And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.
~ 2 Corinthians 9:8, NRSV
The History of giving a tithe
Giving to God in our annual pledges is first and foremost an opportunity – not a requirement. It is an opportunity to be thankful for all that God has done for us through this community. It is an opportunity to say yes to God and accept the even more abundant gifts God has to offer us throughout our lives. It is not a requirement, though, to experience God’s unbounded love.
Giving to God in our annual pledges is an opportunity to nurture our relationship with God and the world rather than neglect our responsibilities. Each time we make an offering in this way we have God in mind. That alone is part of our challenge as Christians – to be ever mindful of God and God’s presence with us.
Finally, giving to God in our annual pledges is an opportunity for us to engage God and the world rather than ignore the needy in the world. Our giving to God at St. Luke’s allows us to continue and expand our outreach ministries and to teach our youth and adults how important our engagement with the world in God’s name is.