Mickey Connolly and Tana Cochran | Rob Andrew | Andrew Morley | Dot Jackson | Phil Ecklund | Michelle and David Webb | Charlie and Lauren Hager
I am Rob Andrew, an 11-year member of St. John’s. I believe that our giving and receiving at St. Johns is part of our worship of Christ. It is God’s plan that the more we give the more we receive. God does not specifically command that we give, tithe, or gift a certain amount. However, the bible strongly encourages our giving, which results in reward.
God’s word via Moses in Deuteronomy tells us that we should set aside 1/10th of our produce and give back to God of our “first fruits”. Jesus tells us in Matthew to give in private, without expecting praise, and our Father will reward us. Jesus’ brother James reminds us that our faith is dead if it is not accompanied by action.
We would be foolish to believe that wealth and money come only from our talents, brains, or blind luck. I believe that God uses money as the ultimate test of where our hearts really lie. What better way to examine each of us than to see if we give our first fruits back to Him. When we do, I have found that we are blessed with even more abundance.
Many years ago, I received a very large bonus check at work. I recall the angst and justifying I went through as I considered giving 10% of it to the church. It was a large amount for me and there were many expenses for which it could have been used. It was a hard- I mean really hard-check to write! But immediately after writing it, even before it went into the plate, I felt a peace about my decision. Looking back now, I can’t even remember what items I considered buying and am no worse off for it. But I do know that God has continued to bless my family and me. I believe He does because we give of our first fruits to Him.
We are required to be faithful stewards of the gifts that our Father has given us. We honor God with our resources. We worship Him and not our money. To some, the greatest threat to loving God is love of money. But tithing comes back around in blessings that we may not expect or think we deserve. So, when you are getting ready to cash your next paycheck or bonus, what will you do? Who do you worship? Where will your first fruits go?
