2002.11.17. A Christian and Money (3) - Rev. Young Jin Cho

Beyond Tithe

Mark 12:41-44

Since the first week of this month, I have started a series of sermons under the grand title called "A Christian and Money" In the first week, I told you that we also needed to confess our faith in God in dealing with our wallets. Our faith cannot be indifferent to our checkbooks. If we were born-again in Jesus Christ, the boundary of our wealth and possessions also needs to be born-again. Last week, as the first step to such born-again, I told you that we needed to change our perception toward our possessions. As a Christian, you are not a master, but a keeper or a steward of our possessions. Our God is the master. Thinking the possessions is mine is not biblically correct. If you really think about it, the possessions are not yours. The possessions are something that we just manage during our lifetime, and leave it behind us when we die.

We cannot have such conversion in perception to be remained as a change in our thoughts only. As a way of confessing the teaching of the Bible, that we are not the masters but the managers of our wealth, the people of God have been offering tithes to God first. With His acknowledgment, offering tithes to God will be the first step in living our lives as righteous stewards of our possessions. Today, we will learn about the meaning of tithes while find out about what is required of us to live as stewards of our possessions.

I.

I think that today's sermon will be the one that probably requires the most preparations and prayers of the series of sermons. Because there are not many issues to churches that are more sensitive than the issue of tithes. In preparing for this sermon, I have not only studied the Bible, but also the Bible dictionary and other references regarding the tithes. I have read the books that enthusiastically supporting and also that fiercely attacking the offering of tithes.

First, let us take a look in the Bible, and the Old Testimony in particular, about the tithes for a moment. The first record of offering tithes in the Bible is in the Genesis, chapter 14, where upon his return from defeating the kings of Canaan, Abram gave Melchizedek king of Salem a tenth of everything that he recovered from the battle. Also in the genesis, chapter 28, we find that Jacob, who took his brother's blessing, made a promise to give a tenth to God after he met him in Bethel. But the more specific commands regarding the tithes are shown in chapter 27 of the Leviticus, in chapter 18 of the Numbers, and in chapters 12, 14, and 26 of the Deuteronomy. According to the scholars who study the Bible, it is difficult to summarize what tithes means because various records in the Bible have subtle variations as to the meaning of the tithes. Because they suspect that probably the tithe was referred to more than just one meaning.

(1) The first tithes was that after a yearly produce, the offering of a tenth of the finest produce was made to the Levites who served at the Tent of Meeting (Numbers 18:21-24). The tithes were offered to the Levites by the Israelites to provide for their living because the Levites diligently served the religious work in the Tent of Meeting and because of that, they could not have their own land. After receiving the tithes from the Israelites, the Levites also gave a tenth to God, which was belonged to the priests.

(2) The second tithes was that after making the first tithes, a tenth was selected from the remaining, and carried up to the center of the chosen place. The Israelites used this second tithes to celebrate the thanks to God (Deuteronomy 12:5-19). When the center of the chosen place was located too far away, instead of gifts, people bought the cash to near the chosen place and bought things they needed to celebrate God.

(3) The third tithes was that at the end of every three and six years, instead of offering the second tithes to be used for the celebration, it was used to satisfy the Levites, the travelers, the poor, the fatherless and the widows who lived in the town (Deuteronomy 14:28-29; 26:12).

It is a little complicated, but to say in short, the tithes was used to worship God, to provide for the Levites who could not own their own land because they had to serve the Tent of Meeting, to share with the neighbors, or to help the poor and the needed. And even though it was called tithes, the actual offerings made by the Israelites were more close to 20% of their income. After listening to this, maybe there are those who that might think that they just got more than what they have bargained for.

II.

Even in this day and age, the tithes have been in the center of many disputes in the church. Sometimes, there are discussions take place for and against the tithes.

(1) First, this is a typical argument against the tithes. That is, because it is the command from the Old Testimony, and therefore, there is no need to make the tithes since we live in time of grace, and free from the Old Testimony. Rev. Luke Cho, who wrote the book called Beyond the Tithes, and the books The Tithes Revolution written by an elder Park Ming Hong, who lives in South America, strongly insists that there is no need for offering the tithes. It is based on the fact that the New Testimony makes very few references to the tithes. Is it really so?

