Stewardship of Money: The Practice of Giving Various Scripture Texts Pastor Mark Quist Introduction:  (Can share stories of generosity) ·        Knowledge of God understood through generosity of others.  Powerful. Begin with God: “Knowledge of God brings about knowledge of self.” John Calvin (Beginning of the Institutes of Christian Religion)   What do we know about God?   God is a generous giver…  (Look at Jesus) Gives lovingly (John 3:16 ) Gives freely (Mt. 10:8, “Freely you have received, freely give.”) Gives constantly.  (Lord’s Prayer, “Give us this day our daily bread.”) Gives compassionately (Jesus example to the poor, diseased, and needy) Gives sacrificially (Look to Jesus – came to serve and to give his life.) Gives graciously (Gave his Son – why not give us all we need? Ro. 8:32) Gives willingly (God chooses to give!  God loves willing givers… those who are generous as he is…) As a follower of Christ, two things are very true: 1.      Generous living is not an option.  Stewardship of God’s generosity and his good gifts to us – salvation and money/possessions, gifts and abilities, etc… is a required response.  We are to give as God gives – generously.  Scripture seems very clear about this. (The ‘Command’ side of generosity – Obedience) 2.      But there is more – a second thing – that is very true.  When God works in the human heart – it’s impossible not to be generous.  It becomes a desire to share God’s good gifts with another.  (The ‘Can’t help myself’ side of generosity – Gratitude!) I like that balance – because in my life I need discipline to learn God’s ways and a desire to follow God’s ways – a Spirit led grateful heart.  Today, we really want to focus in – turn the lens on the issue of money…             What is it about money that sets us on fire?!  Richard Foster has a powerful and instructive book out on this topic – it’s called, Money, Sex, and Power – The challenge of a disciplined life. There are a plethora of books out their – good ones, by John Maxwell, John Piper, Dave Sutherland, Kirk Nowery… None more influential to me than Richard Foster’s book. Dark Side of Money – sense of false security, not needing God, always greed, envy, jealousy: Remedy – get rid of our comparing ourselves to others and denying our wealth.  Own a car and a home?  95% bracket of wealthy in the world. Light Side of Money: Used for love, used for generosity, used for kingdom purposes, used to celebrate God’s goodness, enhancing relationships between God and our neighbors, many more good things about money… When it comes to money…. Stewardship of Influence – read all the big wig and successful church material… and it focuses on the issue of influence…  Most of these writings have to do with prosperity… and my question is when it comes to money or wealth, “What influence?  And who or what is exerting the influence?”  When it comes to money – I know all too well the answer to those questions…  The Tithe: Why Tithe? “Why would anyone want to single out 10% of their income as an appropriate level of Christian giving?” Lot ’s of different Christian answers and rationale to this…             Some say it’s not a NT teaching.             Some say it’s the same for OT and NT.             Some say it’s a voluntary matter. Some say it’s a matter of ‘growth giving’ – of increasing giving to the Lord over time. NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE SAYS, the level of giving is far below the tithe in our country.  That’s the bottom line… J Where should we stand to avoid legalism and cold practice – and to avoid our culture’s rampant individualism – go with the flow, give when the Spirit moves ya? YOU WILL RECEIVE EVERY ANSWER TODAY  - HE HE…. Practicality 1st! ·        Tithing teaches us God’s ways… the discipline of tithing teaches dependence and thanksgiving.  ·        Tithing as a ‘habit’ teaches us the ways of God.  To hold loosely and receive freely. ·        Our kids get an allowance – and as our parents taught us, a portion of that money goes to the tithe for the church.  A habit forming in the heart and practiced teaches them about the giver of all good things. Let God say this - A Biblical Excursion The Old Testament tithe was not universally practiced or mentioned in the law portions of the Bible. And the New Testament doesn’t command it.  NT tithing is mentioned only in Hebrews 7 (Abraham’s tithe in Genesis 14 is discussed) and in gospel passages where the practitioners are criticized!  On the other hand the NT doesn’t renounce the tithe.  Jesus, when criticizing the practice of tithing simply emphasizes that we ought not to practice tithing to the neglect of ‘weightier matters.’  There is freedom in our response to Christ. Look at Zaccheus – his response to the gospel was one of 50%… and the example of the poor widow was 100%.  Ponder that when we respond with our 1%, 5%, or 10% tithe. ·        Internally, I chuckle when people debate 10% of gross or 10% of net, or 10% after debt payment, etc…  Is that even a profitable debate?  