The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. –2 Corinthians 9:6
As you know, we do not take up an offering at LifePoint during worship. That is not a common practice for most churches. When I was a boy, our parish church took up the collection the old-fashioned way. Very serious and scary-looking men carried baskets with long handles and walked down the aisles each Sunday for the collection. You simply dropped your offering into the basket when it was waved under your nose. It was very convincing.
There are some positives and at least one negative to the way we give at LifePoint. The positives are that we do not make newcomers feel uncomfortable during an offering time, and we do not place undue emphasis on money. A collection time does not interrupt the service, and we can use that time in different ways. Here is the negative: for too many, it is “out of sight, out of mind.” Yet we must all remember that stewardship is part of our worship. We worship God by giving him thanks for the grace he has extended to us. Consider what happened in Macedonia in Paul’s day. Out of a time of severe suffering and trial, the churches in Macedonia (modern Greece/Albania) begged Paul for the privilege to share God’s grace with other believers who were also suffering financially. They, even in their poverty and trials, were thankful for all that God had provided to them, and they desired to share their meager finances with fellow believers who had even less than they did. It is an act of worship to trust God completely with your finances and to give as a way of saying “thank you.”
I believe that under the new covenant established by Jesus, the old covenant has become obsolete in its entirety (see Heb. 8). Some disagree with me on this point, suggesting that only parts of the covenant have been fulfilled, while others remain in force. Nevertheless, I believe that the Bible’s teaching on tithing/giving now reside not in a command based on law, but a command based on thankfulness and generosity. In other words, I do not believe that Christians are under obligation to give 10% of what they earn to the Lord, nor are we commanded to support a sanctuary or tabernacle, or a priesthood for that matter. Under the new covenant, we are called to give from a heart overflowing with generosity, thoughtfulness, and thanksgiving for all that we have received by God’s grace (see 2 Cor. 9:6-9 as a primary expression of this idea). Nowhere in the New Testament are we called to give 10% of our income. I certainly do not deny that such a percentage is a good starting place for some, and a necessary ending place for others, but for some, 10% would break the family, and for others, 10% is a pittance compared to what they choose to spend on themselves. Every situation is different, and may change over time, therefore, “each one must give as he/she has decided in their heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion…”
I will share in next week’s Jym Shorts article my thoughts on where Christians should focus the bulk of their giving. For this week, suffice to say I believe that to require some Christians to give 10% of their income is an unnecessary burden, and for others it is tantamount to throwing a few coins into a collection plate - there is no sacrifice involved at all based on their income.
This is not a plea to give to the church because we are falling into debt. Our church family is taking care of all of its responsibilities. It is a gentle reminder, however, that God calls us to be good stewards of every gift he gives to us, including our finances. The love of money shipwrecks many a faith, and not just the faith of rich people. It is not only the wealthy who hoard their treasure; it can be a temptation for anyone. Remember Jesus’ words: “Our lives do not consist in the abundance of our possessions” (Luke 12:15).
If your finances are problematic for you, I heartily recommend Randy Alcorn’s book “The Treasure Principle.” It is a classic that can be read in about an hour…short, biblical, and life changing.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Jym