Money always brings this type of dead silence ... why?
I can only speak for myself, but I find it uncomfortable to comment publically about the why's and wherefore's about my/our personal giving. Paul S mentioned not letting your right hand know what your left hand is doing, but the passage says more than that:
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Also, the decisions that my husband and I make together regarding how and where we should place our giving that is above and beyond what we give to our church are based on very individualized factors that are constantly changing. And we don't always agree, so my husband has the final word. Therefore, I really don't want to answer some of Joe's questions such as "how long has it been, how much, how often, what kind."
Having said that, I don't mind saying that I think it is entirely appropriate, after one has given to one's own church, to support para-church organizations like the Highway that are advancing the Gospel and reaching the lost for Christ and providing educational materials that will aid in the growth of believers in the doctrines of grace.
I also think we must plan to give and that means budgeting for giving above and beyond giving to our church. We have a minimum set amount that we give above and beyond. Sometimes we have been able to go even beyond that when we become aware of an immediate need. So in that way, we both budget and give as we are prompted.
It has taken an inordinate amount of time for me to write this post, which is an indication of just how difficult it is for me to "talk about money."
