On Tithing

I have to admit that for a long time, I considered myself a Christian - a Christ-follower, but didn't do anything about tithing. That is to say, I was aware of the mandate for God's people to give the "first fruits" of ten percent. I just didn't respond to that awareness. I had knowledge but not action.

Somewhere along the line, obedience became something that mattered to me. It wasn't a particular conviction about tithing. Rather it was a dawning awareness that obedience to God mattered. Obedience in general - in all things really. Frankly, when I had become a Christian, the notion of obeying was probably the furthest thing from my mind.

Anyway, towards the end of that year (when obedience dawned on me) I asked my wife to add up what we'd given the church. We made a ledger and saw that week after week, month after month, our giving had gradually increased. As it turned out, we were surprised to find that just about 10% of what we'd earned that year had been given.

Our first reaction to that revelation was simply, "We can't afford that!" Then we realized it had already been done. Our second reaction - or conclusion - was that apparently we could afford that, because indeed we had.

How had that come to pass? Well, I had been sitting down on Sunday mornings with our checkbook. Each week I would sit there with it and ask, "Okay God. How much?" And a certain number would come into my mind. That would be the amount of the check that week.

Had God led us into tithing without our realizing it? It surely seemed that way. I had no other explanation. And I knew that I hadn't consciously chosen to tithe. There was absolutely no deliberate effort on my part. That was several years ago. But I'll never forget that revelation that God had led us into tithing, we could afford to tithe, and we were in fact --- now "tithers." Quite frankly, it's a label we had never considered giving ourselves.

God's people are supposed to tithe. We're supposed to give at least 10% of everything we make. And we're supposed to do more than that. Ten percent goes to God (the organized church). There are offerings and gifts well beyond that though. We're to help the poor and the needy. Indeed, God wants His people to be defined as generous. Did you know that?

Now that we've been tithers for many years, I have some experiential learning about it. Let me share some of it with you.

1. Tithing is an obedience issue. God said do it. So do it.

2. It puts God first in our priorities. God gets His first. So we give our tithe before we even think about paying other bills or spending on anything else.

3. It supplies the "temple" and means "the Levites" (i.e., pastors and church staff) can be properly cared for. Without the tithe, the church is handicapped and dysfunctional.

4. Tithing affirms that we are aware God is our provision - and that we are willing to trust Him for our provision. Even when financial matters are pressing, I tithe because I know God is faithful.

5. Tithing kills selfishness and greed. It's hard to fantasize about winning the lottery, for example, when I know that God gets the tithe right off the top. All my thinking about money is changed when I'm a tither.

6. Tithing brings special blessings. God said (in Malachi 3) that our obedience in tithing will result in special blessings and provisions. Said differently, obedience in tithing means God will bless our finances. It's His promise. Really it is.

So the final part of this experiential learning I have about tithing relates to where our giving is to come from. Frankly, 10% of say a million dollars isn't too difficult. God requires the first 10% for Himself. But He further instructs His people to be generous givers. In other words, God's directive with my finances doesn't stop with tithing. For wealthy people, for example, giving God 10% isn't going to require much of a sacrifice or much faith.

But I've learned that God's people are supposed to tithe and give out of our sacrifice, and not just out of our excess. That's right, give out of our sacrifice instead of giving out of our excess. What's the difference? Giving out of our sacrifice means that we give whatever amount it takes to cut into our comfort zone.

We are all to give to the point that it costs us something. For the poor, that's probably going to be 10%. But for the affluent, it's going to be a lot more. Ten percent is the minimum. And there is no cap.

The Lord loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7) But I've learned that when this so-called cheerful giver loves the Lord and gives out of response to that love, much more can be accomplished with that giving.

I've often wondered why so many so-called Christians can --- as I did for years --- ignore or overlook this important mandate to tithe. Frankly, I'm amazed at how many years I called myself a Christian and didn't tithe. How could I have been so ignorant and unaware?

Call it ignorance. Call it heresy. Call it whatever you want to call it. But I suspect that all most of us would need to become tithers is simply to allow God to lead us. He can lead us into that tither role, without our ever realizing He's doing it.

He is a merciful God. But He wants you and I to be tithers. He wants you and I to give generously. And He wants each of us to give from our sacrifice and not just from our excess. It's how God's people are to be defined. It is His will for our lives.

