John has been preaching on what Jesus said about money. It is amazing how frequently the Bible addresses how we handle the resources entrusted into our care. The Scriptures indicate that our giving reflects our values and should be voluntary, proportional, and regular. In today's installment of my Messages About Purpose and Strategy, I'll write a couple sentences on each of those four ideas. First, giving exposes our values and the relative importance revealed can be embarrassing. Americans spend more on chewing gum than on missions. In 2 Cor. 8:24, the Apostle Paul calls financial support the proof of love. Jesus said, "where your treasure is, there your heart will be" (Mt 6:21). Money and values stick together. Second, giving is to be voluntary. 2 Cor 9:7 says that each person "should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." Our giving is also to be proportional. This is taught in both the Old and New Testaments. Deut. 16:17 - "Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you." 2 Cor. 8:12 - "The gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have." Finally, our giving is to be regular. 1 Cor. 16:2 - "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income." The Bible refers to financial gifts as "first fruits." We are not to give what is leftover. If it is just an afterthought, the offering may cease to be an act of worship and simply become payment for a performance or a way to tip God for good service.