Faith Promise Giving

Questions and Answers Dr. Russell D. Bernard
"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them . . ." Matthew 9:36a

• What is "FAITH-PROMISE GIVING"? The believer looks to the Lord "in faith" asking how much he would have the believer give; then promises to give as the Lord directs.

• What is the biblical basis of FAITH-PROMISE GIVING? Second Corinthians, chapters 8 and 9, forms the general basis for FAITH-PROMISE GIVING. Chapter 8, verse 3, mentions "to their power" and "beyond their power." "To their power" or according to their power, relates especially to tithes and offerings, or known sources of income. "Beyond their power" relates in a unique way to FAITH-PROMISE GIVING, since looking beyond any known sources of income is to look to the Lord for His special enabling.

• What is the relationship between the FAITH-PROMISE plan and the paying of tithes, or the giving of offerings? Tithes and offerings are taught in the Word of God and are urgently needed in the work of the church. But these are not sufficient to get the gospel to the world in this generation. Tithes and offerings look to, and depend on, a stated income. FAITH-PROMISE looks directly to God, asking in effect: "How much can I trust God to give through me?" This offers God a channel through which He can pour limitless amounts into His work through His children.

• Are "FAITH-PROMISES" pledges? No, FAITH-PROMISES are not pledges. A pledge is horizontal, made to a church, society, or other worthy cause. The FAITH-PROMISE is vertical, being made between the believer and the Lord. If at the end of the year God has not enabled the person to meet his FAITH-PROMISE commitment, the matter is only between that person and the Lord.

• How should FAITH-PROMISE commitments be made? It is best that commitments be made at a missions conference time. If no such conference is held in the local church, it would be well for the church to have a missions Sunday and the commitments can be made at any time. The amount needs to be clearly indicated per week, per month, or per year.

• Are FAITH-PROMISE commitments usually paid? Yes. The history of the FAITH-PROMISE plan of giving is that the person, or church, usually has invested more in the Lord’s work at the end of the year than the total commitment made. Since God is included in this unique partnership, it is His privilege to pour out a superabundance of blessings.

• What is the advantage of FAITH-PROMISE GIVING? The advantage is that in this plan God can get 100 percent of what He desires and directs into His work, while in the tithing plan God must give $10,000 to get $1,000 into His work. With offerings as the basis of giving, God may need to put $20,000 to $50,000 into the hands of His children to get $1,000 into His work.

• Does FAITH-PROMISE GIVING really make us channels of blessing? Yes – in a unique sense. If God so directs and desires, He can actually pour the thousands, even millions, of dollars directly into His work when He knows that his children will be unobstructed channels. He cares for His children’s needs through their regular salaries or incomes, but the FAITH-PROMISE looks to the Lord especially for what He may desire to do through His children over and above salary, bank account, or income from any known or anticipated source.

• What is the motivating power in FAITH-PROMISE GIVING? The power of the Lord working through the willing partner is the key to FAITH-PROMISE GIVING. One’s faith in God’s ability to provide the full amount and the faithfulness to make the promise are the key. This type of giving is limited only by God’s purpose.