Money is very touchy issue with people these days. The plain and simple truth is that God doesn't need your money; he doesn't need anything. He doesn't even want your money. He wants your obedience and your faith.
In a world where money is the means to obtain what you need to live or function, why not give it to those in need? Yes, God doesn't need money, or medictation, or saftey belts, oxygen to do what he desires, BUT he uses these things to work through people. We could sit in the corner of a house and never move, slowly wasting away and God would accomplish what he wanted to. He doesn't need our help. He wants a relationship; he wants us to share in his joy and to be blessed by pouring out what he pours in to us whether it is virtues, time, money, talents, whatever.
If we have so much faith and trust in God and we know that we only have what God himself has given us, then why not give freely? Why not give willingly? This doesn't mean we should be fools and just throw what he's given us at any charity case, organization, or fundraiser that comes our way. We should let the Spirit guide us in these matters (John 3:8). It may not makes sense to us or to other people where and when we give our money, time, etc., but all we should be concerned about is what God is directing us to do. Maybe we don't give any money ever!
God wants our obedience and our trust in him; a purified and whole relationship, not a sacrifice made, especially in conflict (Proverbs 21:3; Romans 14:23b).
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While all of what you say here is accurate, I'm wondering if this kind of thinking may be an excuse for us not to give. It seems to me that God does not "ask" us to give; it's more of a directive. We need to return a tithe to Him of our possessions.
ReplyDeleteIt's difficult for me to understand, by the way you write, what your personal thoughts are on this subject.
Mike
I would say we should definetly tithe as a body of Christians, but I never want to place specific rules on the Holy Spirit if it would not contradict God's word. God may specifically tell someone not to tithe, even though I believe this a rare and only a case by case issue. The purpose of tithing isn't that God or people receive money, it is obedience, it is motive, it is faith, and it is most of all, love. All that we do should bring us closer in the direction of Christ and his glory and away from ourselves and pride.
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