Troy H. Jones

Yesterday I had a conversation with our pastors and staff.  I guess I would call it “your giving muscles”

We all have muscles.  If you don’t exercise they get weak and fragile.  Giving is a muscle you have to exercise.  Jana and I learned how to exercise these muscles early in our marriage.  I thank God we did.  I remember the first time we gave $500 to missions.  It hurt.  It stretched us.  It was essential as a young couple to learn to exercise this muscle.

How are you exercising your giving muscles?  If you don’t tithe to the local church—it may seem overwhelming to begin.  I get this. But—start exercising your muscles today.  Start with lifting 10 pounds or anywhere.  I have a deep conviction that our goal should be 10% of tithe to the local church.  But—start somewhere. 

I don’t lift weights. I know I need to. (Jana does.  Does this count for me?)  For now hear my illustration.  If I started to lift weights I couldn’t bench press much.  But—I need to start…with a little. 

Start somewhere in exercising your giving muscles. 

Here is what they say with weight lifting…The important thing to remember when it comes to strength training is that you must give your muscles more weight than they can handle–that’s how muscles grow.

You have to start giving “more than you can handle”.  I don’t mean to be stupid.  But…give more than you’re comfortable with.

Stretch yourself.  If you are a faithful tither, remember tithing is the foundation to your giving, not the ceiling.  Give to missions…give to hurting people…give to people groups who have never heard the name of Jesus.

If you randomly give in the offering just to make yourself feel better—start being systematic.  Decide on a percentage and start.  Have the goal to give 10%.  But start with a few weights. If God has blessed you and gifted you to make a lot of money…don’t just buy another toy. Advance the Kingdom of God with your wealth.  Write that $10,000 or $100,000 check to make a difference.

I had a couple sit down with me and say, “Pastor—we want to give in the Big Give Offering (Offering for our new building, November 1^st).  But we don’t have any money.  We are strapped. What would you do?”  I said, “You need to stretch your muscles.  Do this—both of you pray—ask God—What should you give?  Share it with each other.  Decide on this. “  It was funny they both already had a number in mind.  Then I said, “Sell something.  Do an extra job.  Include your kids.  Do a lemonade stand if you have to (just a joke) Stretch your muscles.  As you give it—make this a spiritual act of obedience.  Make it a declaration—my family won’t live in a selfish way.  My family will be givers.  We are out of shape now…but are going to make a spiritual declaration—God is our provider. God is the owner.  Everything spending decision I make honors him.”