about the 'giving more'

So as I wrote last month, we set ourselves the goal of giving more than 10% (gross) of our income.  Qualitatively, this means a general rule of "spending less on ourselves" and being prayerful, proactive and consistent in directing that money elsewhere. 

Right now, our giving largely goes towards (In roughly the order of highest to lowest giving--we are open to change):

1. Our local church (Redeemer)

2. Local needs (through organizations like Hope for New York, Restore NYC)

3. Supporting the worldwide church (overseas missionary friends)

4. Global needs (through organizations like World Vision, and IJM)

5. Random Blessings

The idea for a "Random Blessings" category came from my friend RM about 4 years ago. Basically, you leave some room each month to help meet any random needs (especially for the people in your local community, but not exclusively) i.e. helping a friend or family member who has lost their job, buying a meal for a homeless person, responding to calls for aid in emergency situations...you get the idea. 

For me, the discipline of 'leaving some room' flows strongly out of an awareness of Old Testament passages like Leviticus 23:22 

"When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God." 

 

Don't reap to the very edges, leave some room for the poor. 

Some friends of mine have also talked about "tithing your time". i.e. Making sure you give time each month for outreach, service--but that is another story for another day.