So Whose Is It Anyways?

Whether we realize it or not, the way we think about things is substantially formed by our world view, the lens by which we view all. When we talk about the physical world around us do we refer to Mother Nature, or God’s creation? When we make decisions about how to spend our time and use our resources what frame of reference do we work from? Do we use a secular one and start from the assumption that our time and resources are ours to do with as we please, or do we understand that we as Christians are not our own, we were bought at a price. In our natural state we are slaves to sin, through Christ’s redeeming work on the cross we have been freed from that to serve God, not out of guilt, but out of gratitude and joy for what he has done for us.

Stewardship

My understanding of ”whose is it anyways?” has been formed over my lifetime. Let’s begin with the creation account. When God formed the world and created Adam what mandate did he give? For him to tend and keep the Garden of Eden. A stewardship responsibility, to care from someone else’s property. After all who owns a creation, but the creator! As the Psalmist David says “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1).

The next is a reflection on the Law of Moses and how the children of Israel were directed to steward their resources. The Israelites were instructed to give the first fruits of their land, their animals and their first born son to God. The firstborn son was to be redeemed with 5 shekels of silver. The Israelites were also instructed to give a tithe (10%) of the produce of their land (animals and crops), it is holy to the Lord.

Giving out of Generosity, Not Compulsion

So what does the New Testament teach on tithing and giving? We are no longer under law but under grace. The only verses in the gospels that uses the word tithe directly is Mathew 23:23 (and its parallel in Luke) “Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law; justice and mercy and faithfulness. Those you ought to have done without neglecting the others.” Though the focus on this verse is that the Pharisees were neglecting very important matters, it does affirm that tithing of your crops is appropriate, though including the minor crops of herbs is much less important than justice, mercy and faithfulness.

On the matter of giving 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 states –

“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times you may abound in every good work”.

An encouragement to be generous and give cheerfully.

Jesus is Lord

And who is Jesus? He is my Lord and Saviour. We talk much about Jesus being our Saviour, but what about Lord? We no longer live in a society where Lords wield any power. We don’t know what the term means. If you think back to the feudal lords of Europe what did the term lord mean then? The lord owned all of the land and buildings and the peasants were tenant farmers. The lord took a significant portion of the proceeds of the land as was their right, and the rest was left for the peasants to survive on. At times when the need arose the lord would require more from the tenants at his pleasure. With western ideas of property ownership and human rights this seems very strange to us, we are used to a lot more autonomy.

So let’s bring these ideas together. It is not mine, it is God’s, I am just a steward of it. God asks for the first fruits, off the top. Tithing (10%) is a clear direction in the Old Testament, but much less clear in the New. God calls us to be generous and give cheerfully. Jesus is Lord.

Shelley and I have come to the clear understanding that our house and property, our money and all that we have is not ours, but God’s. We are just stewards of it. We have learned to be content with what we have.

We no longer live in an agrarian society, so what is appropriate for today? I am of the belief that we are called to start by giving 10% of our income off the top to God. I do that as a donation to the local church. In some sense this redeems the rest of the money for us to use at our discretion, unless God calls upon it. There have been times where he has asked for considerably more, and then I must obey, it is His after all. Out of other resources and remaining income we give our offerings to God out of a grateful heart.

Stewards of More Than Just Money

While what we do with our money is significant, we also need to reflect on how we use our time and the other resources that God has given us. As we grow to understand that we are just managers of what God has given us, we need to hold our time and resources in open hands, so that God can use them as He has need of them. Are we being a good steward of the resources God has entrusted to us? Do each of us need to prayerfully reflect on what God would have us do in this regard?

I would encourage you when you are ready, to offer yourself and your resources in prayer to God to be used as he sees fit. May God be glorified through it all.