Tithing or Giving? Is There a Difference?

I recently preached the final message in a four part series on the subject of stewardship. In the last message I shared the fruit of my study on what the Bible says about tithing and giving from the Old and New Testament. The sermon is on our website if you would like to hear it. Here are some summary statements for you to ponder:
· A denomination leader said, “Our people 45 years old and younger have grown up mesmerized by materialism. There's tremendous pressure on families to spend, spend, and spend." Then he adds, "I've heard that the generation that believed in the tradition of tithing is in three places: retirement homes, nursing homes, or cemeteries."
· Those who have believed in and practiced tithing are in retirement homes, nursing homes, or cemeteries? And, if it is true, what in the world is the church going to do? If we don’t have people to tithe, how will we do local and global ministries? How will we take pay our bills? How will we pay our employees?
· Does the Old Testament teach tithing? Well, yes, of course it does. Tithing-giving a tenth- was required by the Law.
· The Old Testament tithe was not 10% but reached as high as 23% and likely beyond!
· What if we consider giving from a perspective other than the tithe?
· Let’s focus on 2 Corinthians 8-9.To be true to the context, the giving here is not related to funding the church but meeting the needs of the poor. Yet, the principles here about giving do apply.
· 2 Cor. 8:1 and 7- Giving is not an obligation but we are encouraged to give. Giving is an act of grace. Giving reminds me that I am a recipient of that which I didn’t deserve, which is grace.
· 2 Cor. 8:2-3a Giving will not make sense. It is illogical to a logical mind.
· 2 Cor. 8:3b-4- Giving is not to be done out of guilt. Giving is tied to my relationship to the Lord. Giving is more of a spiritual matter than a financial matter. Our lack of giving is not usually because we have nothing to give.
· 2 Cor. 8:8-9- Giving is best demonstrated by Christ.
· 2 Cor. 8:10-12- Giving starts with what I have; not what I don’t have.
· 2 Cor. 8:24- Giving demonstrates our love.
· 2 Cor. 9:5- Giving is to be done willingly
· 2 Cor. 9:6-7- Giving is up to you us but the outcome of our decision is clear.
· 2 Cor. 9:8-11- God is able to take care of us when we give. Philippians 4:14-20 echoes this.
· 2 Cor. 9:12- Giving causes others to express a thankful heart.
· 2 Cor. 9:13-14- Giving brings glory to God.
· The Old Testament Jew gave according to a standard. The New Testament Christian gives according to grace. 2 Corinthians 8:1 opens with grace and 2 Corinthians 9:14 closes this section with grace. God’s abundant grace in saving me, a lost sinner, undone and without God, headed for a Christ-less eternity should be motivation sufficient to give.
· It’s not a prescribed obligation limited to 10%, or from the Old Testament perspective, 23%. We don’t take a dollar and say, ‘God, here’s your dime and the rest it mine.’ I have received freely the grace of God. How can I hold back? How can I offer God a rigid, inflexible, obligation? The matter really is the matter of my heart. Some could and should give way over a meager 10% while some cannot do that. The matter is the matter of the heart.
· In the New Testament, tithing is not rejected but neither do I see that it is clearly or specifically recommended. As a principle, if understood in light of the New Testament, it can be a systematic approach to giving. But, if it misses what the New Testament teaches and becomes a bill you write out to God, it’s missing what Jesus and the teaching of Paul calls us to.
How about your giving practices? Are there any adjustments that need to be made? Does your attitude in giving reflect that of a cheerful giver? Does the grace of God have any impact on your giving?

Think about it.
Pastor Chuck