With apologies to Shakespeare I put forth the following: to tithe or not to tithe, that’s the question. For many people today the applicable question might read, to make the mortgage payment… or, to purchase groceries… Today’s recession-riddled world is facing challenges of unprecedented proportion and Christians are not exempt. Christians are, however, faced with an issue that non-believers do not deal with: contributing to a church during a season of job losses and lowered income.
What are we as God’s people supposed to do about stewardship in such a mammoth economic downturn? Is the answer to this question found in scripture? In the book of Numbers perhaps? Scripture does not contain a Q & A section that gives handy answers. As great as it would be for God to have a website with a F. A. Q. page, there isn’t one so we are left with reading and praying in order to discern God’s instructions for our stewardship practices. Both Jesus and Paul spoke at length about money and the need to give ownership of all material possessions to God. Reread that sentence slowly and make sure the intent comes across. We aren’t to give all of our money and stuff to God, we are to give God the mental, emotional and spiritual control of our material possessions.
Following that line of theological thinking would lead us to continue to tithe and contribute during a recession if we still have a job. Since Billy Preston first told us that “nothing from nothing leaves nothing,” it’s made sense one cannot tithe from zero income. So pray about your current state and make the decision to continue to faith God through this awful recession. It’s likely we have all lost income and economic stability and as a result our gifts will be smaller. The key is that we continue to give as God leads us to give and we not give into a spirit of fear. Ministry, missions and evangelism must move forward. There are actually more opportunities to reach people than ever before, which is one positive stemming from the recession.
Every church and missions agency I surveyed is behind in both giving and ministry output for the year. It’s even possible that some of these entities will cease to exist if support doesn’t improve. One doesn’t need a F. A. Q. page on God’s website to know that’s a bad thing!
MM
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Stewardship is based on how much one gives to a religious business?
ReplyDeleteI thought stewardship had to do with the careful and responsible management of the true Church of Jesus Christ, a matter entrusted on the true members of the rock of salvation.
Giving money to religious businesses has nothing to do with stewardship. Jesus used money management as an example, a means to explain the entrustment of His followers with his duties and guided by the Holy Spirit.
I take delight in knowing that providing for the poor, giving to those in need, has far greater merit than giving to a religious business. In doing so, there is a greater reward waiting in the life to come. That's only a part of His definition of stewardship.
True followers are entrusted to teach the Gospel.
Why is the tithe taught in religious organizations as the traditions of men and not as the way the Bible tells us?
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