Here at The Vine we encourage people moved to support this ministry with their financial gifts to do so on-line. We believe this is a great way to support the Biblical teaching of First-Fruit giving. If you would like to make a one-time donation or recurrent support, please click the on-line giving link below. Please note you can change your recurrent giving at anytime.
Some thoughts on giving:
Hebrews 13:5 – It is funny that we have so much in this country yet we spend so little time content with what we have. If you are like me, you probably always have your eye on the next thing that you “really need.” God calls us to find contentment in true riches…His great love for us.
Malachi 3:8-10 – A lot of ministers misuse this passage to preach a prosperity gospel. They say that if we just give more money to church, God will give even more money to us. That is not always the case. In Malachi, God is dealing with people who do not trust Him. They are withholding from Him because they do not trust He will provide for their needs. Their possessions have become their idol. He is calling them to trust Him in all things. He is calling us to do the same. This passage also presents the OT practice of giving a tithe (10%).
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 – We are no longer held by the old covenant. Jesus has brought something new into our lives. We are children of God through His sacrifice and He now wants us to consider His love and cheerfully give in response to that love. We don’t know what your current circumstance is. Perhaps you are not in a place where you can consider giving 10% (which is still a good guide for us). Then again, God may have you in a place where you can give even more. In any case, we can learn from this passage and throughout 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 that we are to give what we are moved to give in a way that does not do harm to our family, yet stretches us a bit.
