The Men’s Discipleship Group at my church went through R. Kent Hughes book, Disciplines of a Godly Man this past year. It was a good study. One discipline Hughes focused on was giving. He calls for a disciplined understanding of giving and a disciplined act of giving.

Disciplined Understanding of Giving

• Giving is not a meritorious work.
• Giving does bring blessing.
• Giving which pleases God is generous and sacrificial.
• Giving should never be decided casually or flippantly, but through serious prayer.

Disciplined Act of Giving

• The act of giving should be accompanied by offering oneself to the Lord.
• Everyone should at least consider the first 10 percent as a starting point in giving – a minimum.
• Your giving ought to be regular.
• You must begin giving now.
• Giving should not only be regular, but responsive to need, spontaneous.
• Your giving should be joyous.