“I have been generous to you so that you can be generous to others.” 2 Corinthians 9:11
Please take some time to review the Stats on the American church, giving, poverty, and spending habits. Reflect on what this reveals about the heart of the church. Examine your own heart to see if there would be any areas God is wanting to change, in order to better impact the world, for His house and glory.
THE AMERICAN CHURCH:
• Though American Christian’s make up only 5 percent of the church worldwide control approximately 50% of Global Christian Wealth. 4
• Christians make up 33% of the world's population, but receive 53% of the world's annual income and spend 98% of it on themselves. 4
• Income of $5.2 trillion a year. 6
AMERICAN WEALTH:
• If we make $10,066 a year, we are in the top 16% in the world in wealth. 1
• If you make $32,400 a year, you are in the top 4% in the world in wealth. 2
WE LIVE in the top 2%-5% in world, ever.
• The American living standard today is about 50 times what it was in 1600 England or 1978 (Maoist China)
• 1% of the population has almost the same amount of wealth as the rest of the world combined.
• The Average American Today is 90 Times Richer Than The Average Historical Human Being
• The American living standard of today is about 50 times what it was in 1600 England, or 1978 China.
• The average size of the American home has nearly tripled in size over the past 50 years. 3
Christians are giving at a 2.5% per capita or tithe. During the Great Depression, they gave at a 3.3% rate. Today, 33-50% of church members, those who claim they have bought in at a deep level to your ministry, give nothing.
If we were able to have our people increase their giving from 2.5% to 10% of their annual income, an additional $165 billion would flow into the Kingdom.
To SHOW THE GLOBAL IMPACT THESE RESOURCES COULD MAKE, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:
• It would take just a little over 1 percent of the income of American Christians to lift the poorest one billion people out of extreme poverty. 2
• Twenty-five billion dollars would relieve global hunger, starvation, and deaths from preventable diseases in five years. 7
• Fifteen billion dollars would solve the world’s water and sanitation issues. 7
• $1 billion would fully fund the Great Commission. 7
• $100 – $110 billion would still be left over for additional ministry expansion. 7
• 2.2 million people die every year due to lack of access to clean drinking water. That’s equivalent to 20 jumbo jets crashing every day!
• According to number crunchers at the World Bank and United Nations Development Programme, it’s estimated that it would cost somewhere around $20 billion to solve the global water crisis. That’s less than 5% of what’s spent in this country during one holiday shopping period in December.
American Christians have enough resources to end world hunger & give the world clean drinking water with the amount we spend at one Christmas!
LUKE 12:48 states, “To whom much is given much is required.”
To say we have been given much is an understatement. It is clear He has given us much, and if much is required in return, we must examine how we are stewarding what He has entrusted us with.
American Christians spend over $700 billion a year excess, non-essentials:
• $3 billion/ year on bottled water
• $4 billion/ year on cosmetics
• $7 billion on sports events
• $11 billion a year on coffee
• $13 billion a year on their pets
• $13 billion/ year on diet programs
• $17 billion a year on golf
• $17 billion a year on boating
• $20 billion a year on soft drinks
• $21 billion on cable TV
• $76 billion a year on eating out 1
This list doesn’t mention the endless other gadgets we purchase for ourselves and families. The average U.S. household has 300,000 things, from paper clips to ironing boards. U.S. children make up 3.7% of children on the planet but have 47% of all toys and children’s books. 5
• There are 300,000 items in the average American home 3
• The average size of the American home has nearly tripled in size over the past 50 years. 3
• 1 out of every 10 Americans rent offsite storage—the fastest growing segment of the commercial real estate industry over the past four decades. 3
• While 25% of people with two-car garages don’t have room to park cars inside them and 32% only have room for one vehicle 3
If we make over 50% of the worlds wealth, and only give 2% away, what is left for the rest of the world?
What does this stat reflect?
