What is God wanting from us?
I'm always amused how so many churches spend so much time and energy during church services devoted to "the tithing message". I've personally been in churches as I'm sure we all have that actually devote more time in a service to this message than they do to the actual message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Tell me, what's with that?
I'm probably going to upset some people here and if this does then please forgive me, it's really not my intention. I just believe so strongly that God is so much bigger than this!
Look, I am very aware that each local church needs funds to continue to operate each week, I'm sure we all are. The problem I have is why don't we practice what we preach? I'm certain like me, you have heard soooooo many messages on Gods provision and "trusting God with our finances" but it seems when it comes to the local church we can't seem to do that. Trust God with our finances!
If we truly think that God "needs" our money then we don't understand God! Does He want us to give? Yes of course He does! Paul says it very clearly here... "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. (II Corinthians 9:7 NKJV) "A cheerful giver"
How can one be a "cheerful" giver if each Sunday they are being reminded that they must give of their tithes AND offerings and why it's so important to give and how blessed you will be if you give and what you will receive in return if you give etc etc etc...
God is interested in our hearts, not our money. He is interested in loving us unconditionally. He is interested in each of us personally, so much so that He gave up His one and only son to pursue us! Let's face it, God doesn't want 10% of us ( a tithe ) He wants ALL of us! Think about it, God didn't "tithe" Jesus to us. He didn't give us 10% of Jesus, He gave us ALL of Jesus! He doesn't want 10% of our finances, He wants ALL of our finances, He wants ALL of our time, ALL of our devotion, ALL of our love.... Simply He wants ALL of who we are so that He can use ALL of who we are!
Again let me make it clear here. I'm NOT saying don't give to your local church. Xene and I have always given and will continue to do so because we believe that is exactly what The Lord would have us do. We do it cheerfully and without coercion! In our local church (and this is just our practice I’m not suggesting for one minute it should be others) we don’t ever give a “giving” message. We have a bucket placed nearby and if anyone is led to give they do! Some choose to give directly into the church account and we are forever grateful. But we will never coerce anyone to give. We totally believe it is between them and God!
In these last days, my prayer is that we keep focused on what is REALLY important here. Let's focus on the message of the cross, the message of the infinite love of the Father and His Son Jesus! Let's focus on a world that is lost and broken and offering them a better way through the love and Grace of God!
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18 NKJV)
