12 Reasons Your Church Members Don’t Give Like They Could (or Should) to the Church’s Work

I don’t know a church that doesn’t want their church members to give more. Here are some reasons members sometimes don’t get there, however:

  1. No one has really taught them about Christian giving. They’ve heard surface-level preaching and teaching – even challenges to give – but nobody has taught them intentionally and deeply about sacrificial giving. 
  2. No one has taught them to budget and spend wisely in general. Some young singles and couples are so heavily in debt that the thought of increasing their giving genuinely seems impossible. 
  3. They don’t recognize the need to keep growing in their giving. They’ve heard messages to give faithfully, but they’ve not heard many messages that encourage faithful givers to increase their giving. 
  4. They already think they’re giving sacrificially. The problem is not that they’re not giving; it’s that they don’t know what “sacrificial” means. They don’t give until it actually costs them something. 
  5. They haven’t heard many giving testimonies. I know it’s risky to have people tell stories, but there’s value in letting faithful givers talk of the joy of giving. Help them be cautious not to leave the impression that giving always brings financial blessing. 
  6. In their home, they’re divided in their thoughts about giving. In some cases, one spouse is prepared to increasing giving—but the other is fearful of taking that step. Their differing views have led to stagnation. 
  7. No one has cast for them a compelling vision for their church that would challenge them to give. Folks will often give toward a clear, convictional vision — but not as much when the vision is non-existent or weak.
  8. They don’t often hear stories of God’s mighty work through the ministry of their church. Because they don’t hear those stories, they don’t know that their giving makes a difference. Thus, they see little reason to give sacrificially.
  9. They actually don’t know how to give to the church’s work. When “passing the offering plate” is no longer the norm, some members may not know other various means to give to the church. Leaders may regularly explain those options, but some church members don’t always listen.
  10. They don’t trust the direction and future of the church. They’d be willing to give more if they believed fully in the church’s direction, but they don’t. They’re waiting to see where the church goes before they invest more. 
  11. They question the church’s financial transparency. When that’s the case, it’s tough to give more — or to give at all.
  12. They’re already giving to other ministries or organizations. Their reasons for doing so may be several–and debatable–but giving to other organizations tends to limit dollars available for the church’s work.