 |
2006-06-07 - Summer Questions
2006 #2 - Tithing Concern
Matthew 6:3, 4 "But when you give alms, do not let your
left hand know what your right hand is doing that your alms may be in secret;
and your Father who sees in secret will repay you."
"MY OLDEST SON NEEDED SOME HELP TO PUT FOOD ON HIS TABLE AND I DIDN'T HAVE
ANY EXTRA TO HELP HIM OUT SO I USED MY TITHE FOR THIS MONTH TO HELP HIM WAS
THIS A SIN? I PRAYED ABOUT IT AND THAT WAS THE ONLY THING I HEARD WAS TO
HELP HIM AND IN SO DOING THIS WOULD BRING HIM CLOSER TO BECOMING A BELIEVER."
I would like to begin by touching on your question and then move onto some
more general principles regarding tithing. As to your question, whether it
was a sin to use your tithe to help out your son, I don't think that it was.
I am not a judge, but just giving you my personal opinion. I will be the
first to say that we have a duty and responsibility to support the local
church, and I am grieved when I hear of so many sending money into some of
the clowns that pop up on TV, but we also have a responsibility to our family
and relations that are close to us. I think you probably did what was needed,
and I commend you for your desire that seeking to meet his needs, in the
name of Christ, will bring him closer to a relationship with the Lord.
The principle of a tithe of ten percent goes back before Moses. We see in
Genesis 14:20 that Abram, before the name change to Abraham, gave a tenth
of all to Melchizedek. This is taken up again in Hebrews 7:1, 2. We also
see the principle of a tithe of 10% in Numbers 18:21, where Moses instructs
that the Levites should be given 10%. Throughout history, this principle
of the 10% has been the common practice in the church for those who follow
Christ. However, there currently is a strong opposition among many to giving
the 10%. There really is actually not that much spoken about giving 10% in
the New Testament. Paul does, however, speak clearly about giving, to the
church at Corinth, and it almost seems that the practice of giving was more
assumed than a set requirement of a set amount.
I would like to take this in a slightly different direction and delve into
our attitude regarding giving to the work of the Lord. It is interesting
that in Exodus we find that giving to the work of the Lord, in building the
temple, was for "every man whose heart moved him" (Exodus
25:2). Throughout this long section of Scripture, we see phrases
concerning giving such as "Whoever is of a willing heart"
(35:5), "everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone
whose spirit moved him" (35:21), "everyone whose
heart stirred him" (36:2), and so on. Some gave more than others,
but the giving to the Lord's work was such that the leaders had to tell the
people to stop giving. They had enough. Wouldn't that be amazing to see today?
Don't hold your breath.
Whether you take the 10% principle, which I think is a good one, whether
you tithe before or after taxes are factored in, and tithe on your net or
gross pay, that really is a matter between you and the Lord. We do need to
support our local churches. Some are really struggling, and it might mean
a little sacrifice on our part, but who of us does not need a little tightening
of the belt? We are a self-indulgent society, and Christians are guilty of
trying to "keep up" with the worldliness rampant around us, when in truth
we are not supposed to be living for this world. Rather, our reward is in
Heaven. If you happen to die with nicer stuff, and more toys than your neighbor,
you have not won, but surely the church has lost.
I would encourage you to give liberally to the work of the Lord. Give of
your finances, yes, but also give of your time, gifts, and the various
capabilities that the Lord has endowed you with. The phrase,
"God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7),
applies to all of life. God knows our hearts, and thus let our giving be
as it was in 1 Chronicles 29:9, with our "whole
heart." It should not be a burden to give to the Lord, a tax for being
a Christian, but rather we should joyfully support the Lord's work in our
lives through our local church.
Soli Deo Gloria,
T-
godrulestb@aol.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org |
 |