Not tithing doesn't show a lack of generosity, persay, but a lack of
trust. When we don't tithe because we feel we do not have enough to both
offer to the Lord and take care of our needs, we say, "We don't trust
You to provide for us, Lord. We trust money and our own discernment."
I've been guilty of it with my paychecks, believing that if I gave
10% of it, I wouldn't be able to pay my bills. Even though I have seen
God honor my giving so many times, though there has never been a time -
even when down to my last dollar - where He hasn't provided for my
needs, I put off tithing until I had "more."
First off, it's not quantity but quality. Not the amount I give, but the
heart behind it. Secondly, with that train of thought, I declared not
even money my master, but myself. I hoarded the money in order to
provide for myself, neglecting to even consider how I would not have any
money without God and not surrendering it to Him, knowing He would
provide for me. Tithing to me is not a lawful practice, but a
declaration of allegiance. By giving a portion of what has been given to
me back to the Source, no matter how much I have and before I use it
for any other purpose, I am telling God that He is my Master, the One
who directs my decisions and it is Him who I live by, not money.
It's also a declaration of faith. It says that I trust in Him and
nothing else to provide everything I need - material, spiritual,
emotional: every need!
One of my favorite passages is in Mark 12 where the widow gives all she
has to the Lord - it's meager, but Jesus says it's more meaningful than
what anyone else is tithing. Because she gave all she had! That really
shows where her heart is. Like Matthew 6:21 says - where your
treasure is, your heart will be also.
So I'm breaking up with money. I won't let it have any hold on me. I
will surrender it to God, give as He calls me, direct it into where He
leads me to and essentially letting Him be my accountant. Obviously He
provides us with money as a way to take care of our needs, but we need
to be mindful that it is God who is providing for us, not money. So let
us surrender it all to Him, including our tight hold on our finances.
This all of course isn't to downplay the generosity aspect of tithing, which is an equally important part of it, but to explore what tithing means beyond just compassionate giving.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Sunday, April 21, 2013
What is God Worth to Us?
Numbers 22:18
But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, "Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God to do less or more."
Some context. Balak was the king of Moab. He had seen how the Israelites had defeated the Amorites, and he was scared (rightfully so). So to try to make sure that Moab did not suffer the same fate, he sought out Balaam and asked him to curse the Israelites so Moab had a chance against them.
As the verse above suggests, Balak bribed Balaam heavily to do this. Instead of blindly and immediately going, "Yes! Give me the money, and I'll curse these fools for ya", Balaam's immediate response is to turn to God for guidance in Numbers 22:10, explaining the situation to Him.
And in the next verse, God tells Balaam not to curse the Israelites.
So Balaam straight up tells Balak, "No." And Balak asks again, offering even more to him. Yet as we see in verse 18 above, Balaam refuses, because there is no price that can convince him to go against God.
Balaam has his priorities in the right place. That was very striking to me. No amount of money could shake his allegiance to the Lord. Even more notable because I think one of the greatest battles of this day is money versus God, and the subtle ways that we all fall prey to without fully realizing. Very often, we will go against in God for some other reward.
But not just a monetary award. Balak also offers to honor Balaam and perhaps even more than money, we strive for honor. Approval. And when it comes down to getting such approval, we will compromise what God has clearly told us.
But Balaam would not. God was of utmost importance to him, above all else, and there was nothing that Balak could offer that would shake that allegiance. And I think that's an example we could all follow.
But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, "Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God to do less or more."
Some context. Balak was the king of Moab. He had seen how the Israelites had defeated the Amorites, and he was scared (rightfully so). So to try to make sure that Moab did not suffer the same fate, he sought out Balaam and asked him to curse the Israelites so Moab had a chance against them.
As the verse above suggests, Balak bribed Balaam heavily to do this. Instead of blindly and immediately going, "Yes! Give me the money, and I'll curse these fools for ya", Balaam's immediate response is to turn to God for guidance in Numbers 22:10, explaining the situation to Him.
And in the next verse, God tells Balaam not to curse the Israelites.
So Balaam straight up tells Balak, "No." And Balak asks again, offering even more to him. Yet as we see in verse 18 above, Balaam refuses, because there is no price that can convince him to go against God.
Balaam has his priorities in the right place. That was very striking to me. No amount of money could shake his allegiance to the Lord. Even more notable because I think one of the greatest battles of this day is money versus God, and the subtle ways that we all fall prey to without fully realizing. Very often, we will go against in God for some other reward.
But not just a monetary award. Balak also offers to honor Balaam and perhaps even more than money, we strive for honor. Approval. And when it comes down to getting such approval, we will compromise what God has clearly told us.
But Balaam would not. God was of utmost importance to him, above all else, and there was nothing that Balak could offer that would shake that allegiance. And I think that's an example we could all follow.
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