House Rules
Text: Selected passages
House rules – the blessing and curse of daily life. Pick up your socks. Brush your teeth. Mow the lawn. Take out the garbage. Set the table. Walk the dog. “Seriously Dale, you’re worst than the girls” laments my weary lady!
God has house rules. Among them are his rules about stewardship of resources including, but not limited to, house rules about money.I used this theme in December 2008. I'm repeating today as we close our fiscal period on March 31st.
Today's stewardship theme is a dirty seven-letter word – tithing. The subject for some people is like that bad taste in your mouth when the dentist injects an anesthetic to deaden the gums.
1. GOD ESTABLISHED TITHING HOUSE RULES
Tithe is a noun (Dictionary.com)Some definitions include:
-- A tenth part of one’s annual income contributed voluntarily or due as a tax, especially for the support of the clergy or church.
-- A very small part.
Tithing is God’s idea and he wired it into the principles of life that he intended for his church.
We'll start our journey with some of the earliest Scriptures and work our way through the Bible on this subject.
a. Leviticus 23:10
When God restored the people’s identity as his nation he instituted the act of first-fruits giving. This offering was a single sheaf of grain offered to the priest represented the entire harvest. The people gave this offering before they could eat any of the harvest. One source notes, “In this rite they show that all they possess also belongs to {God}.” This would remind us that we are not free to spend our own energies, abilities or income first upon ourselves and then, if there is a surplus, share with the Lord. Our first-fruits belong to God.
This verse strengthens teaching that tithing begins on our gross income, not net. First-fruits is defined as “the first results” (dictionary.com). It is that amount of income actually received before tax deductions and bills. To argue tithe after gross is to say tithe after the bills are paid. They are essentially the same.
b.Leviticus 27:30-32
Verse 30… One of the first steps toward commitment in tithing is realizing God owns all your money. Let’s suppose you left your wallet on your seat and I found it tomorrow. Because I found it I instantly believe I have a right to entitlement and spend the money that you have in your wallet (or use your credit cards!) When you find out I did that you will rightfully be angry and accuse me of stealing from you. You will argue that because I held your resources in my hands did not give me entitlement to help myself to it.
The Lord’s tithe operates on the same principle. His money is in amongst the income we generate because it all belongs to him. He outlined that of our resources a minimum 10% of those resources are to be set aside for the work and needs of the church. What happens sadly is we open his wallet and say, “I’ll take that.” It’s stealing – more on that in a bit.
Verse 31… If a person wanted to keep the livestock or crops that should be tithed they could do so but only by giving money to replace the original tithe and they were required to add another 20% of its value in exchange for the item they wished to keep.The expectation is not only to “make up” for withholding the tithe but to pay back with interest. This principle demonstrates how critically God views his property.It is not a light matter in God’s eyes that we should presume we have entitlement to his tithe.
Verse 32… E.g. a shepherd counting off his sheep, passing through single file, would count to ten and every tenth sheep was set aside for God.
Our giving to God should not be a mindless impulsive response to him. The lesson here teaches that our giving should be a process that I call the DISC principle: deliberate, systematic, intentional, and carefully thought through. Not only that, but it should be proportionate to the income we receive.
Too often we're facing sporadic attitudes to giving and people are ill-prepared - The most crippling time for the church is summer time and vacations. People are traveling and spend their tithe, or drop it in a church they are visiting. Too many come home and having been away for weeks and have no sense of obligation to “make up” the shortfall in their giving. The tithe is still the Lord’s. The rules don't change because we’re on vacation and the principle of verse 31 teaches how we ought to respond to holding back God’s tithe.
c. Numbers 18:26 – “tithe of the tithe”
The Levites are the priestly tribe of Israel. The tithe to the temple was theirs to use for their wages and the work of the temple. God instructed the priests to tithe on the tithe that the people gave them. Tithing is so important that it reaches into the thinking and disciplines of formal church structure. E.g. our church tithes on the tithe, to Divisional Headquarters. They tithe to our Territorial HQ who in turn tithes to International HQ. IHQ tithes back to the ministries around the world.
Another Biblical example of tithing on the tithe is found in Deut 14:28-29 and Deut 26:12 – God had instructed that every third year, the people were to tithe on the tithe to give to those without, for the good of the community. (Read Deut 26:12…)
-- Tithe on tithe – we send a tithe to our Divisional office. They distribute funds to community ministries. I feel confident it is a Biblical process of financial accountability.
d. Deuteronomy 14:22– 25
This is one of the first accounts of using money as a tithe. The tithe, being livestock or crops generally, was sometimes difficult to transport to the temple from great distances. This instruction was a means of getting the tithe to God as currency.
"Take the silver with you” (verse 25) more accurately translated really means, “bind the money in your hand”. E.g. – Have you ever put that tithe on the dresser, to get it ready for Sunday but somehow when Sunday came you had used the money for a need that popped up? You reason, “I’ll make it up next pay day”. But for some reason, that doesn’t happen either. It’s the “money just slips through my fingers” syndrome.
God knows how tough it is and that’s why He provides this instruction not to compromise His tithe for that yearned-for item, travel expense, vacation focus or anything else between the time it is put aside for God and actually makes it to the temple – it is a tough discipline but it has to happen. “Bind the money in your hand”
I was chatting with a couple once, trying to reason with them in response to their insistence they couldn’t afford to tithe. I tried to work through their philosophy while we were sitting in Montana's for Sunday dinner with their two kids, knowing it was an easy $80 meal for the four of them to dine there. “Bind the money in your hand”
We know the struggle of stretched resources. Yet, rather than withhold our tithe we cut the cable, scaled back on groceries – you get the picture. We struggled as we lived by the principle, “bind the money in your hand”
2. THE REASON FOR GOD’S TITHING HOUSE RULE
Why do parents have house rules? If everyone doesn’t have home chore duties it usually means one person is maintaining the family’s needs. Children would not learn skills they’ll need when they leave home. Without budgets, bills go unpaid and needs go unmet and the debt grows. Deciding to not lease or buy a vehicle more than every few years protects people from overstretched payments and high interest rates. You know the drill. We need house rules to protect our investments and keep to us out of trouble.
