Question
Dear Gramps
I saw your articles on fast offerings on your website and agree with everything but have one additional question. I have heard from a couple of people that they have been told in yea’s past that our generosity in fast offerings should increase as we get to the point in our lives that our kids are grown and hopefully we have homes paid off, etc They have been told that eventually the goal would be for our fast offering to equal the amount of our tithing donations. I can understand the wisdom of this goal but just had never read it anywhere and wondered if you had heard of it or if this counsel is in print somewhere? Sure would appreciate your advice.
Anonymous
Answer
Anonymous,
We have always be instructed to abstain from eating two meals each Fast Sunday and donating what we would have paid for these two meals. President Kimball admonished us to give a generous amount
“Sometimes we have been a bit penurious [unwilling to share] and figured that we had for breakfast one egg and that cost so many cents and then we give that to the Lord. I think that when we are affluent, as many of us are, that we ought to be very, very generous … and give, instead of the amount we saved by our two meals of fasting, perhaps much, much more—ten times more where we are in a position to do it” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1974, 184).
We have been admonished us to give a generous amount in fast offering, but I have never seen nor heard where they have indicated a set amount or percentage to be paid. I am quite certain they have never indicated that it should equal the amount we pay in tithing. An amount equal to tithing might be a generous amount to some, unattainable by others, and less than generous to others.
When we pay our offerings we need to keep in mind the story of the widow’s mite found in Mark 12:41-44
41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
Gramps