Generous Billionaires

It's not one of those things where someone would think you've been living under a rock if you hadn't heard about it. Bill and Melinda Gates are known for their vast philanthropy --- endowing one of the richest foundations ever in the history of the world. Most people would consider them to be not only generous, but smart with their generosity. But they've been doing something in philanthropy that's noteworthy. They've been effecting other people's wealth and giving. And they've been doing it on purpose.

The first surprise was when Warren Buffet decided to transfer his philanthropy to their foundation. Huh? Apparently Buffet decided their smartness outweighed his own when it comes to using money for social good. So the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation became endowed with not only their wealth, but with the wealth of Warren Buffet as well. It seemed to impart some sort of strategic validation to the efforts of the Gates' foundation - as if to say that what they're doing has such a better chance of saving the world.

Needless to say, what Warren Buffet did was an unprecedented move in the philanthropy "industry." Philanthropists and non-profit executives around the world sat up and took notice. Surely it meant something in philanthropic circles. Something more than just the money.

Now the Gates' are known for undertaking a number of innovative approaches to worthwhile causes with their foundation. They place big bets on what they believe are initiatives that will actually make the world a better place. Typically these bets are in areas like education or health care. When you put money into your own foundation, you get the immediate tax deduction. You also get the right to spend that money pretty much any way you please (within some reasonable boundaries that are set by the federal tax code). So there's plenty of room for innovation. There's plenty of room for trial-and-error, experimentation --- and even failure. (The money can be squandered.)

It's probably safe to say that the jury is still out on whether or not Bill & Melinda Gates can use their wealth - along with the wealth of Warren Buffet - to make the world a better place. Nevertheless, they're getting credit for the sheer size of their philanthropy, and the impact it's having on other people's giving.

We tend to think, in modern society, that if people give a lot of money to charity ... then they are generous. And we tend to think that a lot of money going into charity is a good thing --- because we think it will make a difference. We think it will change the world for the better. Is that a safe assumption to make? Does have to be given and spent in certain ways to actually make a difference? Does money have to make a difference?

Let's think about the reasoning behind philanthropy. Those who have give for the benefit of those who have not. That's admittedly a loose translation, but most philanthropy follows that same basic assumption in some form or fashion. The problem is that money given by those who have isn't always benefiting those who have not. The recent growth of "donor advised funds" allows people, for example, to donate money to a non-profit entity and then direct how and when that money actually gets used to benefit others. And it could take several generations to actually see that money spent. (For an example of that, see http://victoriousconqueror.blogspot.com/2009/02/helmsleys-dogs.html/).

Recently, Bill & Melinda Gates, along with Warren Buffet, are back in the news again. They have publicly challenged America's other billionaires to pledge at least half of their wealth to charity. And many of those billionaires are taking the challenge and making the pledge. (http://www.givingpledge.org/) So far, there's no stipulation or even guidance from the Gates' as to where the money will be donated or how it will be spent. The initiative is simply trying to get massive amounts of wealth committed to non-profit agendas.

The news wires are treating this as a very big deal. (Perhaps it is.) The world seems to be pretty impressed. These rich people are being lauded as if they were heroes. The clapping and cheering can be heard worldwide.

But there are flaws in this kind of thinking. Patty Fisher, a columnist with the San Jose (California) Mercury News sheds light on a couple of those flaws this week. (http://www.mercurynews.com/patty-fisher/) Specifically, Ms. Fisher cites the fact that these billionaires could donate something besides money --- and she argues that their talents or influence, for example, could be even more valuable than their money. (The Gates' illustrate that point with their influence.)

Fisher also made note of the billionaires who haven't taken the pledge, and questioned the motives of those who have. Not unexpectedly, Ms. Fisher also argued that a billionaire giving half of their wealth to charity isn't making much of a sacrifice. And there you have it --- the elephant in this room. In fact, I suspect it is the most important point in this whole philanthropic discussion. Let's take a look.

When rich people give a lot of money, does it mean that they are generous? Most of modern society would say it does. But what is the true measure of generosity? How can it be so accurately defined? Jesus actually addressed this. He defined generosity when He told the story of the widow giving her few coins. Jesus specifically cited the fact that while others gave out of their wealth (or excess) ... the poor widow gave out of her poverty (or sacrifice). (Mark 12:43-44 and Luke 21:3-4). This is where Jesus clearly defined what generous is.

