Stewardship

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This is a subject that not easily broached without offending someone. I know in my own case, I listen and I am astounded how much churches beg, plead, and borrow to make the church go financially. The hair on the back of my neck stands up when I see a church relying on man to provide what only God can provide. What is misunderstood is the fact that the Bride of Christ or the Church should never have to beg or borrow for the income to keep going. It is the duty of every Christian to make the Church the first priority in their financial lives. The problem lies in the fact that we fail to give God our first fruits. Elders, who are human and often struggle with the financial woes of the Church, run the churches. They add a dimension of human reality to decisions, which sometimes interferes with God’s purpose for his people. The way we should see finances is that God provides through the heart of the believer. God’s people should be embarrassed if a church runs into financial difficulty. It is the responsibility of every believer to search their heart and to make God’s foundation the priority of Christian life. But somehow, the priority has become life style.

Tithing is not an easy thing to do for anyone. In fact it is the toughest part of Christian discipline. It is easy to say we give everything to Christ, but money always seems to be the dividing line. Baptism demonstrates a new birth, but tithing demonstrates the discipline of the basic belief system. It demonstrates that not even money or time is more important than God the Father. When we give our life to Christ, we surrender all to Him. There is no dividing line. It isn’t open for negotiation. Christ said that it is all or nothing. People have the wrong impression about what to surrender. The Bible is quite clear; it is everything - including your future financial situation.

Matthew 6:1 talks about three parts to acts of righteousness; giving, praying, and fasting. But Matthew 6:2 goes on to explain that these are very private issues between you and God. If done to demonstrate faith in God for the pleasure of man, they are worthless for the sake of worship. In fact, it only demonstrates hypocrisy. With that being said, how can we justify the fact that we pick and choose what we give to our God? God knows our hearts. If we can tithe more time, money, and effort to God’s will, then we cannot hide the fact that we are trying to make our lives on earth more bearable or comfortable. The scripture is clear when it says that we are here but for a short time. Worries about retirement are ridiculous. God will provide and will lead you to security on earth as He does in Heaven.

Interestingly enough, Chief Priests in Luke 20:20-25 tried to trap Jesus. Often enough we think of this as in paying taxes since the question was about such activity. Jesus answered in Luke 20:25, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and God what is God’s.” But if you examine that statement carefully, you will see that he was talking about your time and money. Jesus approved of paying taxes, but this is more than just about paying taxes. It is about what you own in this world. We pay from 0-37% in taxes to our government for representation and 10% or less to our churches, which teach us how to live spiritually. Doesn’t this seem backwards?

Take a US dollar for example. On that dollar you will have the maker and the owner. The maker of the dollar is the United States of America. The owner is “In GOD we trust”. If you’re a chemist who works for a pharmaceutical company and you invent a new drug that cures cancer. You will be credited with the invention, but not the ownership. The same holds true with the US dollar. Simply said, “That dollar doesn’t belong to you.” You possess it and are charged with its stewardship, but it still isn’t yours. Uncle Sam can take it away from you anytime he wants. God can take it from you anytime He wants. What really belongs to you? The scriptures tell us that nothing belongs to us and that we should not store up anything!!!!!

In the Old Testament, through the Psalms of King David, God reveals what we have in this world. Psalm 24:1. It states, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.” Then again in Psalm 89:11, “The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it.” These verses make it clear of what we own on this earth, absolutely nothing! God gives us all we have and all we will ever need while we are here. Yet we still ponder how we will survive tomorrow.

There are only three real reasons for not tithing or not tithing enough in our churches and to our brothers in Christ. 1} Lack of Spiritual Maturity. 2} Lack of Faith in God the Father to provide. 3} Insecurity about your family (the body) assisting you through tough times. If you’re honest with yourself, you will fall into one of these categories if you do not tithe regularly. Everything else is just excuses.

Spiritual Maturity is growing to understand that God owns it all and you give absolutely everything to God above. That includes your life, your money, your spouse, your children, your home, your job, and anything else you can think or imagine. Its God’s to use for his purposes, nothing else. We tend to be selfish and unwilling to let go of what we have worked so hard to earn. We can’t let go because we are trying to store up for retirement. But in reality we wouldn’t have it, if it weren’t for our Father in Heaven. You can’t say you give all to God if your not going to give it all. Don’t kid yourself, God knows every detail. You can fool man, but you can’t hide your heart from God.

Faith. Jesus said in Matthew 17:20, “I tell you the truth, if you have the faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” If nothing were impossible with faith, then why wouldn’t you tithe or give when called on to give? Do you not have faith that God will provide for you? Sometimes we just don’t have enough faith in God. God provided manna from the heavens. Think about that, if you claim to have great faith in God, how can you deny the fact that if you need it, He will provide food from the Heavens!!!! Ask any scientist if they think that’s possible without God.

Insecurity. This goes along with faith except with people. As the body of the Bride of Christ, we are responsible to ensure our brothers and sisters in Christ are given all they need to be supported in this world. We often overlook how much help we can really be to others in the body. Remember, it is not possible for you to say to one part of the body, “I don’t need you.” So you have to be willing to support a limb. That is your calling. Because of our programmed self-sustainability, we lead people to believe that we would not help them if times of trouble came along. We are often concerned with what would happen to ourselves. Remember, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. Would you not help your blood brother or sister if they were in need? You have, what you have, so God can use it to help his people. No doubt about it! God gave everything you have to you. If it is not being used for God’s purposes, then you steal the real intention of why you have it in the first place. That is a sin.

Seek now what God calls you to give. Rely on God to replace your giving and believe it. When we fast we give away food. Your body feels the effects of what we are giving up. Then when the fast is over, we feed ourselves and our bodies return to normal or better. Same thing works with tithing. We should be giving until our pocketbooks feel our offering. Then have faith in your Heavenly Father to provide. (Not just have faith, but also believe). Then the next payday rolls around and our finances return to normal or better. In both cases, we reap a spiritual reward, which is far more than the physical reward.

Tithing is a tough issue. It takes considerable Christian Discipline and Faith. You must search your heart every time you tithe. Find out what the Holy Spirit leads you to tithe. Then do it without delay. That is the tithe the God wants from you. The first fruit of your labors. The honest, full effort of your worship. If you give because you always tithe this much, you might just as well hang onto the money because it isn’t what God wants from you. He wants you to listen. He wants your full worship. He wants you to give because you feel led to give cheerfully and faithfully. He wants a real commitment and a real sacrifice.

Tithing is not only a necessity for the Bride of Christ. It is an opportunity to demonstrate real worship, real discipline, real love, and real sacrifice to the God of all Gods. To a savior that has given His all for you. I hope that you will search your heart for what God would have you tithe, whether it’s time, money, materials, expertise, or anything else you can contribute for God’s Glory. Your rewards on earth are pale in comparison to God’s Grace in Heaven.

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