A GOD-LIVED LIFE: Tithe. Really.

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

          We are wrapping up a series of sermons with a Stewardship emphasis. Stewardship, ultimately, is about our entire life. We use what God gives us to his glory and for the good of our neighbor. For one more month, we will consider the way we use the gifts God gives us as is God-pleasing.

         This email is to further encourage what we pondered on Sunday, January 9. (That service can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fjo1iuJ-pSw&t=1s)  In this way, each one can give more consideration about how he or she may put into practice what was proclaimed as a God-pleasing way to serve him.
          For the month of January, we continue to consider what it means to have A Life Shrewdly Lived.

A LIFE SHREWDLY LIVED

Week #2        Tithe.  Really.

            For Old Testament Israelites, it was really simple.  Ten percent of their income was given to the Lord.  It was the first ten percent.  Not ten percent after all the bills were paid.  Not ten percent if it was a good month.  It was the first fruits.  Ten percent was given to the Lord.  This was a confession as much as it was a command.  The command was the tithe.  The confession was that the Lord would supply for their needs after they honored him first.

            For New Testament Christians, there are no commandments.  The closest we get to a commandment is this: “This is what I mean: The one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. The one who sows generously will also reap generously.  Each one should give as he has determined in his heart, not reluctantly or under pressure, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).  And this: “Now concerning the collection for the saints, do as I directed the churches in Galatia to do.  On the first day of every week, each of you is to set something aside in keeping with whatever he gains, saving it up at home, so that when I come, no collections will need to be carried out” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).

            Though a tithe is not commanded, the principle is the same for God’s people in Old and New Testament—honor the Lord with the wealth he has given you.  Set God first, and the rest will be given to you as God is pleased to give it.  He will supply your need.

            While the Old Testament command to tithe is no longer a ceremonial law which we are bound to keep, it is still a good practice to strive for, and for the same reasons as God gave it in the Old Testament.  It is a confession.  We honor God with our first fruits, not with leftovers.  There is not much honor in giving God what we wouldn’t miss anyway.  We usually throw into the trash what we don’t want or need; that is a poor confession.  Really, an insulting one.  If offerings are an act of worship, then let our offerings be a confession.  A tithe is a good confession in that way.  We honor the Lord first, and then we trust that God will supply what we need to live.

            Granted, that may mean we sacrifice some things and pass on some luxuries.  My guess is that we would not need to sacrifice every luxury or frill even if we tithe, just some.  We would become more particular about what we really want to do with the wealth God gives us, and we would probably appreciate those things more. 

            It should be noted: God does not want you to give because he needs your money.  Nor does God need your good works.  We don’t do these things because God needs them.  We do them because we are God’s people who seek to honor the Lord above all.  We do it because we want our actions to match our confession.  The Lord has been good and gracious.  The Lord is trustworthy in caring for his people.  Our offerings acknowledge both.