Generous people give until it hurts. They give out of their sacrifice ... and not out of their excess. If I give plenty, but I still have excess, then I still have not achieved generosity. Only when my giving cuts into my lifestyle - and imposes on my faith in God's provision - do I get to call myself generous. Can you accept that definition?

Jesus said He is "the way and the truth ..." (John 14:6) So when Jesus defines something, anything, the definition is final. There is no other definition; nothing to be discussed or considered. What Jesus says - about anything - is the truth.

Now it seems a reasonably simple concept to apply Jesus' definition of generosity to the reality of our giving. Give out of your sacrifice instead of giving out of your excess. And that's not hard to figure out in the the case of billionaires who can give away half their wealth and still be the richest people in the world. But it's even easier to apply this Biblical truth to common people ... the middle class and the poor people. It's easier to see when they're giving out of their sacrifice.

On-line mediums, like Facebook, Twitter, blogs or other venues have become quite popular for philanthropy. Anyone can start a charity, a non-profit or just run a giving campaign to raise money for their favorite cause. You may have seen the opportunity to buy a rubber band bracelet for a dollar and have the proceeds go to fight cancer. Or you've seen people joining a Facebook site to "support" a cause. Maybe you've taken used clothing and toys to the collection bins in the shopping center parking lots. Or perhaps you've donated used furniture to the thrift shop. Folks, stuff like this does not make any of us generous. Heck, it doesn't even make us effective!

Philanthropy needs a new game. In fact, it's game is getting worse instead of better. The world is hurting now more than ever. And we have the potential to do more good now than ever before. Unfortunately, our lame excuses for generosity are getting in the way. We believe the lie that giving a lot of money helps solve a social problem. It doesn't. Instead, a strong argument could be made for the fact that social problems don't get solved until people make sacrifices to solve them. So it isn't really even about money at all.

I challenge you to consider your own level of generosity. Are you giving until it hurts? Are you giving such that it requires faith to move forward? Are you making personal sacrifices for the greater good? And I challenge you to consider whom you bestow admiration upon for their philanthropy. Rock concerts to raise money, selling bracelets, holding auctions, etc. "liking" a cause on Facebook .... have done precious little to impact the world.

It's time that modern day Christians take a hard look at Jesus' definition of generosity (i.e., philanthropy) in the story of the widow and her two coins. And it's time that we apply this simple Biblical truth to our own giving and caring.

Moreover, when rich people give billions to their favorite cause, we can not assume that the world's problems are getting solved. Frankly, money just doesn't have that much power. But generosity? It holds all the real power!

Tithing

I write this blog, and maintain two other blogs. One of them is just an advice column, where people write in with questions. (http://dearvictorious.blogspot.com/) Most of the questions are long-winded, and I boil them down to a sentence or two so that we can be concise.

Occasionally I get questions that seem to have a theme. Or the frequency with which they're asked seems to represent a theme. And so it is with tithing. I guess we can't blame folks for thinking that tithing is controversial, or for being confused about it. It seems there is a whole herd of preachers who use Scripture to manipulate people with their money.

One approach is called "prosperity theology," and people get sold this insane idea that if they give me God will bless them more. So they're encouraged to give their way out of poverty, for example. What nonsense! These people talk about money so often and so strongly that often they turn people off. It doesn't result in anything that God would have wanted.

Of course there is the other end of that spectrum. Here, preachers are afraid to talk about money. And so they leave their people in ignorance of the truth. Again, it doesn't result in anything that god would have wanted.

I think what the world needs is some straight talk with Christians about what it means to be a Christian. I mean there are certain responsibilities that we have when we become Christians. (That in itself might come as a surprise to many people!)

So what is the truth about money? The truth is that God established tithing as an obligation of His people in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 14:22-29 & Malachi 3:8-12). In the New Testament, Jesus changed a lot of things - but He never changed the obligation of tithes and offerings.

Tithing is still very much an obligation of God's people. Money belongs to God. Everything we have belongs to Him and all of our provision comes from Him. He asks us to dedicate the first fruits (measured as 10%) to Him. Beyond that, we are to be generous with the rest of our money, quick to help others in need.

