Giving

Why Give?

We have three guidelines when we think about giving: the tithe, sacrifice, and responsibility. The tithe guideline points us to believers who were required to give a tenth of their income to the church in the Old Testament. The New Testament doesn’t specify a tithe, but we have greater opportunity and responsibility for generosity this side of the death & resurrection of Jesus. The tithe for us is a biblical minimum guideline.

The Macedonian Christians demonstrate sacrifice. The Scriptures say, “they gave as much as they were able and even beyond their ability" (2 Cor. 8:3). The responsibility guideline means balance; in Acts 11:29 Christians give “according to their ability.” Careful planning is necessary in order for us to give responsibly.

More important than that we give, is why we give. Giving should be a joyful response to God’s grace! St. Paul put it this way: “I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, he became poor, so that through his poverty you might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:8-9). What a test! St. Paul says the difference between giving in order to gain favor with God and true Christian giving is that a Christian wants to give as generously as he or she received. We always give effortlessly to those things that give our lives meaning.

Investing in Trinity Church is strategic, wise, and far reaching. It is strategic because we are a part of the great metro New York region, rightly called by Pope John Paul II “the capital of the world.” It is wise because this is an investment that pays dividends for all eternity—and many lives have been changed through the ministry of Trinity Church. It is far reaching because when you impact the city, you impact the world.

As the place where you have the greatest personal accountability and commitment, and as the place that is feeding and equipping you, we ask you to invest in the ministries of Trinity Church, making them your top priority in giving.