Biblical Answer

When considering how much to give to the church, it is essential to understand that the motivation behind our giving should not be to earn God's favor or guarantee a specific outcome. Instead, our giving should be an act of worship and a demonstration of our love for God. The Bible teaches that we should give generously from our hearts, not out of a sense of obligation or expectation of reward. This means that our giving should be based on our personal relationship with God and our understanding of His sovereignty over our lives. As the Bible says, "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).

In addition to our personal motivation, we should also consider the biblical principles for giving. The Bible teaches that giving should be proportionate to our income, and that we should give with a generous spirit (Proverbs 3:9-10, 11:24-25). This means that we should give a significant portion of our income, not just a token amount. The Bible also teaches that we should give with a sense of gratitude and thanksgiving, recognizing that everything we have comes from God (1 Chronicles 29:14). As we give, we should remember that we are not just giving to the church, but to God Himself, and that our giving should be an act of worship and obedience to His will.

Ultimately, the amount we give to the church should be determined by our personal relationship with God and our understanding of His sovereignty over our lives. We should not give based on what we think the church needs, but rather based on what God has given us and what we can afford to give. As the Bible says, "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give" (2 Corinthians 9:7). This means that we should be generous and cheerful in our giving, and that we should give with a sense of freedom and joy, knowing that God loves a cheerful giver. By giving in this way, we can be confident that our giving is an act of worship and obedience to God's will.