It’s a great thing to have good intentions, but it’s even better to act upon those good intentions.
The definition of intention is: a determination to act in a certain way. It’s an ambition to do what you have set your mind to. However, we all know that good intentions are often not enough. Just because somebody intends to do something good and commits in their mind to do it, doesn’t mean that it will actually come to pass.
Imagine somebody intending to grow a garden. They purposed to plant the seeds but never got around to it. The intention was good, but since no seeds were actually planted—no action was taken—nothing will grow. It was a good idea, a good thought, but there will be no fruit. If there is no follow through, change won’t happen.
This is often the case with giving in the church. Many people have the pretension to give, but they don’t end up following through. This could be for many reasons, from money trouble, to doubt, to distrust in the church.
So how does a spiritual leader or pastor help move their congregation from the best intentions into action? How do they inspire real generosity, rather than just the idea of it? Below are some tips to help bridge the gap between good intentions and generosity.
1. Share the vision.
Sometimes people need a little nudge to help them understand how their giving will matter. Be sure to share the vision and mission of your church and align the giving strategy with goals to accomplish that mission. Speak on Sundays about how their gift will make a difference and that it will be used for good. Send an email message with the heart behind your church’s purpose and how their donations will springboard Kingdom expansion.
2. Help them understand why they aren’t giving in the first place.
Don’t be pushy or act like you’re trying to get into people’s business. But usually there is an underlying reason for why people have the intent to give, but then they don’t do it. If you can help them discover this, they may be able to move past it if you address it correctly. For the person who is doubting that the church will use their money appropriately, dispel their fears by sharing the ways in which monetary gifts will actually be used. People love transparency.
3. Encourage people to make a plan.
Sometimes people don’t give because they are worried they won’t have enough money to live off of afterwards. So, encourage them to pray before they give. This will allow them to seek God about what He would have them give. Spur them on to set a budget. If they know how much they actually need to live off of, they might see that they won’t be upside down after giving. Lastly, inspire them to make a commitment. Maybe even offer a challenge for them to try being generous and see what happens. They’ll probably be even more blessed than before they gave.
4. Give first.
What happens frequently when people give is that they make a donation after they have already paid the bills, done their shopping, and gotten a few things that make them happy. But the Bible tells us to give of our first fruits. When we do this, we are displaying that we understand that God is our provider and that everything belongs to Him in the first place. If people can trust that what they have been given is from God, they’ll be more likely to follow through with their desire to give a portion of it back to Him.
5. Offer help for those struggling financially.
Similar to people giving after they’ve already taken care of the necessities, others who are struggling financially or those who are in a deep amount of debt may want to give but feel that they cannot. Consider providing money management classes for those in your congregation that are having a hard time. These types of classes are great even for the people who do have a handle on their funds but could use more perspective about where their money is going.
6. Teach about giving and what the Bible says about it.
One way to bridge the gap between good intentions and generosity is to actually teach what the Bible says about money, giving, tithes, and offerings. When people understand that generosity is from the very heart of God, they may move from good intentions into faithful givers. If generosity isn’t talked about from the perspective of the Bible, it will be more difficult for people to get on board.
7. Provide multiple options to give.
People can have the desire to give but may not do it because of something simple like forgetting to bring cash on Sunday to put in the offering plate. If you offer more than one way to give, your congregation will find it easier to follow through. With options like giving through text message, online, or through your church app, they can give when it’s convenient for them, even if they happen to not be at the worship service that day.
That’s where Kindrid comes in.
Kindrid is an online giving platform that exists for the very purpose of bridging the gap between good intentions and generosity. We provide the resources for your church to be able to grow in generosity. To learn more about how we can help your church reach its goals, contact us today!
