Response #2 - Ethics 1-22-09

I think this popular take on tithing is interesting. This seems to be a more American view that says that we need to see some tangible difference with our giving. We have this view that what we earn is ours and in our materialist thinking says that evening in our giving we should receive something because we deserve it. So we give to the cause that we most believe in so we can see the exact results and gains because WE gave OUR money. But when we just throw our money into the general offering plate, we are giving with the population, we aren’t giving to anything specific, we don’t get thanked, it just goes in and we don’t get any recognition and we don’t see the direct results.
But is this a good biblical model of giving? I don’t think so. We need to get outside of ourselves and outside our need to find worth and satisfaction in seeing results, and give, trusting that God is being glorified out of our faithful giving. I am not sure that there is a clear biblical mandate of a specific amount, but I do know that there is a clear call for Christ-followers to be more than generous with what God has blessed them with. This is evident in Acts 20 with those who give are more blessed than those who give. But it is not just good to give, but those who are a part of the body, that is, a local body, should be giving to support the ministry of that body and also take care of those in leadership in those positions. We see evidence for this in Galatians 6 with Paul calling those believers to provide support for those who teach the Word of God.
So as my generation is moving into the main financial support and leadership roles in the church, we need to be the most selfless when living our lives. The body of Christ is called to give to the ministry in order to be faithful to God. The members of the body should always be quick to give; also be faithful and consistent in their giving in order to show their obedience and love for God and His Word.