You can give to Sanctuary in a variety of ways. One of the easiest is to setup a one time or recurring donation through our secure online system. All giving is recorded and you will receive a statement at the end of the year for tax and accounting purposes. If you have any questions about giving or finances at Sanctuary, feel free to contact us at any time.
Why Should I Give?
The truth is, we serve an exceedingly gracious and generous God. He spared no expense to reconcile us to Himself through the cross. “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” ( Romans 8:32 ) Giving cheerfully and sacrificially of our finances is an act of worship. God created all things, sustains all thing, and owns all things. “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,” ( Psalm 24:1 )
Giving is an important discipline that protects our hearts from many snares while giving us the opportunity to extend the grace and provision provided for us beyond just ourselves. God doesn’t need our money, but he uses our open hands to bless others and in-turn redirect our hearts. We tend to trust in our own abilities to build security far too much and we overestimate our part in providing for ourselves. We have the opportunity to prove our faith in God as our ultimate provider and fight against growing consumerism ( Hebrews 13:5 ), while being encouraged when He does provide as He promises, by giving regularly and as needs come to our attention.
“Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.” ( Hebrews 13:5 )
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” ( Phillipians 4:19 )
Scripture in the Old and New Testament alike offer stunning promises to us when we live submitted to God’s will with our financial resources.
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.” ( Malachi 3:10 )
“Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap.” ( Luke 6:38 )
“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” ( Matthew 6:32-33 )
A Biblical Principle
Throughout the Old Testament, God put in place a system to support the ministry of the Tabernacle and the Temple. The priest were to be supported by the people by the giving of a “tithe” or tenth of their earnings.
“You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor own any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel. And to the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting.” ( Numbers 18:20-21 )
Jesus, in speaking of this Old Testament practice, reprimands the Pharisees for there devotion to tithing to the most precise degree while disregarding God’s heart for more important things. Notice that He says they give, as they should, leading us to believe that it should still be practiced
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.” ( Matthew 23:23 )
Paul goes further to support the practice of tithing in context of the Church today and connect our practice back to the former command.
“Do you not know that those who perform sacred services [in the temple] eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar [of sacrifice in the temple] have their share with the altar? So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.” ( 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 )
A Cheerful Giver
“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-8 )
A believer labors not to accrue personal wealth or possessions, but to steward God’s resources well and model Jesus to our brothers, sisters, and community.
Our work is an effort to serve our Father in all things, and one of the primary ways we serve God is by cheerfully giving God our “firstfruits” (2 Corinthians 9:7; Proverbs 3:9). We call our members to give, not by meeting some obligatory percentage, but gladly sacrificing for the sake of the gospel because Jesus sacrificed for us, and all we have is His.
We thank those who have helped us meet these needs and pray Sanctuary would join in faithful, consistent, godly giving as Scripture instructs. We could not do ministry without your support. We pray that as you give, God would give true riches to you in the knowledge of the grace and glory of His Son.
