By Tony Pappas, executive minister

1. We serve a God of infinite wealth who wants us to live abundantly. Don't think small; do think big. Ask not what can't be done, but ask want CAN be done when we are in alignment with God's will!

2. Think about tiering your giving (no, not tearing!). Be prepared to give small amounts to some of the good requests that come your way. Give more to organizations/missions that you have felt God's tug on your heart. Give substantial amounts to those bodies that accomplish God's will in your life, your church and, hopefully, your denominational family!

3. Check if all the giving in #2 above adds up to 10 percent of your income. If yes, you are blessed. If not, then develop a plan to get there. Persons who give God less than God asks may think that they have more money, but what they end up with is spiritual limitations and eventually impoverishment!

4. Do not do just the minimum. Jesus said if you are compelled to go a mile, go two! The tithe is an Old Testament principle and the lowest level that meets the scriptural criterion. Why do the least? My Dad double-tithed during my childhood years. Now, it is true we seldom had any extras, but it is also true that I never missed a meal and had an ample and loving childhood.

I have tithed all my life. But I have yet to reach my father's standard. Until this year--I made it up to where my father started! I can just hear him in heaven, "Finally! What took you so long!"

Now, don't think that I am very spiritual for doing this. I am doing it entirely for selfish reasons. I want God's blessing upon me and my wife and my family and TABCOM. Or put another way, my fiscal faithfulness removes the blockages that have prevented God's blessings aimed at me from getting through!

5. Pastors and deacons and church leaders: If each member of your church gave at your level, where would your church be? Closed? Booming with resources? Scratching along, bereft of God's fullness of blessing? Your giving affects us all! Be a model! Is it too harsh to say, "Stop whining and start tithing!"?

TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK: MAY 4-10

Morning Meetings with Jesus: 180 Devotions for Teachers by Susan O'Carroll Drake is available from Judson Press. 

When you order online you can participate in the Judson Press Regional Rewards program that generates funds for our region. At checkout, enter code 11 in the Region Code box.

An estimated 15,000 Baptists crossed denominational, ethnic and ideological lines to meetin in Atlanta Jan. 30-Feb. 1 for fellowship, worship and discussion about cooperation on evangelism and other areas about which they can agree. Visit the New Baptist Covenant to stay up to date.