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For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
(Hosea 6:6)
Now the “but” (not bad news): Each of us
deeply needs to give to God generously of our
money, our other treasures, our time, and our
abilities. The basis behind the Biblical standard
of the tithe is not about God's need for 10
percent of everything that comes to us. The tithe
reflects our need to remember from whom everything
that we have comes, and our need to claim the gift
of living in thanksgiving.
God knows the heart of humanity as no human can.
He created us. He gave us the freedom to chose to
love Him, which also gives us the freedom to chose
not to, or to love Him within limits. God has seen
the actions of humankind throughout its entire
existence. He is in each of us. He knows our every
thought.
God also needs nothing from us beyond our
unfettered love; love that is reflective of how
abundantly and without limit He loves us. Anything
else that God wants or needs, He can create.
God’s church does need money and labor to thrive
in spreading the Gospel. And God can create those
things. He doesn't need us to create them. But,
that's missing the point. He already has created
them. But He blesses us with the treasure, and the
time, and the abilities to use to His glory. He
gives it all to us. We are to first pass along a
tithe of those gifts from God, and then use the
rest well in providing for our needs.
God graces us with all that we need plus enough
to generously support the spread of His Gospel.
And he also blesses us with the opportunity to
demonstrate our faith and our love for Him by
tithing right off the top. We are invited, not
required, to perform a profound act of love by
trusting in God’s provision.
For many of us it is not easy to get to the point
of tithing when what we see is lots of bills and
not much money. That is why the decision matters
so much. God knows it is not easy. It is the hard
decisions that say loudest “I believe, I trust.”
Those are words that speak of unlimited love for
our Lord. There is no doubting evident in the act
of tithing. While we are the givers, we receive
back manifold as our hearts are converted to a
richer relationship with God our creator and Jesus
Christ, our savior. |
