The PuritanBoard - View Single Post - Should Elders use individual giving as metric of faith?

govols · #49 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 09:28 AM

So, if you have a treasurer, of sorts, and people give using checks; the treasurer has to write / put that amount in something to send back to individual at the end of January for taxes.

Okay, let's say it is Excel that they put the information in. One page has all the information (Family Name, Amount, Dates) while another page does not contain the names but just the Amount and Dates.

Would it be okay twice a year for the Elders to review the second page (no names) to at least know if anything might be wrong (not correct word) with a Family?

If you have a family giving $10,000 a year for 2 years and then over a period of 3 months the giving drops to $100 a year, can the Elders see that second page with no names and ask if they should go to care for that family.

I am a firm believer that giving is indicative of someone's spiritual health. The Lord has provided for us, it is essentially His money, and should we not give back to our Church what is already His?

If someone stops giving or drastically slows down their giving, is that not an indication that something might be wrong spiritually for them? Just a question.

I know the Elders or anyone else for that matter should not go around asking people how much money they make and then put that into the Excel spreadsheet as Money / 10. :-> Not saying that. But trends are an indicator of something are they not? Just being able to ask them if they need help. Pride can get in the way for someone to ask for help.?