The Gift of Giving
December 4, 2025 | by: Bret Willoughby | 0 Comments
Posted in: Guest Writers
At our last Session meeting an Elder ask me for “my perspective on giving.” This is my response.
I wish above every church door a banner would read, “No perfect people allowed; only the fallible, hypocritical, and feeble permitted to enter.” I struggle with the discipline of giving to God.
I like the fact that our church considers the whole church service worship, the preaching, our public confession not just our singing. I miss the act of passing the collection plate. I like the weekly reminder mid-service to grab my checkbook to write a check and make a conscious decision to worship by giving. Although most of my adult life I have attended churches with a collection box in the back of the sanctuary, I prefer hurriedly writing my check before the plate makes it to me as a conscious way of worshipping, a reminder to give to God. I remember my dad taking the church envelope out of his coat pocket with a pre-written check. I like the weekly prompting to reflect on my giving to God. I do not utilize the box, QR codes, and phone apps as I should.
Because I struggle with the practice of giving, I find myself thinking transactionally. “God, I have not given as you requested; that is why things are not going well currently.” I know this is bad theology when we treat God as the “big slot machine in the sky.”
I struggle determining, “What is the right amount or percentage to give? Do I tithe on an inheritance? Should I tithe on my gross or net pay? Do I include my interest income?”
As a tax preparer I see how much individuals inside and outside the church give. I have seen charitable contributions decrease over the years among both Christians and non-Christians. I also see very generous individuals. It is not who you think: the wealthiest. I remember Chris, a grad student earning his doctorate in music. Like most grad students, he had limited income, less than $10,000, but he gave $1,000. I had twice the income but not twice the giving.
There are many ways to give. My parents gave the use of their pool to the church for 35 years. When the pool was built, they asked the pastor to dedicate the pool to God’s Glory. They allowed the church and Salvation Army day-camps to use the pool weekly. God honored that on-going gift. Who knew that pool parties could prevent individuals from jumping into the abyss? One young adult woman trying to give her brother hope and to bring him back from despair said, “Remember when you were happy at Willoughby World (the name of the pool) as a kid?” He lived to fight another day.
We can give tax efficiently by giving appreciated assets like stocks or real estate to a charity like the PCA Foundation. If we are over 60, we can give funds from an IRA directly to a charity. Both methods avoid the need to include in income what would generally be taxable income (IRA distributions and Capital Gains.) In the case of gifting appreciated stocks, the taxpayer can also receive a tax deduction if the taxpayer itemizes. We can also give unwanted cars to charities. But we do not give for tax reasons we give out of obedience to a sovereign God.
I like it when Gerie sends out a periodic update on my giving so I can see if I am meeting my goal for giving this year.
Our God is a big God doing amazing things in the world restoring broken people to himself. I hope you receive many appeals. Use the discernment that God has given you. Give to the work that God is leading you to contribute to. Please prayerfully consider Oak Hills PCA in your year-end giving. The session is excited to see how God will provide for the last 9% of our annual needs in December. Giving is an act of worship. Praise the Lord.
Bret Willoughby, CPA
On behalf of the Session