God designed the tithing house rule for our protection and his House’s livelihood.
a. Nehemiah 13:10 – 13
Babylon destroyed the city of Jerusalem and took the people in exile as slaves. God laid it on Nehemiah’s heart to rebuild Jerusalem and its walls and restore Israel’s identity. In the process of rebuilding we come to these verses. Restoring the neglected tithe hence the neglected temple (verse 11) resulted in the resources being so plentiful that they had to be stored up. It was not a situation of running on empty but always more than sufficient resources to attend to the work of the temple.
Verse 12 highlights a principle that the Mission Board is working toward. There is one account that supports the many ministry realities at Kitchener Community Church from those pooled resources. We have situations presently where some ministries have surplus funds and other ministries have no funds. We intend to address this unequal and inefficient process of funds for ministry.
(I used personal church budget realities against ministry activity and needs and how our situation raises the question of verse 11, “Why is the house of God neglected?”)
b. Malachi 3:10a
While the “house of God” is bigger than our KCC realities, it begins at home. Tithing begins with the responsibility of running the temple (food in my house – v. 10b). God’s promise to such faithfulness is unlimited blessings and economic favour – verses 10c – 11…
Blessings and favour for what purpose? Verse 12…
This demands that we deal with the politics in giving – “I don’t like the way ‘they’ spend the money; there’s not enough going out to missions. There’s not enough put into program.”
The ‘extras’ like mission are a personal expense that should not impact our obligation to the temple (our church) and our obligation to simply make sure the tithe is given to pay the bills, compensate the “hired hands” (officers and support staff) and look after the costs to running the temple for ministry purposes at home. (More personal church budget realities shared here that celebrate the good ministry in the context of KCC life!)
Consistency to tithe will lead to focusing on ministry and program investment because there will be an abundance of tithe stored up! KCC should be giving out of abundance. If our $20,000 deficit does not trouble you it is regrettable that you have not entered into the life of this community to the point of investment and ownership.
3. LOVE FOR GOD AND THE CHURCH WILL LEAD US TO RESPOND TO HIS HOUSE RULES
Like most of you, I could do without picking up my socks, mowing the lawn or setting the table for dinner. But you know why I do it (and for the most part) don’t have to be told to do it? I love my wife! I love being able to help her and that’s what gives me joy in doing the things I’d rather not be bothered with. It's a LOVE THING!
a. Numbers 31:48-54
In addition to the required taxation and tithe established by God, the leaders of the Army decided to give grace gifts to God, over and above what they were required to give. They came out of battle so blessed, so protected, so rich, so thankful that they decided to give out of their acquisition (verse 50)
E.g. – It would be similar to us receiving income that is not the result of our regular work, and we choose to give some of that gift to God as appreciation for the extra that he sent our way.
--“Teaching all OT so far. We live in the New Testament dispensation” some will argue, “We’re not under law but under grace.” And so we are. With that said, we must also consider the place for Jesus’ words when he said in Matthew 5:17, “"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.” We still have an obligation to the O.T. It is still the inspired Word of God and we cannot simply dismiss responsibility to its teaching and behave as if we have no obligation to what it says.
God originally instituted tithing as a lawful instruction. However, while we are expected and instructed to tithe, it is not to be a meaningless, legalistic response. God intends the giving of tithes even in the New Testament, the new Covenant of the modern church. Matthew 23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe…and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.”
b. Malachi 3
This chapter focuses on the theme that God pulled his blessing from his people and warns of coming to purify his people again – verse 7…
The people are invited to return to him if they would have him return to them and they ask, “How are we to return?” The answer leads to teaching on tithing. (Read 8-15)
The reality is, neglect toward our financial obligations to God and pocketing what doesn’t belong to us robs us of relationship with God and the full blessing of his provision and presence in our lives.
There is reward for those who fear God and pay attention (10b, 16-18)
E.g. “I’ve been tithing and I still can’t pay the bills. I don’t see a lot of blessing being poured out as God says in verse 10.” His promise was not necessarily only material in nature or for personal benefit always. There are countless stories however of resources showing up when and where least expected. God does however promise blessings we can’t contain. Each of us must evaluate our current realities against the promise and look to God for answers to those tough situations where answers don’t come easy. Whatever the situation, we need to recognize that regardless of outcomes it doesn’t affect our responsibility with tithe since it is not ours to spend.
The bottom line: if we are going to have God’s blessing; if God is to lavishly pour out his goodness in our personal and corporate lives, it includes our response to our financial resources and our willingness to purify our behaviour in this regard. People who do not take God’s instruction seriously cripple the church and her ability to be what God needs her to be, and to do what she should be doing. Furthermore ignoring God’s instructions on giving have personal side-effects and outcomes that rob us in the end of blessing and favour.
E.g. KCC should not have a printed deficit of any amount. KCC should have
WRAP
-- Should we tithe? Absolutely.
-- Should we do it because God says so? Without a doubt.
-- Only because God says so? Not entirely.
-- Then why else? Because we love God so much we can’t help ourselves and we want to advance His Kingdom through KCC.
