why give?

when a person is in need what do you give? if you see a person with their hand out looking for help, what do you think? get a job? they will buy beer with the money? they don't need the money, their just lazy? what do you think when you see someone with their hand out? what do you think when a person in the church needs help? what if the person next-door needed help, what would you think? more to the point, what would you do?

if we read paul's words to the church in corinth we get some insite into how we are to give - [2 cor 8:1-15]

1. you give in response to God's love, not out of what we think they may do with the money.
2. you do not give based on a return - like a tax break, or a thank you.
3. you give according to what you have, not more or less
4. you give based on being a sacrifice, but do so with responsibility
5. you give to help meet needs of others, but you do not determine what those needs are.

while this giving is based on human to human, it is a good guideline for what we give to the church.