donating to Eastgardens card details are transmitted through a secure server using Tithely.  Card data is not hosted by Eastgardens Anglicans after processing.

Cash/Cheque
If either of these options do not suit you can deposit cash or cheques into the Perspex giving box at the back of church on Sundays.

Please note: it will be assumed the money you give is for the ministry of Wild Street unless it is clearly marked that it is for the Partner’s Relief Fund

For more info
For more information, including how to make a bequest, contact the church office on: 

p. 0490 846 214 or
e. office@wildstreet.org.au