In light of the poor widow, the rich young ruler, or Zaccheus?  It’s the wrong Answer to the Wrong Question! ·        How about this: It’s not: “What is required?”  It’s: “Where and How can I offer myself as a servant of Jesus, freed by the cross?” Some other purposes of the tithe: (Why Tithe?  By Mark P. Gravrock) ·        The tithe Recognizes and celebrates that this is God’s earth.  “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.” Ps. 24:1.  We were created to be stewards of all that God created.    The tithe reminds and teaches us that all of what we have is God’s.  Dt. 14 gives a purpose for the tithe: a joyous household meal – for a banquet to celebrate God’s goodness.  A tithe doesn’t rise or fall based on prosperity – it flexes with the giving of the land, the raises of your job, the blessing of the year’s work…  It’s a beautiful concept – from the mind of God who knows us. Q: What level of giving will remind me whose earth this is and where my money comes from? ·        The tithe Helps to meet the needs of the poor and hungry.  In Dt. 14 the tithe also is used every third year for those in need – those who fell through the cracks of Israel ’s clan structure.  (Foreigners, widows, orphans, unemployed, the ‘landless’, and the Levites (priests).)  Jesus associates his work with the same crowd… Good to remember and remember the purpose of the tithe. Q:  What are the need of this hungry world, and how can I serve to meet those needs? ·        The tithe Supports the ministry of God’s people.  Early on God set aside one of the twelve tribes for special service – the tribe of Levi.  They didn’t have land or a vocation in the market place.  They were in charge of the worship life of God’s people.  The Levites were supported by the tithe of the other tribes.  Their work was seen as a vital organ in the body of God’s people.    Jesus affirms this principle when he sends out the 12 disciples.  The work of the gospel calls for stewardship of monies and resources.  Q: What are the needs of my church – the ‘Levites’ among us, and the needs of the church around the world? ·        The tithe Can help counteract a “more” mentality!  Didn’t you know, we need to consume more and more?  You are not listening very well to the voices of our culture – if you did not know that!  It is difficult for us to admit or say, “I have enough.”  Listen to Proverbs 30:8-9: “Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ or lest I be poor, and steal, and profane the name of God.” Or Jesus words and warning in Luke 12:15 ,          “Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; For one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” A firstfruits or tithe off the top can curb our appetites and protest against the culture of consumerism.  My friends – this is not communism, socialism, or pure enabling of the less fortunate – this is a way of the Lord. Q: How am I dealing with the “more” mentality of the culture?  What does my ‘debit’ and ‘credit’ card say?  (What a “misnomer…” – credit card?)  So where does it leave us?  What does God require of you in the tithe? (The answer varies!) ·        For some, fixed income and hardship may require less than the tithe to be sacrificial.  But not necessarily… ·        For others, debt and lack of stewardship in this area have crippled you.  God is calling you to be a better steward and live within your means so you too can be generous. ·        And for others yet, 10% is far to small a gift for the Lord and his Kingdom. Jesus makes all of these challenges - to all of us.  Final Thought: (and I like this one!) The tithe can begin to celebrate the total self-giving of our Lord Jesus.  In all of Scripture – God conveys and communicates his all-consuming love for his broken people.  In Jesus, that love is lived out to the fullest.  “We are not our own, we were bought with a price.”  “For we know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for our sake he became poor, so that by his poverty we might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8, and 1 Corinthians 6)  Tithing can be a way to celebrate this 100% love of God in Jesus Christ.  Q: What level of giving can help me reflect the amazing gift of Jesus? Final Truth about God and his Word: Giving follows commitment. Giving is encouraged to be regular – and proportional to one’s income. Giving embodies the sharing and mutuality of a Kingdom of God : - focused life.  Giving is about freedom! I cannot say how many of you have mentioned hurt in manipulation of your giving in past church experiences.  I believe God is honored in this Biblical message.  And I trust the Holy Spirit who is at work in your lives when it comes to giving.     Look at the early church and the life of the Apostles: What did they give to God in return for Jesus?  I don’t think they fretted over a percentage of their income – they gave their lives. Story of Father to the Son, “Poor vs Rich?” (See handout) Money is a gift – how are we going to handle it?  Stewardship!