Experts estimate that the mind thinks between 60,000 – 80,000 thoughts a day. That's an average of 2500 – 3,300 thoughts per hour. That's incredible. We are overthinking when thoughts about problems, relational issues, and even plans dominate our waking hours. Everyone overthinks occasionally. We may have seasons of overthinking when we are engaged in a major project, such as moving into a house, starting a company or even what we tithe to the church?
Sometimes the statement “as a man thinks in his heart, so is he” is taken out of context and used to support self-confidence or positive thinking. So, if you “think” of yourself as rich, you will be rich. And if you “think” of yourself as poor, you will be poor. As you think in your heart, so you are. Such a faulty interpretation has nothing to do with the context of Proverbs 23:7. This passage advises against taking up an offer that is not genuinely from the heart.
As some of you know, We recently relocated to Ames, Iowa but we continue on occasion to visit our former church in Denver, Bethlehem Lutheran Church. (Plus, we attend some Broncos games, ha ha). When I visit I really enjoy before attending a game the exciting routine of making time with God. By attending worship service as well as men’s bible class because it puts everything in perspective. My mindset is renewed, my soul is filled and burdens are replaced with His peace. It’s the difference between my day being ruled by His Spirit or overwhelmed by the pull of this world. This week the topic was about Tithing, this made me Think?
The bible class starts with a brief video about tithing. Then we start with questions,” What does tithe, mean to you”? Why do we tithe? Do you know of people who go into debt to tithe? For most it takes a leap of faith to speak about tithing, “Thinking about bills to be paid expenses you haven’t thought of yet, and your fingers shake as you pray, God let there be enough at the end of the month.”? Our ultimate thoughts are, “Tithing is about trusting God, and trusting God is a journey”. But I couldn’t help but think about the Law? The plethora of details about tithing must be addressed. It consumes our thoughts for a time and we even get pressure from it. Thinking about giving to the lord is good, but overthinking can turn a simple God honoring matter into an overly complex one.
“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” Jesus embodied the perfect balance between grace and the Law (John 1:14).
Every day of my life I am guided by the Holy Spirit to guides my search of Scripture, with wisdom, truth and the heart so/we can “study to show ourselves approved unto God” (2 Timothy 2:15) and discover the beauty of a grace that produces good works.
Malachi 3:9-10 is often used to teach the need for Christians to tithe to local churches today. That passage reads, “You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe 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.” Does this teaching apply to Christians today?
The context of this passage concerns the Israelites not bringing their offerings to the temple. Because of their disobedience, God had judged them with a small harvest.
It also teaches, that the Jews were to give a tithe as part of the temple worship, but it does not teach that Christians are to give to churches. Malachi was written more than 400 years before the start of the first church in Jerusalem. Applying its command of temple giving to the local church takes these verses out of their original context. When there is a discussion about tithing, usually once a year a problem in itself. I have questions,” Are New Testament Christians commanded to tithe or not”? To be clear, a tithe is literally a “tenth,” or 10 percent.
Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of His day, saying, “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others” Luke 11:42.
You see this verse was saying, “Pharisees, you obey the Law of Moses and you tithed scrupulously, yet you do not truly love God. They were challenged to do both. So, in today’s world are we the same? “Why” do we individually ask the question? Knowing that The Law was fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:17). Why did the leaders struggled with whether or not to command these new believers to follow the Mosaic Law? In the end, only a few instructions were given for the sake of peace, but tithing was not among them. Acts 15:19-21It is interesting that the issue In the earliest days of the Christian church was dealing with is still very much an issue in the church today.
The truth in the New Testament is saying to give freely to support the needs of others (Acts 2:45; Romans 15:25-27) livelihood for Christian workers comes to mind (1 Corinthians 9:11-12; 1 Timothy 5:18), and to expand Christian outreach (Philippians 4:15-16). No specific amount is ever commanded, and no percentage is suggested. While a tithe or tenth of one’s finances may be a good standard to use for Christian giving, it is clear the early church did not focus on a specific amount but rather on meeting needs.Tithing is God’s management training for man. So, I use the analogy of a swimming pool for my tithing. The shallow end of the pool is the start of tithing as we grow on our faith journey, try Sugar Bear to jump in to the deep end and give back to God what is His. Meaning the tithe is God’s property that we are required to return to Him, however an “offering” is that which we give voluntarily out of our own property after the tithe has been subtracted. As we give our tithes, and give offerings above our tithe to God, He will continue to bless us and multiply our return in proportion to our investment in Him (2 Cor. 9:6).
Further, the early church made it abundantly clear that these rules were not requirements for salvation by reaffirming that salvation is by grace for both Jews and Gentiles (Acts 15:11). How many arguments would be solved if the church today would simply follow the principle set in the past wisdom thoughts—limit your liberty for the sake of love?
My Living, “Life Verse” today:
“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” Phil.3:7, 10
God Bless You and This Ministry!
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