Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. – 2 Corinthians 9:7
Paul’s words from 2 Corinthians 9:7 lead our thoughts on the topic of giving here at Calvary Chapel Freiburg
Paul encouraged every person in the church to give. We too, want to encourage you, if you are a member of Calvery Chapel Freiburg, to give. To be generous, and to support the work of the church financially. In the long run, a church cannot prosper, if only a part of its members carry it.
Paul encouraged every person in the church to meditate on, and then decide how much he wants to give. We too want to encourage you. If you are a member of Calvary Chapel Freiburg, take time, look at your finances, pray and then decide how much you want to give regularly. That’s why we encourage our members to give via standing order. A standing order helps you to keep the decision that you made in your heart. And not simply give what’s leftover at the end of the
Paul encouraged every person in the church to give and not reluctantly, but cheerful and generous. We too want to encourage you. If you are a member of Calvary Chapel Freiburg, find your joy in God, your faith in God’s promises, and not in money. To understand that what God entrusted to you, is just that, entrusted. You manage it for God, not own it. With this attitude towards money, we can give freely, cheerful, and generous. To give like that pleases God; To give reluctantly doesn’t.
Paul reminded us that nobody in the church should feel that it is mandatory to give. We as well want to remind you that you should never feel forced to give! We too, as a church, and church leadership, put our faith in God and His promises; He will provide for us. Our attitude is essential when we give. Nobody should give because he feels forced to do so.
Paul reminded us that God loves a cheerful giver. We too, want to remind you that when you come to understand the truth about who Jesus Christ is, it is the natural response to give cheerfully. To love Him, to thank Him, and to invest yourself fully in His kingdom. That’s what you want if you belong to Jesus Christ. We encourage you to cheerfully give because God likes this attitude when giving.
In the old testament, the people of God were commanded to give a tenth (10%) of their income back to Him. The new testament never sets a specific amount of how much we should give; neither is the portion of the old testament repeated. In the new testament, we are asked to give, however, our attitude of heart that is more relevant than how much we give. That’s why we, as Calvary Chapel Freiburg, see the one-tenth as a non-binding starting point for our giving. We encourage all members, to meditate on whether he/she wants to give a tenth of his/her income to the Calvary Chapel Freiburg, to support the service of the Gospel. Furthermore, we encourage everyone to give freely, generously, and cheerfully. To the church and other organizations, as God leads and guides.