how we handle money

"Did you know that Jesus of Nazareth spoke about money more often than any other topic? Did you know that in the Bible there are 500 verses on prayer, 500 on faith, but over 2,000 on money and possessions? That one verse in every six in the first three Gospels relates to money? (288 in all) And that 16 out of 32 parables deals with the use and misuse of money? " -- Howard Dayton

"Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can."
-- John Wesley

"If a person gets his attitude towards money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area of his life. Tell me what you think about money, and I can tell you what you think about God, for these two are closely related. A man's heart is closer to his wallet than almost anything else." -- Billy Graham

Our Financial Practices and Policies

• We truly desire that money given to Prairie View be done so freely, cheerfully, and out of genuine appreciation to God. The financial well-being of each person attending the church is more important than the financial well-being of the church itself.

• All members will be encouraged to give of their income on a regular basis and proportionately. Tithing is encouraged as a biblical principle giving us guidance as to what the proportion of our giving should be. Some members will excel in generosity and ability to give beyond their tithe. Gifts are collected during church.

• As a general rule, we will not use Sunday morning to share financial needs or request funds. We will annually teach on giving, conduct a fund drive for local church needs or needs in the community, and conduct an international fund drive for missions.

• We will do our best to help with genuine financial needs within our church family. Notify one of the leaders, either a pastor, deacon, or life group leader of your need or another's need. Where there is repeated financial need, accountability and counseling may be required.

• The Sunday collection is counted that morning by two designated people. The ministries and vision we have as a church are supported by the tithes and offerings of our members.

• All expenses have receipts and are paid by check. The check signers are the pastor and the deacons as well as our bookkeeper.

• Prairie View Community Church never has, nor plans to spend more than we have. All church plans, projects, and monthly routine expenses are contingent upon available funds.

• All financial decisions are made by the local pastor, our deacons and the church treasurer, as well as at times, our life group leaders - all working together. Advice is also obtained from other members of our church in the different areas of church ministry.

• We closely maintain in our account, a minimum savings pad representing two month's church expenses. We are working toward a savings pad representing six months of expenses.

• All financial records are maintained by the church bookkeeper; including individual gifts, disbursements and expenses. We keep a complete record of all checks given to the church, so that we may annually mail to you a record of your giving.

Principles of Giving

Freely and Cheerfully

The Bible gives clear instruction for the believer who wants to develop a godly perspective on giving. "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." -- 2 Cor. 9:6-8

Several principles stand out in this passage.

1. The law of sowing and reaping. We get out what we put in.

2. Commitment to giving. We must decide that we will give, settling it once and for all. All our wealth belongs to God, and we need to give back a portion of what He has given to us.

3. Attitude. We give freely. When we love God and want to obey Him, we acknowledge that we owe God our very life. All that we have is His. When we give, we help to further His work. When we give with the right attitude and motive, His grace abounds towards us by supplying everything we need and more.

In 1 Corinthians 16:2 Paul gives a good formula for consistent giving. "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made."

If we want to be obedient to give back to God what He has given us, we should give:

• Regularly : "On the first day of the week."

• Specifically: "Set aside a sum of money."

• Proportionately: "In keeping with his income"

R.G. LeTourneau was a successful businessman who built earth-moving equipment. ( Caterpillar ) Instead of giving 10 percent as a tithe, he decided to "up" his tithe. Over time He eventually gave God 90 percent and lived on the tithe!

God bountifully blessed this man, and used his inventive genius and money to touch people all over the world. If we give "In proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed," we will give the tithe - and more. When we, "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness," as Jesus said, everything else shall be ours as well.

Of all the promises in the Bible, none are more specific than the passages regarding giving. "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart," said Paul, "not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." -- 2 Cor. 9:7

When we give gladly, willingly, and cheerfully, we demonstrate an unselfish attitude of appreciation for what God has done for us.

Tithing

"Tithing" comes from a Hebrew word meaning "one tenth." People argue today that tithing is an Old Testament teaching, or they say, "It's not important how much I give, it's my attitude in giving." Yet 2 Timothy 3:16-17 indicates that all Scripture is profitable and should be applied to our lives. Paul says in Romans, "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope." -- Romans 15:4

Early in biblical history we learn about Jacob promising to give back a tenth of all that God gave him. Jacob was just leaving his family and beginning his pilgrimage with God. His first night away from home he slept under the stars. God came to him in a dream, promising him great blessings for the future. In response, Jacob made a vow saying, "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's house, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that You give me, I will give You a tenth." -- Genesis 28:20-22

God did richly bless Jacob.

Malachi is one of the most familiar portions of Scripture regarding the tithe and giving to God. It carries both an indictment and a promise. "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob Me. But you ask, "How do we rob You?" In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse- the whole nation of you - because you are robbing Me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." -- Malachi 3:8-10

Three words stand out in this passage:

1. Rob. We can actually rob God by withholding what is rightfully His.

2. Test. The Christian life is a walk of faith. We need to take God at His word and give with a right attitude, out of a heart of obedience. And then watch God respond.

3. Blessing. God will open the storehouse of heaven and flood us with His abundance.

Further Teaching on Money

We gain by giving. We lose by withholding.