Biblical Answer

The Bible teaches that the amount of money we give to the church should not be determined by what we want to give, but by what God has given us. In 2 Corinthians 8:12, the Apostle Paul writes, "For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what a man has, not according to what he does not have." This means that we should give what we have, not what we don't have. We should give what we can, not what we can't. This is a principle of generosity, not greed.

The amount we give should also be determined by our understanding of God's sovereignty and our role as stewards of His resources. In 1 Corinthians 16:2, Paul writes, "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, giving it as he may prosper." This verse emphasizes the importance of giving according to our income, not according to what we want to give. We should give what we have, not what we wish we had. This is a principle of faith, not fantasy.

Ultimately, the amount we give to the church should be determined by our desire to honor God and serve others. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul writes, "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." This verse emphasizes the importance of giving from the heart, not from obligation or pressure. We should give what we want to give, not what we're forced to give. This is a principle of love, not law. In summary, the amount we give to the church should be determined by what we have, not what we want; by our income, not our imagination; and by our heart, not our head. We should give what we can, cheerfully and willingly, to honor God and serve others.