Receiving First
Part of our witness as disciples is sharing the news of God’s
great generosity. God provides “enough and to spare” (Doctrine and Covenants
101:2f). God shares in abundance, “good measure, pressed down…shaken
together, and running over.” All that we have and all that we are is a
priceless gift to us from God. What then is our response as disciples of Jesus
Christ? In simple terms, we respond with thankfulness and share with others as
generously as God has shared with us.
Scripture guides us in our discipleship: “Stewardship is
the response of my people to the ministry of my Son and is required alike of all
those who seek to build the kingdom” (Doctrine and Covenants 147:5a). All
things were created by God and are to be used for God’s purposes. As disciples
of Christ, we explore the scriptures to understand our stewardship of time,
giftedness, and financial resources in response to God’s grace and love
expressed to us in the life of Jesus Christ. Our stewardship is
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a personal response to God’s grace and love;
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a means to meet the needs of a growing church; and
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a way to provide more fully and joyfully for Christlike
service and ministry, locally and globally.
Agency is one of the generous gifts God gives to us. Agency
is our ability to choose freely how we respond to God’s infinite love and
grace. Using our agency wisely allows us to manage our time, giftedness, and
resources to benefit our personal, family, congregational, and community life.
More specifically, our stewardship of financial resources defines the extent we
can generously share, wisely save, and responsibly spend. The following six
principles of A Disciple’s Generous Response guide us in living out our
stewardship of resources:
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A disciple practices generosity as a spiritual
discipline in response to God’s grace and love.
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A disciple is faithful in response to Christ’s
ministry.
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A disciple’s financial response, while unique to
individual circumstances, expresses love of God, neighbor, creation, and
oneself.
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A disciple shares generously through tithing so that
others may experience God’s generosity.
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A disciple saves wisely in order to create a better
tomorrow for self, family, the church’s mission, and the world.
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A disciple spends responsibly as a commitment to live
in health and harmony with God and the world.
Share Generously
Tithing is a concept deeply rooted in our scriptures. It is
our gift to God in response to God’s generous gifts of grace and love to us.
Generosity comes from a spirit of thankfulness within us, not from imposed
formulas and rules. We share what we have because we want to. We share what we
receive first from God. Therefore, a disciple asks, “How much tithing can I
hope to share?” rather than, “How much should I give?”
Tithing is based on the biblical principle of sharing our
firstfruits with God. This means tithing is the disciple’s response of
thanksgiving and is given before we spend or save from our income. In the Bible
the word “tithe” means a tenth part of what one owns or receives. Tithing,
according to scriptural principles, is the act of sharing 10 percent of our
income with God. As disciples we honor what we have received from God by
reaching toward sharing 10 percent or more through Mission and Community Tithes.
“Let whoever is of a generous heart bring the Lord’s offering” (Exodus
35:5).
Sharing through Mission Tithes
Our Mission Tithes go primarily to World and Congregation
Ministries. Through them we support world and local missions that fulfill the
following scripture: “Let the truths of my gospel be proclaimed as widely and
as far as the dedication of the Saints, especially through the exercise of their
temporal stewardship will allow” (Doctrine and Covenants 153:9a). Mission
Tithes are a significant portion of a generous disciple’s response. By sharing
equally with Congregation and World Ministries, the disciple shares in the
mission of the church both on a local and global level. Examples of Mission
Tithes include Congregation Ministries, Mission Center Ministries, World
Ministries, Oblation, World Hunger, and other designated church funds.
Disciples generally give Mission Tithes during worship
services. In your home congregation, you can request offering envelopes from
your Congregational Financial Officer (CFO). Offering envelopes allow you to
designate funds for World Ministries and Congregation Ministries, as well as
give to other funds such as the Building Fund or Oblation Fund. Additionally,
some disciples share through direct contributions sent to World Church
Headquarters. Estate and financial planning ministers at World Church
Headquarters are also available, on request, to provide assistance in planning
other ways for you to share Mission and Community Tithes.
Sharing through Community Tithes
Community Tithes are a disciple’s response to
church-affiliated organizations and other charitable nonprofit organizations
that are “in the forefront…recognizing the worth of persons and are
committed to bringing the ministry of my Son to bear on their lives” (Doctrine
and Covenants 151:9). Generous disciples may share a portion of their tithing
directly with institutions such as Graceland University, Outreach International,
Outreach Europe, Restoration Trail Foundation, SaintsCare, World Accord, and
other charitable nonprofit organizations.
Save for the Future
The principle of saving is an expression of hope for the future. Disciples
save in order to create a better tomorrow for themselves, their heirs, the
church, and the world. Through planning and careful management, many have found
that saving at least 10 percent of their income is an effective way to prepare
for the future. “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit
down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it?”
(Luke 14:28). Disciples save for a number of reasons: major purchases,
unexpected needs, vacations, retirement funds, college funds, and estate
building for family and church. Indeed, disciples can continue their generous
response beyond this life by making provisions in their estates for the ongoing
ministries of the church.
Spend Responsibly
The principle of spending responsibly is a commitment by disciples to use the
remainder of their income to live in health and harmony as they support family,
personal needs, giftedness, and interests. Wise and prayerful planning and
management of these remaining resources brings financial wholeness in life. How
we spend our money is part of our personal witness of Christ. “It is incumbent
upon the Saints…to be in the world but not of it, living and acting honestly
and honorably before God and in the sight of all men, using the things of this
world in the manner designed of God, that the places where they occupy may shine
as Zion…” (Doctrine and Covenants 128:8b,c). Disciples spend responsibly in
all areas of life, including housing, health care, transportation, food,
clothing, recreation, and personal development.
Live as a Generous Disciple
Generosity is one of the ways we can both honor our heritage
and our call to live as prophetic people who help shape the future God has
envisioned for all creation. A Disciple’s Generous Response is a whole life
commitment we choose to make in response to God’s wonderful generosity. We
express our gratitude to God with each breath of life we take as we share
generously, save wisely, and spend responsibly. Understanding our stewardship at
the personal, congregational, and denominational levels will bless us
spiritually and grow us as a community, so that we can respond “more fully and
joyfully for the great work to which [we] are called” and engaged (Doctrine
and Covenants 154:5b).
For additional information and recommended resources, please
visit the Presiding Bishopric home page at www.CofChrist.org/bishop.
