Giving money as worship
January 4, 2009 10:33 am Daily lifeIt’s that time of the year when I work on the Dopkins annual budget.
I have mentored friends financially, and we eventually touch on the topic of giving money as worship. In these conversations I call it tithing, and I don’t get on a soapbox in front of the wretched sinner before me, unlike me the perfect born-again person, and declare “it’s not tithing until it’s 10%” like some people I know. I think that’s just legalistic and shaming. I don’t feel superior – I know how disobedient and selfish I am. Hopefully that self knowledge transfers to grace and slowness to judge others finances, mixed with actual interest to discuss household money.
Now, while I do agree that the technical definition of “Tithe” is 1/10th, I believe this word has a different definition in our culture- It means giving money to the church or a charitable organization. And I believe it’s important to start when interacting with anyone with a realistic understanding of that cultural definition.
Porter has spoken better than I ever could what giving money as worship means, please take time to listen to it.
I’m working on giving money back to God (since it all came from Him) as obedience. And I have found that I simply do not cut a check and put it in the offering on a weekend. When I go to do it, I find myself looking at the checkbook balance to be sure we can cover it, and deciding to wait maybe until the next paycheck. That’s stupid- we have a budget- I know how much, God willing, we will bring in that month. But I must be truthful and realistic about my hoarding weakness.
The answer for me is auto bill pay. Now, you can tell me all you want that I lose the joy of giving as worship; for me, right now I’m working on obedience- That’s worship, because it’s bowing to God as God. And it’s trusting him and believing he will provide what we need, or learning to, anyway.
