Bentley, the CEO of Crown Financial Ministries has several suggestions to improve your generosity.
First, Meditate on God’s Word together
1 Corinthians 16:12 says “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come, no collections will have to be made.”
Bently sees several lessons in the verse:
Giving should be regular. Paul gave a plan to be ready to give “on the first day of every week.” This is not “spontaneous or emotionally-driven giving.” It is being very intentional.
Giving should be personal. It is the responsibility and privilege of every child of God, whether young or old, rich or poor, to give. God wants all of us to enjoy the blessings of generosity. Billy Graham said, “God has given us two hands, one to receive and the other to give.”
And Giving should be out of a private deposit, specifically set aside for giving.
Next, Make giving your priority
Proverbs 3:9 says, “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce.”
Giving is a way of acknowledging that everything we have belongs to God, and we trust Him by giving away the first of our provisions, not the last.
We are not to tip God from our leftovers but to honor Him as first and foremost in our lives.