Pastor Melissa Scott on Giving

WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT GIVING
The Foundation
Pastor Melissa Scott


For more than thirty years we have taught the Biblical principles of giving. People often call and say "How do I support?" and they use terms such as "partner" which may be used in other ministries, but which we don’t use here. Simply put, God’s the boss and we are His servants, not partners. It’s kind of shocking for those that have not yet received this teaching when I say do not give unless you have been taught. Do not send your money to this ministry unless you have been taught in the Word. That is the only reason why you give. As I’ve said in many messages, paraphrasing C.S. Lewis who put it brilliantly, for God to be God He has no needs. We as creatures have needs, but God does not. So, for us in this frame of reference, our stewardship is to give God’s way, and it begins with a right spirit (Exodus 25:1-2).

As always, God shows us in His Word the pattern of how to do things the way He wants us to. The greatest giver of all time is God Himself. He gave His son, and His son Jesus gave His life (John 3:16). In both cases, acts of unconditional, no strings attached love. God gives us the gift of His Spirit, and it is Him dwelling in us and being Himself through us which makes givers of us in response to what we receive from Him through His Word.

I’ve taught out of Galatians 6, "Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teaches in all good things." A better translation of that word communicate is "share". One version puts it, "Let him who is taught in the word pay the one who taught him." That makes it pretty clear. Giving should be to the teacher, and should be in response to the value of teaching received.