Stewardship
As I was reading through the Old Testament I came across a passage that surprised me. Deuteronomy 15:4 says there will/shall/should not be any poor among you. They were all going in to possess the land. Later in verse 7 it says to help out those who are poor and to not be tight-wads.
It says in the Old Testament in Deuteronomy and in Psalm 23ish that we should all ‘lack nothing’. Even if a widow lacked there was the potential of a kinsman redeemer such as Boaz in the book of Ruth. How kind of God to have such safety nets for his people.
But it doesn’t say leaders are to have a private jets or be at a higher income level then the rest of the congration or have $1,000 toilet seats.
I remember Mike Bickle saying that he chooses to live a modest life and the rest of his income goes to the Kingdom. The same is true for Graham Cooke; he lives on only 10% of what comes in.
Why then are these titled Prophets flashing their icons of wealth - as if to say that this is the way.
Take those quoted Old Testament portions (and not just the twisted tithing portions) of scripture and mix that with the true Christian community. It says in 1 Timothy 5:8 that we are to provide for our family otherwise we are as good as an unbeliever.
A true study in scripture says that tithing is for the first born son. The rest of the family did not get the inheritance. Most churches that ascribe to tithing forget to mention the 7th year and the year of Jubliee when there was no tithing at all.
Friends, we are to be concerned for the welfare of our church community and not just the pastor. Yes, including the pastor but not only the pastor. We are to make sure that others are taken care of as well.
I have been to churches where that is the case, and to some that are out only for themselves in every way.
In the American culture, many churches are big and have no clue about who is struggling. There is even shame in that struggle. I worked at a church where some were struggling financially and outsiders were getting the benevolent funds because they couldn’t admit their need. Sadly, in that mostly wealthy church, many were not aware of those in poverty.
Those who are wealthy likely have the gift of giving. They are the ones who are to be generous as in Romans 6:8. As we mature and receive more gifting – as we are faithful with the gifts we’ve been given, then giving likely will be in that mix.
Still, everyone has the ability to give according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
When my grandpa could not afford to put food on the table for his family during the Great Depression, my single aunts sent clothes and money to help them out. That’s real community.
So, let’s have a balanced view on this subject. Christians shouldn’t lack anything, but those who do have much weath should be helping out those who don’t.
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