How Much? (Guest Writer: Alan Ghent)
November 14, 2011
Dear Friends,
Money can be an explosive issue but it is essential to remember that all we possess is the Lord’s. Our home, our car, our bank account-aren’t truly ours. They’ve been given to us by God and we simply administer these resources on His behalf. This principle was enshrined in the law of Moses. Three times a year the Israelites were commanded to bring an offering before the Lord. The Almighty said, “No one is to appear before me empty handed”. (Deut. 16:16,17). One such occasion was the giving of the First Fruits in the early spring. The children of Israel were to bring the first and best of their crops to God, recognizing that He was the source of all their blessings and by returning to Him the first fruits they acknowledged that it was God who had provided the abundance from the land. The first fruits weren’t to be stored, hidden or hoarded. They were to be given to God. It was meant to be an object lesson that all was truly God’s and returning to Him the first fruits was representative of the entire harvest. And such was an act of faith for the Israelites didn’t know if the rains would come or a pestilence would destroy their crops. Irrespective, they were to put their confidence in God.
But despite this principle of tithing being ingrained into their lives and worship through the law, the principle of putting God first and acknowledging His provision was soon forgotten. The prophet Malachi speaking on behalf of God, lamented,
Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse-the whole nation of you-because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into my storehouse that there may be food in my house (Malachi 3:8,9).
Again, the tithe was recognized as God’s. They Israelites didn’t give a tithe, they repaid it to God who was in reality the Owner of all things. These payments were no more optional than taxes today. An Israelite was to pay tithes and first fruits out of obedience-frankly whether he wanted to or not. This was a necessary lesson they all had to learn.
But in addition to giving the tithe (10% of their produce), the children of Israel also gave voluntary gifts as a demonstration of their love and thankfulness to God. Sometimes the people were so moved, they got carried away and literally had to be restrained from giving. This was the case when materials were being collected for the construction of the tabernacle (Exodus 36:5-7).
Parting with money wasn’t any easier for the children of Israel than for us. In fact most of them were far poorer and had to work a great deal harder for their money than we do. Yet giving back to God was so ingrained in their lives that it became the ‘natural’ thing to do. For the faithful Israelite it was a way of life.
Now, with the liberty we have in Christ, we are not bound by percentages. But this should not be used as an excuse to justify our own lack of generosity. Rather, than using this liberty to clutch their material wealth tighter, the first century brethren were called upon to me more generous not less.
And giving not only involves money, but also our possessions. We can provide someone a meal, clothes, perhaps a room in our home-any number of our things. We might donate one of our cars, freely loan it to others, or use it to give a ride to an elderly brother or sister. There is a great deal of giving that can take place even while we retain ownership-as long as we remind ourselves that God is the true Owner and we’re only His asset manager.
Have a great week!
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