Money seems to be a touchy subject in the life of the church. As with everything in life, the Words of our God bring great clarity to areas we have made so complex. The first time we see “tithing” isn’t in Jewish law. In Genesis 14, Abraham brings some of the winnings of war back and gives a tenth of it to the priest-king of Salem, Malchizedek. Why?
Paraphrasing, Abraham says, “I’m not obedient to God so that I can get rich!” The principle of tithing was added to the law so that we might not forget why we do it in the first place.
From the beginning, we’ve asked “How much do I have to give?” “Is this enough?” Or “Am I required to give at all?” The guidance for us today is that we give sacrificially and cheerfully.
It is as simple as that.
The culture says your worth and wealth is in what you own. That’s why so many of us are consumed with how much money we have and how much of it we’re required to give away. What God says is that our worth and wealth isn’t in what we own, but in Who owns us.
In 2 Corinthians 9 (dare you to read it), we’re shown we no longer give from obligation as under the law but from grace.
Having been shown grace by God, we want others to experience it as well. In this passage, Paul reminds us that God will take care of us in order that He may be generous. God will do much more with the gift than what we could ever do on our own, and God will receive the glory because of our generosity.
Having remembered the grace shown to us, may God find us to be a generous people (with everything, not just our finances) for His glory and the advancing of His gospel.
Brian Clifton is the Executive Pastor at Arcade Church.