Now you may ask why God would hold on to such an old-fashioned proposition as tithing? There are several good reasons. Let's look at some key ones:

1. It teaches us to fear the Lord and put Him first in our lives.
2. It reminds us who our provision is and who all of our money really belongs to.
3. It provides support for the church workers and facilities.
4. It empowers the church to care for the poor in the community.
5. It empowers the church to send missionaries into the world.
6. It is part of our obedience and submission to God and His authority in our lives.

So here's the thing, there really shouldn't be an argument (about tithing) among anyone professing to be a Christian. In fact, we should view it as a tax, dues, or any other sort of obligation.

Now in addition to tithing, the Bible instructs God's people to be generous, giving to others in need whenever we become aware of their need and have the resources to help them. This is not considered part of our tithing. This is over and above our obedience in tithing.

We sat in church one day a few years ago. The woman next to us wrote a check for $1,000 in front of us. She leaned over and whispered something like, "I'll bet their eyes will pop when they see the amount of this check!" Clearly she was proud of her giving to the church that day. I'm sure she crawled into her Mercedes and drove home to her million home after the service - satisfied that she had "given to the Lord." But did she? Was $1,000 the first fruits of her household income? (I doubt it.)

The thing is that Christians, or anyone who professes to be one, need to get a serious paradigm shift about money. And I'm not talking about getting you more money. I'm talking about you getting obedient with the money you have. Tithing is a 10% obligation. It comes off the top, without any discussion whatsoever. Offerings are the generous giving that we're commanded to do over and above our glad tithing.

So how about it? Do you need to re-arrange some priorities to be obediently tithing this year?

Christian Stewardship

It has been said that the two most difficult things for preachers to talk about are sex and money. It's obvious then that I am not a preacher. I can readily talk about both. It's not that I have this infatuation with either topic. But I see clearly that God is purposeful with us about both topics. Today, I think I am supposed to blog about money.

I just finished watching I.O.U.S.A. on CNN. It was a two-hour special that addressed the fiscal issues facing Americans and our government. I wonder how many Americans watched it.

I wonder how many of those who watched actually comprehended the issues that were being presented. And most importantly, I wonder how many Americans know what needs to be known about their finances. I suspect that American Christians could lead the way, set the example and be "salt and light" on this subject. What would it take for us to do that?

Leviticus 27:30 tells us, "And all the tithe ... is the Lord's; it is holy unto the Lord." Most of us know what a tithe is (10% of gross household income - as defined in the Old Testament). But many modern-day Christians seem to think the tithe is an Old Testament concept that doesn't have to be honored. Leviticus 27:30 says it is God's and it is holy. Do you really think it could get to a place in time when it would no longer matter?

Jesus talked a lot about the Old Testament. One of the most important things He said was, "I didn't come to abolish the law of Moses ... until heaven and earth disappear, even the smallest detail of God's law will remain until its purposes are achieved." (Matthew 5:17-18). Jesus later said, in Matthew 23:23, "You should tithe, yes ..." So it is clear that we cannot throw away the concept of tithing. It was God-ordained in the Old Testament, and Jesus affirmed it in the New Testament.

So why is this thing called tithe so special to God? What's the big deal? Isn't it just money? Malachi 3:10 says, "Bring all your tithes into the storehouse, so there will be enough ... in my temple." Enough what? Enough to meet the needs of the poor, the sick, etc. Enough to pay for the expenses of running the temple and answering God's call to ministry. Here's the thing, folks: Effective churches are supposed to have expensive ministries.

And tithing empowers effective churches. It has been God's plan all along, since the beginning of time, that His people would provide for the needs of the poor, do ministry, evangelize the world, and more. He never intended government to do it. He never intended para-church ministries to do it. The tithe has always been meant for the church. And the point is that it is supposed to empower the church. Did you know that?

So what are today's Christians doing with the tithe? George Barna (http://www.barna.org/) has done a number of surveys. A recent survey revealed the following statistics:

~ 76% of Americans identify themselves as "born-again Christians"

~ 16% of them don't give anything at all to any church ... not a penny

~ Less than 3% of them claim that they are tithing (the full 10%)

~ Only 5% of the wealthiest say they are tithing

If you talk to people who aren't tithing, many of them will tell you they know they should, even if they've tried to justify their disobedience. Even in the sincerest conversations, they'll tell you that they can't afford to tithe. They'll tell you that stewardship is hard.

