What’s In Your Spiritual Wallet?
Word-Of-The-Day: ‘Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!.’ (Acts 8:20); You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.’ (Revelation 3:17)
These two verses provided give definition to the better-known 1 Timothy 6:10, ‘The love of money is the root of all evil’. Many see money as a means to elevate oneself to the level of God and the righteousness of those who follow Jesus. In Acts 8, a man named Simon, who was a magician/sorcerer, came to know Jesus and was baptized.
However, he saw Peter and John laying hands on people who accepted Jesus, and in turn these new believers received the Holy Spirit. Simon offered money to Peter and John to gain this power to provide the Holy Spirit to others, which of course Peter in Acts 8:20 set him straight – no amount of money can bribe God to give the Gift of Jesus to others, or for God to give special powers or blessings to someone.
Giving money to a church or a religious leader in anticipation of receiving a blessing results in the opposite; Peter told Simon he could have no part in God’s ministry until he repented and asked for forgiveness (which Simon did). Now one may ask, ‘What of the tithe?’ While God promised blessings to pour out in overflow with tithes are given (Malachi 3:10), one’s heart should be of the proper setting that one does not give a tithe in expectation of being given a blessing, but to freely give out of the love and respect one has for God.
If one gives a tithe for the purpose of a direct monetary blessing (the thought being, ‘the Lord will make me wealthy because I tithe!’), then it is not a valid tithe one gives. When one tithes with the proper purpose (‘May the Lord use this tithe to His glory!’), then one will see blessings, and not all are material.
For example, when we watch people follow Jesus in baptism, those who yearn for Jesus to accept them – that is a blessing to me, as a blessing of the Spirit; I pray that as I can tithe (Lord willing) so more of these blessings occur, as my tithe is used to keep the church’s lights on, and for a baptismal tub is ready for use (among many others needed items for the church to function).
Another ‘love of money’ situation occurs in Revelation 3 with the Laodicean Church; their acquired wealth (due to the ‘love of money’) have the people believe that they no longer need blessings for themselves. They have everything, and likely don’t want to give it up. They don’t need to serve God as their money will do it for them, if the poor need help they write a check and it’s taken care of. (Sometimes the check is written in the expectation that somehow God will ‘repay’ them.)
However, it’s not what’s in the bank account that God looks at; it’s what in the ‘Spirit account’ that God audits. There are obviously times when breaking out the checkbook is needed, a great example is when others request donations so they can go on a missions trip, for example. But again, God doesn’t want your money as He has no need for it; God wants you to follow Him.
When you follow God through His Son Jesus, He wants to give you blessings. Instead of pursuing money, the pursuit of true happiness and the Joy that is found in Faith of Jesus will provide far more satisfaction. Many problems would cease to exist if our leaders throughout society, in all of its pursuits, would chase Jesus as exhaustively as they chase the money.
1. When one tithes does it specifically have to go to one’s church?
2. What do you think of Roman Catholics being able to work at the church if they cannot pay what the church dictates?
Elmer’s Responses:
1. The tithe should generally go to your ‘home’ church, the church you normally attend on a regular basis and have the most fellowship with the other congregants. You can give gifts or offerings to other churches and organizations, but the tithe is intended to allow your home church to perform its inward and outward functions as a place to ‘feed the flock’ and provide local community outreach.
2. There are three things someone can give; time, treasure, and talents. The tithe should never be ‘mandatory’, or be given out of coercion or compulsion. It is something that a person is to provide freely on their own accord, with compassion and love for the cause of Christ. One should not have to ‘give’ a tithe, as forcing someone to give a tithe does not allow the provision of ‘free will’. This includes the forcing of someone to work in lieu of giving money. Sharing your time and talents in lieu of sharing treasures (especially if one doesn’t have ‘treasures’ or money to share) is something that should be done voluntarily.
Pastor Ron’s responses:
There are a couple words that I think if we define them, they bring clarity to the issue of stewardship and tithing. Those words are tithe, steward, gift, and first fruits.
When we look at the word tithe it simply means one-tenth. But the concept of one-tenth in the Bible refers directly to the provisions God entrusts you to use for His glory. Remember, all of our life is to bring glory to God. I find it very difficult to place a one-tenth value on time or talent, but no issue whatsoever when it comes to the provisions God gives me. And a combination of the three to equal one-tenth would become even trickier. I believe if this was the concept of tithing, God would have been more explicit in His directions. One-tenth of the income or provisions God gives is what the Bible clearly teaches. We see this from Abraham meeting Melchizedek which was prior to the giving of the law to Malachi 3:8-12. There are some that would say the passage from Malachi was specific to the nation of Israel, but I have never met an individual who has outgiven God, just as this passage proclaims.
Steward is the next word I think will help us. Steward is not an owner nor the king, but the one who holds the materials of the king in trust to be used to the benefit of the king and his priorities. At the same time, the steward is to use the materials for his own care, too. Far too often we look at the paycheck or the bank balance with self-satisfaction in what we have done. When in reality it is all because of the working of God in His children. We see in the parables of Jesus the wise and obedient stewards as opposed to the foolish and disobedient ones. The king upon his return rewards each accordingly. A wise steward views the material possessions in his care as the king’ and not his own. When this is the case, it is not hard to invest (and tithe) for the benefit of the king (God’s glory).
A gift is something over and above the tithe given out of love and devotion to the Lord. While the tithe comes to the storehouse/church, the gift is given at times to the church and at times to other God glorifying ministries.
First Fruits is a concept that if we grasp it, answers one of your questions. Many today get a raise or receive a monetary gift – and poof it is gone. Far too many spend to the edges of their income. First Fruits is the idea that it is off the top of the harvest (paycheck). Then we move into the other areas of life. Otherwise since so many spend to the edge of their paycheck, there are but dregs left to bring to the Lord.
So to specifically answer your two questions let me ask you a question or two. If your tithe doesn’t come to the church where you worship, will the ministry or group you are tithing to be there for you in times of crisis, visit you in the hospital, bring meals to you when you are unable to get out, etc. The more appropriate way to bless a ministry or group other than your faith family is by gifts.
Do you believe God is able to provide for your needs in such a way that you can give of the first fruits to Him? God is honored and glorified by your faithful tithing, so won’t He give you what you need to do so? Why would God ask for something He knows is beyond your capability? The issue lies more in the bills and obligations we incur that keep us from faithfulness.
I want to clarify one thing Elmer mentioned in his reply. The idea of compulsion. When I love God and want to please Him, it is never compulsion. It is devotion. Does God know? Yes! Is God pleased and reward accordingly? Yes! (look back at the Malachi passage). This idea of compulsion and freeing giving comes from 2 Corinthians 9 where Paul is not addressing tithing, but a love gift to be sent to the church at Jerusalem. Paul was coming through Corinth and would be picking up the gift they had promised to send. He wanted them to have already collected it and have it ready. And listen to verse 8, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” Compulsion in this passage is about a gift, not tithing. It would be instructive to read the entire 9th chapter of 2 Corinthians.
This is the reason when we promote Annie Armstrong and Lottie Moon mission offerings, we talk about faithfulness in our giving. We don’t set a goal like many do, because, from my perspective, the goal is faithfulness without compulsion.
Tithing is not a super saint/Christian discipline. It is a correct understanding of our position (steward) and the source of our provisions (God) and the purpose they are in our trust (God’s glory).