As the pastor in several churches in my career, and a pastor's son in many others, I have spent a lifetime learning the culture of church. My conclusion is that you can have a variety of denominations, but in most cases human nature is human nature. We may believe differently, but in many ways we act the same regardless of what church we worship in.
An example is in our giving. What my experience has been is that we often neglect the simple truths of giving, out and out reject them, or we complicate them with rules and extra Biblical thinking. We neglect to remember that we are stewards of His greater resources. We are managers of His money, His time and His giftedness within us. He asks so little of His own resources, yet we rationalize from a mixed bag of priorities what we think we need to do, spend money on and invest in.
Make no mistake, God will judge us on this. It's that big of a deal.
My quest lately has been to read the gospels and note the heart of Jesus. Today I caught His heart for giving in the following verse that gave me pause:
Mark 12: 41- 44 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.
Is it reasonable to conclude that part of the reason we give is an expression of our trust in God? Let's be honest, there is always one more thing that we can buy and giving to God influences our buying power. This is especially true when we are tithing. Most of us, if we simply lived at the poverty line, would tithe over $2000 dollars in a year. That could mean no big TV, less of a car, or smaller gift giving at Christmas. The question is often stated, "I can't afford to tithe, I need (such and such). Doesn't God want me to be happy?"
God is more interested in your obedience that your perceived happiness. He defines happiness completely different than our Americanized perspective. Happiness is not for the one who dies with the most stuff. In God's view, true happiness is the prize of the one who realizes the bounty of eternal life. Happiness is in knowing that God is for me. God is sufficient to meet my needs.
David wrote,
Psalm 73: 25 - 26
Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever
Jesus spoke of the woman who gave so little but gave everything she had. Perhaps what caught His eye was where the woman placed herself by her act of giving. She would count on God for her needs, wants and desires.
Could she simply have giving in a expression of this thought,
"God I am grateful for the love you have given by providing for me since my husband died. I have seen it time and again that as I place my life in your hands, giving you full authority, that you honor me by taking care of me. I have been fearful, you have given peace. I have had physical needs, you have met them. I put all I have into this offering trusting that what you have done for me will continue. I trust you with my life."
There is a great Chris Tomlin song that speaks to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6MzgVsP2uE
That would have caught Jesus attention - full out devotion to trusting that your Father in heaven takes care of His children.
To wrap up, let me encourage you not to rob God, for you actually steal from yourself the very things you gave your life to Jesus for.
Grace and peace...
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