But Jesus said, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:30) Doing what God requires of us is not difficult. In fact, it makes life work. So even if I think I can't afford it, it's only my perception. The truth is that what God requires of me is easy and light - not difficult and unbearable.

So if I'm going to be a good Christian steward, how do I get from here to there? If I admit that I'm not a good steward now, how can I begin to change? There are some pretty logical steps actually. They don't include attending a seminar, buying a book, clipping coupons or doing anything else that's stupid. In fact, they are part of the spiritual journey. So in closing, let's see what these eight things you can do are.

Larry's Path To Christian Stewardship - 8 Simple Steps

1. Yield myself to God. Let Him change me His way. Pray and ask Him to lead me to this state in life - where I am a good steward and can tithe comfortably.

2. Admit that everything that I am, everything that I have --- it all belongs to Him. Start practicing that mindset. Start living that truth.

3. Understand that God blesses me for a purpose. His purpose! My job, my wealth, my ability, my things --- He gave all of them to me with an expectation of me.

4. Look and see where God is working. Can I join Him there? I don't have to save the world. I can simply employ my stewardship with other Christians --- and together we can accomplish much.

5. Ask God how to start. Sit down with your checkbook and say, "Okay God, how much?" Then write the check for whatever His Holy Spirit tells you. Do NOT add up all your bills to see what's left and assume that's how much you'll give.

6. Expect to become generous. If you're letting God lead you, He will take you there. He will make you a generous person. (Can't you just wait!)

7. Look past the risks. Christ-followers are risk-takers. God knows you have bills. He knows you might get laid off. He's aware of the cost of health care. Trust Him with your risks.

8. Listen to God when He says, "No." Sometimes men (or women) will ask you for money. You'll hear impassioned pleas to fund this ministry or that mission trip. You are not called to fund everything. Remember, it is God's money. Ask Him if He wants you to give it. He's already told you to give 10% to your church. Beyond that, be very discriminating - and only give to the things God truly calls you to give to. (Don't worry, you'll still be generous.)

Obama's Wallet is Telling

Preachers have always told us that you can see what someone really believes if you look at their checkbook and their day planner. In other other words, don't listen to what they say - look at what they do. I never paid much attention to that, but as I've gotten older, I began to realize that it's backed by a very strong truth in human nature: people don't always do what they say, but they will always do what they believe. And so yesterday's news on the Obamas was very sad for me.

Barack and Michelle Obama made public their tax returns for the years 2000-2006. (They issued a challenge to Bill and Hillary Clinton to do the same thing.) I'm not sure why tax returns are such a big deal for presidential candidates, but they are telling about the beliefs of these individuals.

True Christians have, for centuries, tithed faithfully - giving at least 10% of their household incomes to the church or otherwise to the work of the Lord (i.e. Christian organizations and missions). Obama has been running for president on a platform of Christianity. He's told us that he had a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ and has been a Christ-follower ever since. His tax returns seem to suggest otherwise.

From 2000-2004, the Obamas took in over $1.2 million in household income. That's an average of $244,529 annually over those five years. Their giving to all charity during those years? Just $10,770, or less than 1% of of their income. Folks, these are not generous people. Heck, they are not even obedient people!

When the press questioned this, an Obama spokesman said, "As new parents who were paying off ... student loans, giving ... was as generous as they could be at the time." Could that be true of Christ-followers? I hate to be difficult, but folks, I'm not buying this one. I know people who have two kids, student loans and make only a fraction of what the Obamas make. They still tithe. Children and student loans don't prevent one from being obedient to God.

In 2005, the Obamas' income shot up to almost $1.671 million - and their giving shot up to $77,315. That was 4.63% of their income, almost half what it would have taken to tithe as Christians obedient to God. In 2007, the Obamas' income was only $991,296 and they gave $60,307 to charity. That was just over 6% of their income. I guess the good news is that as they have become more wealthy (the above photo was taken while Barack was relaxing at the Ritz Carlton in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands), they are becoming more generous. Perhaps if this trend continues, they will become truly obedient to Christ!

I don't like taking pot shots at anyone. But this man is asking me to trust him for a lot. Before any of us can really trust someone, we have to know them. I don't think I really know who Barack Obama is. And the troubling thing is that what I do know makes me think he isn't who he says he is.

So Mr. Obama, I'd really like to vote for you. But can you tell me who you really are?