First, Jesus never mentioned in the Gospel that there is no need for the tithes. Instead, Jesus admonished the Parasites who were so concerned with the tithes, and lost the sense of justice, love and trust which are more important than the tithes. Jesus also said that he came not to abolish the Law, but to complete it. What dose it mean by the completion of the Law? So, if you look this within such context, rather than abolishing the offering of tithes because it is the Law, it is more important to realize the true meaning of the tithes and practice it. And we could think of the tithe as the foundation for the training of the law. How could we then start the confession of our faith in the aspect of the wealth? Tithe is not something that we offer after we have spend whatever we needed. We put aside the offering as the thanks to God's kindness first and then start our lives as offering of our tithe. In that aspect the tithe holds the important meaning as the start of our training of our submission to God. To start living as an earnest steward, the offering of the tithes holds an important meaning.

(2) Some may think that today's churches do not use the tithes appropriately. It is a matter we deeply need to ponder over. Using the tithe appropriately is just as important as the offering of the tithe itself. The tithe on the whole secured the lives of the Levites, helped the ones in need and gave relief to the poor. This spirit of the tithes should be embodied in today's world. It contradicts the spirit of the tithes, if we spend all our offerings in the church for ourselves. We should be compassionate about the small churches which do not even have enough to help the pastor with the offerings, but nevertheless forget the spirit of the tithes.

In that respect, it was a model case of restoring the spirit when God's church in Korea used half of church's offering on mission and relief. Although our church have planned to use one third of our collected offerings on mission and relief in our third long term project, so far it's on the one quarter level. Let us all put forth our best effort to improve.

But it is not the proper response not to make an offering just because the churches do not use the tithes properly. The tithes do not belong to you. The Bible clearly states that the tithes belong to God. If the church does not use the tithes properly, it is important for church to try to find and deliver through proper means to convey it's meaning and use the tithes properly. Without even trying out to find the means, holding back on ones tithes is not the appropriate attitude of a proper Christian. Rev. Lee, Jae Chul asked if one does not have faith on its church not to offer the tithes, how can one lead the faithful Christian life in grace? He said that if that's the case one need to find a church that he or she can trust enough to offer the tithes.

Besides this matter, one can ask, do we offer the tithes only to our own church? Do we offer the tithe before or after the tax? And so on. The important thing is the motivation of the tithes. Are these questions justifying our attitudes for not offering the tithe? If these questions stem from rationalizing not to make an offering of the tithe, we will stand before God in shame. But if our motives are asking God on making correct tithes, we may stand before God without any shame. I would like to introduce the book "Holy smoke" written by J. Cliff Christopher and Herb Mather through United Methodist Disciple Training Publisher, not yet published in Korean contains the tithes matter.

III

I've been saying issues concerning the tithes matters. Dear brothers and sisters, why is the tithes important in our dedication to God? It is because it is the first step and foundation for our stewardship. We who have found the new life in God's grace need to go beyond the level of the tithes and the offerings in Old Testament. I do not agree everything on what the book "Beyond the tithe" by Pastor Luke Cho has written, but I do agree on the title beyond the tithes.

This morning, we read the gospel Mark 12:41 onward. Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But Jesus praised a poor widow who has put one quarter of all she had into the treasury. He said this widow has put much more than others. In this verse, we find the true spirit of the offerings. We find the true spirit of offerings of a woman receiving and confessing to God as the master of our wealth and the possessions. Brothers and sisters, what is the true offering beyond the tithes? Why did Jesus praise this poor widow's offering?

(1) First of all, this verse has a message for us. Jesus watched how the crowd was putting their money. My brothers and sisters, whom do we make our offerings to? Of course you may say to God. But are they all for God? Are we offering without any shame before God? It's not the matter of more or less. It's beyond the matter of the correct tithes or not. Are we offering to God? Are we offering enough before God? How willingly and readily are you offering before God?

A dollar bill and a hundred dollar bill were talking one day. A hundred dollar bill was proudly talking about the trips it made to beautiful beaches in Bahamas, great hotels and the restaurants. And asked a dollar bill where it has been. A dollar bill answered sadly: I have not yet been out of the offering basket." The U.S Mint Corporation surveyed the pastors on how it could help them. Ten to one, they replied not to make any more dollar bills. It's a joke of course.

