****verbal vomit alert****
In this life, all I desire to do is to love our God, to love my family and to love my neighbor.
I want to love so deeply, that I forget my own self.
I want to experience God's presence in the here and now. I want every breath I draw, every action I take, to be imbued with the sacred holiness of God.
I want everything I do to honor God, and to bring Him joy.
I do not care about acquiring wealth, or having shiney white teeth.
I do not care that my clothes are plain and worn; or that my shoes are off brand and inexpensive.
I do not care that my home is not a showcase home, or that my furniture eats people instead of supporting them.
Don't try to impress me with how much you tithe, or how much you earn, or how much you spent on your latest technological toy.
Don't try to fool me with fancy words, or big diamond rings, or designer clothing.
I'm more interested in whether you greeted the bum on the street with a friendly gaze and gentle salutation.
I'm more interested in whether you know how to be with me when I am in pain. Will you help me shoulder my sorrows without fixing, advising or playing God?
I'm more interested in hearing about how you experience God than I am in hearing you recite the verses of scripture which describe the experiences others have had.
This week, a Christian friend told me that if I wanted to lay up treasures in heaven, I must tithe 10% of my gross income. I was also told that if I wanted jewels for the eternal crown, I must pray for a poor person to come into my life.
My reply?
I have no need of treasure in heaven, because my treasure is Christ Jesus. I have no need to pray for a poor person to come into my life, because my days, and my prayers, are already occupied with hollow eyed, hopeless people who have never truly known the love of God.
I do not need an eternal bank account filled with heavenly riches any more than I need an earthy bank account filled with greenbacks.
I do not desire rewards or jewels.
I desire to love and to be loved.
That is enough for me.
So preach your prosperity gospel if you must. Preach your prosperity tithing if you must.
Me?
I choose to listen to our Father's heartbeat.
I choose the eternal rhythm of love.
**************************
There! I'm through spewing my verbal vomit. I hope I didn't get any on ya!
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5 comments:
None got on me. I agree with you whole heartly. May God continue to bless you.
Bevvie
From what I get from scripture tithing is more about obedience than about anything else. I've heard some good arguments for and against tithing and prosperity. I believe if it bothers someone to tithe or give offerings then don't do it. As the bible says, God loves a cheerful giver.
I don't give because I HAVE to, I give because I want to. I want to be a part of what God is doing. I may give to a children's home or to an individual missionary or just to some homeless man or woman. I don't believe it's anyone's business to whom I give or why. If they choose not to, bully for them. Some may say it's like voting, if you don't do it, you have no right to complain. I don't know about that.
I agree that "giving" has gotten out of hand, and of course there are always going to be people who take advantage of others. My advice for folks is: Don't give out of guilt, or because you expect something back, but give only if you're truly giving to God out of love and/or obedience....not out of necessity or arm twisting. Anyway, that's my 2 cents. :-) James
I believe the Bible is clear.
When it comes to giving/tithing, love is to be our motivation; not compulsion, or legalism. (Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:6-8; Mark 12:28-34; 1 Cor . 13:1-7).
A person should not be made to feel guilty or inferior because of the amount they give, (or don't give).
The only requirement referenced to tithing in the New Testament is that a person give willingly and cheerfully. (Romans 12:6,8; 2 Corinthians 9:7).
Under the conditional covenant of the Old Testament, tithing was necessary. In the New Testament, tithing is not a commandment, it is a principle.
When I give, I give/tithe out of love, not necessity.
Amen. By obedience I only meant (as Jesus said....we can't serve two masters) we can't put anything above God. That includes family, friends, and yes money. I agree it ought to all be done out of love.
I really liked your post by the way. I'm sorry I only addressed that part of it. We are all growing in our walk with Christ, and it's so nice to see more maturity in us all. Right now in our church.....only the leadership gives....no one else does. We're broke....and that breaks my heart. And it looks like we may not be in a church much longer. (Perhaps that's why I responded to that part of the post) Oh well. Not our will, but His be done. I'm gonna miss being a pastor.....but maybe I didn't do such a good job. :-) James
James, I am sorry if it seemed as though I were wagging my holier than thou finger in your face.
I truly did not mean to sound that way, so please forgive me.
I agree that there is something fundamentally wrong with the fact that 20% of any given congregation tends to support 90% of their chuches finances.
And I am so sorry to hear that your church, like many churches, is struggling financially.
James, I do not know why this is happening in your church; but one thing I do know is that you are a man of God, after God's own heart!
Never lose sight of that!
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