It is that time of year when churches send out annual giving statements for you to use in your tax filings.
This is also a great time for self-evaluation in a very important area of spiritual growth (Matt. 6:24). It’s not often that we get such a tangible way to measure our priorities.
This document reveals in a tangible way to the government and your accountant a few things about your faith:
- It reports what place God has in your life. Did God have first place in your generosity or was He relegated to leftover status?
- It reports on your faithfulness. Did you systematically give to God weekly or monthly? What priority was the mission of Jesus? Are there gaps in your generosity? What caused those gaps?
- It reports to the IRS your faith. This “Generosity Statement” shows the government whether you really believe that God will supply all of your needs as you honor Him (Phil 4:19). Did you let fear take over some months or did you choose to trust God despite your circumstances?
When you receive your “Generosity Statement” from your church don’t just toss it in the box for your accountant (or tax preparer). Open it and reflect on it because you are holding in black and white a report card evaluation of your generosity last year. How did you do? What type of statement did you make about your faith through your generosity? I’m sure you give to other organizations as well, but as Christians our first priority is in giving to the very things Jesus gave His life for…the church (Eph. 5:25, Eph. 3:10).
In 2015 determine that you will make (or continue to make) a strong statement about your faith to your accountant and the IRS through your Generosity Statement.
Imagine if you caused them both to pause and reflect because of what they saw. Imagine your accountant asking you about your faith because of your generous giving. Imagine the IRS agent reviewing your filing saying…here is one Christian who is serious about their faith. They really put their money where their mouth is.
