Money: The Tithe

The buck grabs us all by the rear. When we don't have any, we pray for some. When we have it, we forget we prayed for it. Lately I've been watching the money thing and what it does to people, and I pray the dollar doesn't get to me. Sure, I could do with more cash (couldn't we all?) but my prayer is that I keep in mind what it is, and what God expects me to do with it.

First, it's like cocaine. It never satisfies although it promises to.

Second, it alienates us.

Third, it puts us on a pedestal and moves us away from God.

Having money is akin to a dog with a bone. He's afraid to walk away from it although he doesn't want it, so he guards it with his life. When he has to go relieve himself it worries him, so he holds it as long as he can. When he finally succumbs to the urge, another dog tries to steal the bone and the fight is on. He knew it would happen and it did. We always thought we were better than the animals, but all you have to do is turn your back on your bone (or cash) for a moment and somebody'll be there to take it from you. The worry never ceases, it's true. The more is at stake, the longer we'll stay up at night being worried or suspecting our best friends of coveting our bone. It just isn't worth it.

Our Master, our King by the way, didn't have so much as a coin on Him. Matthew 22:19 "(Jesus said) 'Show me the coin used for the poll tax.' And they brought Him a denarius." If He had the cash in His pocket, surely He would have dug out a coin and made His point, instead of waiting for 2 or 3 minutes for somebody to ante up one. It is no coincidence that Jesus never carried money. If you have noticed, Jesus always had money EXACTLY when He needed it. We're promised the same thing, too! Jesus was a human with a need for money just like the rest of the world. It just wasn't His point of interest, except when it was needed. Our Master, our Example, took His need to the Father and it was done.

Jesus guarantees us that God loves the little sparrows so much He feeds them, and He actually means to put it to us in our minds like we think of sparrows... worthless little birds. He goes on with if God the Father loves them enough to make sure they don't die of hunger, neither will He let us die. We are not ensured caviar and imported wine. The children of Israel in the desert got tired of manna. I guess it didn't taste like a steak dinner, but nobody died of malnutrition, either.

Personally, I was reared to believe that God is a fat man wearing a red suit going ho-ho-ho. Years later I find out that God isn't real interested in what kind of car I drive or what kind of after dinner wine I serve. It boils down to the book. He only wants 10 percent of what He gives me. Don't think for a minute He needs it. The Creator owns all of this anyway. He wants me to want to give it up willingly and without worry. The rest, He leaves me in charge of to do what I think is right. I find that if I live by the greatest Commandment, I will do what is right. "Love the Lord thy God with all your heart."

From a Go'er - Be'er - and Do'er

(But usually a Walk'er - Try'er - and Pray'er)

Bag Full of Holes

Malachi 3:8-11 "Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this", says the Lord of hosts: "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it may not destroy the fruit of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes."

Verse 16-18 "Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who esteem His name. And they will be Mine, says the Lord of hosts: on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him, so you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.
We hear the complaints of people continuously about how their pastors are constantly asking for money. They say that we need new bigger buildings, improvements, trips for the youth, missions, love offerings, raises for the employees and the pastor and the list goes on. By this time we have heard enough about money and "besides we have our own bills to pay."

Yet we see in the verses above that there is a blessing in the paying of our tithes and a curse when we do not. We have heard that we have only to look at a man' s checkbook to tell you who his god is. One-tenth of what we make belongs to God. Anything we give above that is a love offering.
2 Corinthians 9:7 "Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver." Proverbs 3:9-10 "Honor the Lord from your wealth, and from the first of all your produce; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine."
We forget that it is God who blesses us with the knowledge of how we make our living. Our job itself is a blessing from God. Everything we have comes from Him. Deuteronomy 8:18 "But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

I attended a church where the need arose of a larger building, as we grew in numbers. We were asked to make pledges of how much money we would contribute. We were told that we could borrow on our life insurance policies, our homes, even give up possessions.

We do need a place to meet and we need someone to teach. Corinthians 9:13-14 "Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who serve altar have their share with the altar?" So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.
Personally, I no longer give to church buildings. I have chosen to give to those ministries whom I believe have given their lives to go-ing, be-ing and do-ing all that Jesus asks. These do not ask for money. If it is of God then God will supply it without your asking, whether it be from someone’s tithe or a love offering. My bills on the most part out-weigh my income, yet not one bill has ever gone unpaid. God has not only supplied my needs, but also He has given me an abundance to give to others. When we give to God, He takes care of us. We can trust Him completely.

Matthew 6:31 "Do not be anxious then, saying, What shall we eat, what shall we drink or with what shall we clothe ourselves, but seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."