October 17, 2023
Dear Friends,
If you’re just jumping into the conversation now, read up on last week’s newsletter first!
This week, we talked briefly about the question: “How much should I give?”
Take a look below, and plan to be in church & Bible Study next Sunday (Oct. 22)! From there, we’ll begin to tie all these things together as we wind down our stewardship focus.
God bless and keep you,
Pr. Buchs
How much should I give?
In some ways, this is the easiest question in the world. You should give as much as is needed. It really only becomes difficult when we begin to doubt God. It was easy for Peter to walk on the water so long as he had his eyes fixed on Jesus (Mt. 14:29). No one had to tell him how to put one foot in front of the other. It only became difficult – impossible, in fact – when he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the wind and the waves (Mt. 14:30). Then, no amount of guidance or instruction would help. He was going to sink.
So, how much is needed? Let’s answer this question, with eyes fixed on Jesus.
First, let’s think about what God needs.
This one’s obvious. God doesn’t need your money. “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine” (Ps. 50:12). [David said,] “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you” (1 Chronicles 29:14). So scratch the idea that God needs you to give anything.
How about what your neighbor needs?
This one’s also rather obvious. As often as you see your neighbor in need, you should give to him. “Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back” (Luke 6:30). “Lend, expecting nothing in return” (Luke 6:35). “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?” (James 2:15-16).
Jesus even says that these deeds will come up in the final judgment: “The King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me’” (Matthew 25:34-40).
Last, let’s consider what you need?
This is where 10% (the tithe) can come in. Think about it in connection with the Old Testament law concerning the Sabbath. God commanded the people to observe the Sabbath one day out of the week, devoting themselves to God’s Word and prayer and resting from their labors.
In the New Testament, Jesus fulfilled the Sabbath, so it is no longer a law that binds us. But, ask yourself this – do I need more or less time with God’s Word and prayer than the Old Testament people of God? Indeed, precisely because we need God’s Word just as much as they did, we continue to set aside a day of rest and worship on Sundays!
The same thing goes for the tithe. God’s people were commanded to give 10% of their firstfruits. It was an exercise of faith – trusting that God would provide, grateful that God had given them what they had, and putting mammon in its place. “Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need” (Malachi 3:10). Giving 10% was good for the people of Israel because it helped them fix their hearts on heavenly treasures.
Here’s the question: do we need that more or less than the people of Israel? Are we more or less tempted to fall in love with our money, doubt God’s goodness, or be ungrateful for what God has given us? Certainly we need the tithe just as much as they did! And that’s why it’s a good starting place. We need it.
Next Sunday (Oct. 22), we’ll talk about how to take stock and make some practical moves as a matter of routine maintenance on our hearts. Plan to stick around for treats next Sunday and a brief Bible Study on the topic. Bring all your thorny, difficult questions!
COMING EVENTS:
Wednesday, October 18 @ 6pm – Small Catechism Bible Class