Stewardship Series #7

 7 )  Tithing. 

   Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops." Proverbs 3:9

I know that some may consider tithing to be too "Old Testament" for today's world. They say that the lack of references by Jesus to the practice is proof. He did speak often about money though, and the evils of wealth.  Wealth in the midst of ANY poverty was considered immoral by John Wesley.

I believe the infrequency of Jesus' reference to tithing speaks volumes about his attitude towards it. Jesus did not stress tithing because he did not want us to limit ourselves to only 10%, and he did not want us to feel that giving 10% of our treasure could buy our way into heaven as the Pharisees practiced. In Matthew 23:23. Jesus scorns the Pharisees saying "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices - mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law - justice, mercy and faithfulness.  You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former." Jesus tells us here as an afterthought that tithing is a given, a starting point in our spiritual journey. We are to give of our treasure, along with giving of ourselves and our spirit. John Wesley did not practice tithing either, he gave much more.  He also did not believe in limiting your gifts to only one tenth of your resources.

Our attitude and reasons for giving are also important.  Are we giving because we feel we have to? To buy our way into heaven as the Pharisees did?  Just in case this does matter?  Or are we giving as an expression of our love and desire to help one another? As a way to give thanks to God for all that He has given us? As a way to separate ourselves from greed and worldly cravings? Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly, or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." Jesus says in Luke 16:09 "I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings."  We are to give

a tenth, or more, of all of ourselves to help others, so that in heaven they can testify to our love.

Christian Stewardship Is: Why we are here.

Other related scripture:  Luke 11:42 and 21:1-5,  1 Corinthians 16:1-2 ,  Mark 12:13-17