kef1000blog

Have You Checked Your Giving Lately?

It's amazing how hard we try to reduce aspects of Christian living to simple formulas which may be taught and followed with clear conscience and complete faith that: such actions will yield the desired result: a right standing before God. We place a high value on certainty —— we want clear behavioral standards. An example of this tendency is found in the teaching of tithing as a New Testament norm. But the notion that all Christians are where God wants the-a to be as long as they are giving 10% of their income to the church is wrong,

It should be noted that the New Testament has no

injunction to tithe. One should also be aware that: the faithful Jews of the Old Testament were actually required to give well over 10% when the cost of sacrifices and special donations for the poor are included in their obligations. The teachings of the New Testament may, therefore, be considered quite apart from any 10% rule.

When one accepts Jesus as Lord and -Savior one recognizes that "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it..," and that "...all things were created by him and for him."(Psalm 24:1; Colossians I;16) God's ownership leaves all people in the role of His stewards or caretakers. The Christian freely admits this condition of existence while the unbeliever clings desperately to the fantasy that he alone creates and owns what he calls his.

Jesus made it abundantly clear in the parables of the talents and of the sheep and the goats that is His people we will have to give an account of our stewardship of the things He has given us,(Matthew 25:14-46). He taught that we are to seek the kingdom of heaven when He likened to a treasure in a Field or a pearl of great value: something for which we must eagerly give up all that we previously claimed to own. (Matthew 13; 44-46) Jesus cautioned that some will ha trouble doing this; "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven..." (Matthew 19:23) But we are given no choice in the matter. We are told that "No one can serve two master ...You cannot serve both God and Money."(Matthew 6:24)

We should make no attempt to "... store up for yourselves treasures on earth…" but instead "...store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."(Matthew 6:19-21) It is important to note that our heart follows our treasure. Where we place our treasure, what we do with our money, is an act of our will —- we choose how we will spend our income. Jesus is telling us that if we want to belong to Him, we must choose correctly; and to reinforce the point He cites two examples of what not to do. In the parable of the rich fool we see man whose income has increased. He desires to "Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." So, he decides to hoard his excess. (In America we refer to this as increasing our savings and investments,) "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:13-2.1) Again, we see in the story of the rich man and Lazarus the doom that awaits those

who have the means to relieve the suffering of others but selfishly choose not to do so.(Luke 16:19-31)

We mast remind ourselves chat "...as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, . . " and that "Anyone… who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."(Galatians 6:10; James 4:17) John adds; "We should love one another. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?"(l John 3:11,17) Jesus asked, "...if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?" And He states that a good standing in one's local church isn't enough; "You...justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts," (Luke 16:11,15)

Paul instructs that "On the first day of every week, each one... should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income…"(1 Corinthians 16;2) One offerings should be planned and given on a regular basis. They should accurately reflect our income. Paul did not require not certain percentage, For some Christians 10% is beyond their means, ?or others, to give only 10% would be an insult to a generous God who has blessed (entrusted) them with more than their reasonable needs require. Concerning the members of Christ's body, the church, we read: "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us,,-if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously-,-"(Romans 12:6,8)

Each of us must regularly and conscientiously review our giving in light of Scripture. We are not to take refuge in some man-made, arbitrary percentage. We are not to give only when we are in the

mood. We are not to give based on some special need of the church. We will be held accountable as stewards of God —- it is on that basis that we should give.