SPIRITUAL MALNUTRITION - THE GROWING POWER OF A GRATEFUL HEART

“You start totaling up a church budget and dividing it by the number of giving units in the church to determine ‘what’s my share.’  That spells bankruptcy for the church and spiritual malnutrition for you.  The question is, ‘What proportion can I return for God’s work in order to signify and symbolize and confess before everyone that all I am and all I have comes from God?’” (Rev. Albert C. Winn, former Louisville Presbyterian Seminary president, seen in 2/2006 PNK Connections).”

Are you spiritually malnourished?  Albert Winn and I have concerns about your spiritual health.  To address the state of your spiritual health, I offer some ideas which mirror my concerns from his sermon, “Tithing Is More Than the Number Ten.”

In worship, you hear our liturgist invite you to offer your tithe as your offering.  Do you know what a tithe is?  In the Old Testament a tithe was the portion of monies and sacrifices set aside to support the Temple where all worshiped.  It was also used to support widows who had no other means of support.  Today we understand our offering as our response to God in gratitude for all God’s blessings bountifully poured out on us.

Winn suggests these four principles as our way to tithe to express our commitment to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

1. Regularity:  “To tithe is to give regularly, preferably once a week, week in and week out.”

2. Proportionality:  “To tithe is to give in proportion as you have received.”

3. Priority:  “God’s share comes off the top, not off the bottom.”

4. Risk:  “If we actually give God priority, take God’s share off the top, then we begin to live adventurously.”

According to these principles a tithe is more than just 10% and a tithe is more than a way to help the church budget.  Jesus talks incessantly about how we use our money as an expression of our spiritual health.  Rather than let a tithe become a fixed financial obligation, consider life’s priorities and give accordingly.  “Do not store up for your-selves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume…but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Mt 6: 19-21).  Do not let your life be spiritually malnourished.  Live adventurously. Give back to Jesus so that your life shows how much Jesus loves you and how much you love Jesus – a sign of spiritual health!

Grace and Peace,

Shelley