Two Reasons Why People Don't Give to the Church
There's a huge disconnect between what Christians are instructed to do and what they actually do when it comes to giving. Why is that? Most Christians know the Bible encourages them to be generous, yet a large majority of them give little or nothing at all. Is this open rebellion or something entirely different?
Growing up in The Church, I've seen plenty of examples of generosity. I've seen people give extravagantly and sacrificially. I've also seen some people give foolishly and recklessly. I've heard preaching that motivated me to give and some that convinced me that giving was the last thing I should do in that situation. Yes, the Bible says quite a bit about generosity, but someone needs to communicate it clearly and truthfully, and often that's where the problem lies.
The first time I heard a pastor preach correctly on giving was when I was 37 years old. That may not seem significant unless you consider that I grew up in The Church, and by that age, I'd heard thousands of sermons. I don't think my experience is unique. Many Christians struggle with giving because 1) they've not been taught correctly what the Bible says about giving or 2) the teaching they received was biased and manipulative.
1. When the reason for the lack of giving is the lack of teaching
When it comes to giving, God's word offers a more than adequate amount of instruction. It's not the lack of clarity that keeps pastors from preaching on giving; it's fear. No pastor likes to look out on his congregation while delivering a sermon and see angry faces staring back at him. Preaching on giving can make people angry, perhaps more than any other topic. Have you wondered why that is?
the spirit and influence of mammon
Matthew 6:24 makes it clear that "You cannot serve both God and money [mammon]." Mammon is of Chaldean origin, and Jesus used this word to personify a god, the god of riches. Mammon is a spirit that uses money, wealth, and riches to deceive people. He promises that through these, one can find happiness, fulfillment, security, and a host of other things that only God alone can provide. Mammon is a chief competitor of God for the hearts of people.
When you preach correctly from God's word on the topic of giving, some people will become angry. It's not because you've done something wrong; it's that you've insulted their God (mammon). It's a natural reaction. Jesus said it, "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, you will be devoted to one and despise the other." Those who trust in mammon will hate and despise God. That seems harsh, but it's true, and Jesus confirmed it when he said, "Anyone who isn't with me opposes me, and anyone who isn't working with me is actually working against me." (Matthew 12:30 NLT)
For some, the message of generosity is like a personal attack. It threatens the kingdom they've built. In a materialistic and consumer-driven society such as ours, the message of financial stewardship and generosity is desperately needed. People are consistently enticed by mammon and what he promises. If they don't have God's truth, they will succumb to the deception wealth and money promises, and in time reject God, or worse, adopt the belief that they can love God while also loving the world; regular attending your church, but having their hearts far from God.
When a pastor understands this, he will not allow the fear of rejection or an angry response to keep him from preaching on giving for the good of his people. He will preach it boldly because his people's spiritual well being, perhaps their eternal destiny is on the line.
2. When the reason for the lack of giving is The Church
Sometimes the reason people don't give, especially to churches, is justified. The Church doesn't have the best reputation when it comes to financial matters. Unfortunately, some of that reputation is deserved. Who can forget the 1980's televangelists, and some of today's megachurch pastors, who preach giving sacrificially to the masses while they live extravagant lifestyles? It's not really about the amount of money they have; after all, many wealthier unbelievers live more extravagant lifestyles than these, and we seem to have no issue with them. It's that to most people, what a pastor preaches should line up with what he practices. That applies to his personal life, as well as how he manages the church finances.
What people perceive is what they believe.
Many people see this as hypocrisy, including those inside The Church, and it causes them to view any message on giving as self-serving and manipulative. There is a sensitivity to the giving message because of the abuses we've seen and experienced. So what is a pastor to do? That's simple. Preach The Word correctly, boldly, and consistently. Of most importance, never emotionalize, over-spiritualize, or have an improper motive when speaking on giving. It's unnecessary, it won't work, and it will hurt your credibility and the church's long-term viability.
Make talking about money normal and beneficial for people.
Let God lead them in their giving.
When you teach on money regularly, and your reason for doing it is to help your people, they will stop questioning your motives. At first, you will probably have some resistance. Remember, people have seen and experienced abuse in the past, so give them time to realize that's not why you're doing it. In time, as your people embrace and apply God's financial principles, they will experience the benefits. They will learn to hear God's voice and understand how much they should keep and how much they should give with God's leading.
Giving is always a personal thing between God and us.
A pastor should never dictate what people should give, but he should consistently motivate people to be generous. Why? Because mammon is active in the world, continually promising that material wealth will bring ultimate fulfillment. This causes people to want to gather and hoard things for themselves instead of being generous. It is the pastor's responsibility to combat this deceptive spirit and point people back to God and his word; to break the bondage of materialism by reminding them that God is their source, that he will never fail them or forsake them. Pastors can't do this once or twice a year because mammon doesn't speak to people once or twice a year; he does it every day.
How often do you speak on the topic of financial stewardship and generosity? Is your motivation purely to disciple your people or something else?
For more information about the Spirit of Mammon, we encourage you to listen to our podcast episode: Revealing the Symptoms of Mammon’s Influence.
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