It’s not only God who loves a cheerful giver. What parent’s weary heart isn’t warmed when the kids
lovingly share toys, treats, and the favored spot on the couch with each other? It’s wonderful; even if
we only see it a little more regularly than we see Haley’s Comet.
More often than not, parents are in the business of trying to compel their children to share what they have with those around them. Frustrated moms and dads, not wanting to confiscate goods and force the distribution of wealth, are often reduced to shaming their kids, appealing to their sense of pride, threatening future deprivation, using tortured philosophical ramblings, and even resorting to bribery. It’s pathetic. We do all these things because we know that the instant we actually command half the Kit-Kat be given to the baby brother, that no one will be blessed. Instead of producing charity and gratitude in hearts and minds, the owner will resent the beneficiary, the beneficiary will feel entitled, and the parental government will become resigned to having to just seize all house assets.
Sharing is just as important an exercise for adults as it is for children. God, our heavenly Father, wants all his children to freely and happily give of their resources to others in need. Now, the world has made of money a false god and there’s no better testimony to this fiduciary faith than the hushed reverence we observe whenever we enter the hallowed halls of our local bank. Have you ever noticed how quiet America gets upon entering the town temple? But, no one can serve both God and mammon and so we give rebelliously and in trust of God. Every Sunday in our worship service we keep a time to worship through the collection of an offering to God. Ushers pass the plates and wallets and purses are opened as people make contributions to the church treasury. Are these offerings cheerful gifts, commanded tithes, institutional shakedowns, payments for services rendered, or something else all together? Most Christians are taught that God’s desire for His people is that they give a tenth of all their revenue back to Him in the form of a tithe. Is this a biblical command, a biblical recommendation, or even biblical at all? The Gospel Coalition recently published a point-counterpoint piece on this topic in the form of two brief essays on the question. Both authors make the case that giving is a necessary and important part of life for every believer, but they see the idea of a biblically mandated tithe very differently. You’ll find a link to these two articles below. Please read them and come prepared to talk about the very important question of the Christian and his or her responsibility to give. Should be both fun and freeing! We meet upstairs in the Family Life Center at 8:30 Sunday morning. Coffee and a baked good will greet you at the door!