• North American and European Christians spend $12.5 trillion on themselves and their families each year. 4
• Only .1% of all Christian giving is directed toward mission efforts in the 38 most unevangelized countries in the world. 4
• The average American Christian gives only 1 penny a day to global missions. (Yohannan, Revolution in World Missions, 142)
• Out of the Top 10 places where tithers put their money, the least likely demographic that they would give money is children and orphans 6
Meanwhile:
• ½ of world lives on less than $2/dollars a day
• Over 1 billion attempt to live on $1/ day
• Estimated $13 billion to provide basic nutrition to every starving person in the entire world
• Over one billion people hurting for a lack of basic resources. At the same time, we Christians happen to have most of those exact resources, more than any group of Christians in world history. 6
When you hear these stats, what does it reveal to you?
One thing it revealed to me was the reality we are not necessarily as generous as we ascribe ourselves to be. If over 1 billion people hurt for lack of basic resources, and God has, at that same time, entrusted to us those very same resources, knowing His heart for the orphan, poor, widow, sojourner, and oppressed we must conclude there is a reason.
2 Corinthians 9:11 states, “I have been generous to you so that you can be generous to others.
It’s as simple as that!
James 5:5 states, “now listen you rich people, weep and wail, you have hoarded wealth in the last days…you have lived on earth in luxury and self indulgence.”
The concept of hoarding is highlighted in Luke 12:13-21:
“The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘what shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘this is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘you fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself? This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
In light of many kids that will be trafficked, abandoned, etc. do we really need all of this excess? He has been generous to us SO THAT we can be generous to others. This means we must learn how God defines generosity! It can be very subjective, but it’s important. The story of the rich fool speaks of a man who stored up for himself and wasn’t rich, or generous, to God.
“Looking at our times, says writer close to the 16th century, I marvel at the sparseness of the ancients & think that it would be well with us, if any above the poor were content with what were, of old, delicacies to kings & nobles.”
This write up is a part of the Rise Up Movement Study. You can view a powerful talk in the Spoil of the poor here. To dive deeper fill in the questions below.
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Answer the following:
1) When 1/we get our paycheck, I/we feel it is “ours.”
2) When I/we get a paycheck, I/we first ask God what portion is for His kingdom, before spending any of it.
3) When I discover I am going to receive extra money (a bonus, tax return, overtime) I am aware this may be a provision for someone other than me.
4) When I receive extra income, my thoughts immediately go to needs around the world as much as my own needs, and I prayerfully weigh the way I spend apportion it.
5) I find myself praying for ministries, missionaries, and churches around the world daily.
6) I constantly pray for the needs of missionaries, ministries, and churches to be met, and pray for God to make a way for me to meet needs as they arise.
7) I consider it a joy and privilege to be asked to support ministry causes around the world and am not annoyed or burdened.
8) I feel personally responsible for my role in making sure ministries, missionaries, and churches around the world are well funded and check in regularly to see what currents needs they have.
9) I pray and intercede for Missionaries, pastors, and ministry leaders who are fulfilling the great commission and are on the frontlines.
10) I reach out and ask missionaries, ministries, and pastors what personal needs they have and help them meet those needs when I am able.
11) I feel it’s important to strengthen and encourage missionaries, pastors, and ministry leaders and look for ways to refresh and encourage them.
REFERENCES:
1. Vimeo, Video from The Christian Alliance for Orphans, http://vimeo.com/channels/593323/13831236.
2. Global Issues, “Poverty Facts and Stats,” www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats.
3. https://intellectualtakeout.org/2016/02/15-stats-that-show-americans-are-drowning-in-stuff/
4. (Barrett and Johnson 2001, 656)
5.https://www.becomingminimalist.com/clutter-stats/
6. https://healthresearchfunding.org/21-tithing-statistics/
7. Church Leaders, “Generous Church: Top Ten Characteristics,” by Brian Dodd, http://www.churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-how-to/151049-brian-dodd-generous-church-ten-top-characteristics.html)