Everyone who has had any contact with churches and church world at all knows about giving. We sometimes make jokes about it and sometimes we get cynical about it. Sometimes folks just get so ticked off about it that they refuse to do it.
So, why do we give money to the church anyway? Simple answer - because of what God wants to do IN us and THROUGH us when we give.
It's not about giving because we are obligated to. We shouldn't give because of some guilt trip. We really don't even give because there's some ministry need. We give because we expect God to use our resources to help produce LIFE CHANGE! We give because we have a vision for what God is going to do.
From a Biblical perspective there are two expressions of this kind of giving - the TITHE and the OFFERING - and the Bible encourages BOTH in the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Let's start with the tithe. Contrary to what some may think, tithing is not something that was dreamed up by TV preachers to get more money to pay for their McMansions. TITHE is a Hebrew word that simply means "a tenth." And one of the most famous commands and promises about giving in the Bible revolves around tithing...
Malachi 3:10 "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my
house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not
throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that
you will not have room enough for it."
God says very clearly WHAT his expectations are (bring the whole tithe into the storehouse...the church), and WHY he wants us to do this (so there will be food in my house). God's intention is that the tithe be used to provide ministry in his "house."
But tithing is also referred to as the standard for giving in the New Testament! More on that tomorrow...
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