What God praises is not the offering of insincerity. God praises sincere, willing and earnest offerings. That is what God is looking for.

(2) Secondly, we need to remember this poor widow's offering which Jesus praised was self-sacrificing and a burdensome offering.

Offerings that we make to God which do not sacrifice or put a burden on us are not true offerings. What is the reason that Jesus praised this poor widow's offering? It was a offering of self-sacrifice. She gave all she had. This self-sacrificing offering could mean the beginning of the offering of the tithes.

Rev. Kim, Dong Ho who has written a book "An Honest Rich Man" said this. In an air-borne troops training, one has to jump down from a 10meter jump stand. The eye level is about 11 meters. This 11meter is said to be the height one can feel the most fear. Ones who had training in this jump stand, can jump off from flying airplane easily. As the pastor Kim was sharing this story, he said the tithes are like overcoming the fear from jumping off the 10meter stand. People who make the offering of tithe have passed the basic training of devotion and self-sacrifice. In that sense, the offering of the tithes is the foundation for our training of confession to God as our true master.

If you look at the Book of Resolution of U.S United Methodist Church, it even states that the tithe is minimum goal of giving.

Brothers and sisters, if people who experienced God's grace in Old Testament gave one tenth and two tenth, how can we who have experienced amazing grace not even give one tenth? Are we who have experienced amazing God's grace and love less grateful to God than the people from Old Testament? If we hesitate, how would God see us? You may ask is tithes the only important thing? Isn't it also important to show our devotions through our lives? If we cannot even give tithes, how do you expect to show our devotions and give life to God? Saying I will devote myself except for the offering of the tithes. Is God going to be pleased with our stubbornness?

The tithes are not everything in the offerings. We need to go beyond the tithes. But our self-sacrificing devotion starts from giving the tithes. Avoiding this issue doesn't solve the problem.

(3) Thirdly, God praises the offerings that are willing and earnest in faith. The poor widow's offering was the offerings of faith. She might have worried about tomorrow or a meal for that night. But she gave all she had. She gave her life to God in faith. Because of this faith, she gave readily in gratitude.

The true offerings are possible only when we totally submit ourselves to God. It is not possible to give tithes when we become owners of our lives. When we are so inconvenienced by not having money to ourselves, how do we expect to give so much to God? Only by faith, it is possible to make offerings that God praises. Only by faith, we will submit ourselves to God in happiness and gratitude. For Israelites, it was mandatory to give tithes. Even though it was the offerings of gratitude, the spirit of it was gone and in the end they were left with burden of offerings. For the true offerings, we need to bring back the feeling of gratitude and the faith. We need to find the true spirit of the offerings in gratitude. Offerings out of God's grace and love. We cannot be tied down to giving tithes. Going beyond the tithes was what God praised in a poor widow's offering.

IV

Leading a life of a stewardship requires us to accept the Lordship and giving what's rightfully His. Why do you think God ask us for our wealth and possessions? It is because of his love for us that he wants us to stand firm on our offerings. It is because of his plan for us that will free us from the materialistic world. It is because through us, he wants to build his church and to lift up the poor and in need.

For a long period of time, we thanked God through our lips only. We opened our lips not our checkbooks. Now is the time to go beyond all that. Now is the time to find the true spirit of offerings God will praise. Let's go forth from the tithes and to beyond the tithes.

There was a professor Clarence Goen in Wesley Theologian College who passed away several years ago. He left unforgettable word as he retired from the college due to his illness. As he was starting out in teaching in Wesley College, he was able to get the house with the help from the college. The professor always thought of himself as a steward of the house in gratitude. At the retirement dinner, he said; "Saying thanks only through words has passed. I would like to return the house and with the fund coming from the house, please prepare the inhouse professorship in the memory of Dr. Chandler." All of us felt the deep sense of emotion that night.

Expressing thanks only through our words has passed. Putting our thanks only through words has passed. Time to confess our Lordship in our wallet as well. Time to start tithes and start the life of true offerings of beyond the tithes. Time to offer our spirit of offerings like the poor widow's offering.