By Dr. Rebekah McCloud
Spoiler alert, in case you haven’t figured it out, I’m going to talk about M-O-N-E-Y. A-Z it’s called Almighty dollar, Bacon, Benjamins, Bookoo Bucks, and Bread; C-notes, Cash, Change, Cheddar, Clams, and Coins; Dead Presidents, Dinero, Doubloons, Dough, Five-Spots, Franklins, and Funds; Gs, Gravy, Greenbacks, Gwop, Hundies, Jacksons, and Knots; Loot, Lucre, Moola, OPM, Paper, Payola, and Roll; Scratch, Smackers, Stacks, Wad, Yard and Zowie. Whatever you want to call it, the topic is M-O-N-E-Y. As the O’ Jays would say, I’m going to talk about “mean, lean green, cash money, dollars bills, y’all.”
Now that I have your attention, let me start with a joke. One Sunday morning, Timmy didn’t want to put his money in the offering plate. His mother decided to use some hurried creative reasoning with him.
She whispered in his ear. “You don’t want that money, honey. Quick! Drop it in the plate. It’s tainted!”
Horrified, the little boy obeyed.
After a few seconds he whispered, “But, mommy, why was the money tainted? Was it dirty?
“Oh, no dear,” she replied. “It’s not really dirty. It just ‘taint yours, and it ‘taint mine. It’s God’s.”[1] Amen.
The tithe belongs to God. Recently, someone asked me if I was a tither. I said yes. Then I was asked why. I rattled off a few Bible verses—you know, the usual suspects— “will a man rob God…bring all the tithes into the storehouse… the Lord loves a cheerful giver.” You know the ones. The person smiled and said, “Ok, thank you.” Sadly, I had not done a good job of explaining tithing and why I do it. I walked away from that exchange convicted that the next time someone asked me about tithing, the Nugget Lady would have a good answer. So y’all, thanks for asking the question and here’s my good answer.
Point #1—Tithing is a Biblical principle. A little history, if I may. In the Old Testament, Abraham (then Abram) was the first to give the tithe. After he had been successful in battle, he praised God and in Genesis 14: 20, he “gave him a tenth of everything.” Jacob, after having an incredible dream of the stairway to heaven pledged to God in Genesis 28:22, “all that you give me, I will give you a tenth.” The Mosaic law about tithing was first noted in Leviticus 27:30-32. It was decreed that, “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.”
Israel had clear requirements for the tithe. Deuteronomy 14:22, says, “Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields’ produce each year.” Verses 23-29 gave the Israelites clear directions and concluded with instructions that every three years they were to provide for the poor and the needy. Proverbs 3:9 reminds us to, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops.” Tithing is a Biblical principle. Amen.
Point #2—Tithing is a matter of obedience. The New Testament does not mandate a specific percentage or amount that should be given for the tithe. At least, not that I could find. However, it says we must give. It’s not an option; God expects it. The Bible is clear. Paul in his letters to the Corinthians outlines giving. 1 Corinthians 16:2 says, “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Not only are to honor God with our time and talent, but with our money and resources. Amen.
I’ve had people ask me what they are supposed to do if they don’t have 10% to give. Remember, this is Rebekah’s good answer. The Bible does not say if we give; it says when we give. As good Stewarts, God expects us to give a regular gift to the church. That could be weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, etc. We know what’s in our wallets and when it gets there. God wants us to set aside an offering that is part of the first fruits of our earnings. He does not want our leftovers. We should be like Able rather than Cain. Tithing is a matter of obedience. Amen.
Point #3—Tithing results in a return. Every Sunday we recite part of Luke 6:38. This morning, I want to read the entire passage. It says, “Give, and it will be given unto you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Amen. I believe this. If we discipline ourselves to give, Lord willing, over time the amount of the gift we give will increase.
I’m
not suggesting that anyone denies themselves, gives up their favorite drink,
snack, fast food or past time. Not suggesting that anyone neglects to pay their
bills, meet their obligations, goes into debt or is broke. Just saying, I
believe that if we take one step, He’ll take two. I’m declaring that God is faithful. Our obedience is
better than our sacrifice. Tithing results in a return. Amen.
I know that money is
a “touchy” subject. So, instead of accepting Rebekah’s good answer, I encourage
you to open your Bible and read what it says for yourself. And then come up
with your own good answer about tithing.
[1] Stewardship of Life Institute at http://www.stewardshipoflife.org/jokes/