Forget Ten Percent, what's a tithe -- REALLY?????

This is what we commonly call 'Stewardship Emphasis' time in the life of our church. Really, every Sunday is 'Stewardship Emphasis' time because each time we worship, we are called to respond to the goodness of God by pledging our entire selves, body, mind and spirit, to God. But, once during the year we make a special emphasis on sharing of resources so that the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ though this church might not only continue, but be expanded. This year, we decided to name the thing most Protestants don't want to name: Tithing. In our Judeo-Christian history, a tithe meant offering ten percent of the first fruits, the best we have, to God. It is all over the Hebrew Scriptures and spoken of in the New Testament as well. But, ten percent is an arbitrary designation when it comes to the best we have, and a tithe really is an emotional commitment to far more than that. On the first week of our Emphasis time, September 11th, we spoke of King David, who, during a war with the Philistines (wasn't he ALWAYS at war with the Philistines????) longed for water from a well near Bethlehem, which they occupied. Three of his mighty warriors stole through enemy lines to bring him a drink, which he promptly poured out as a sacrifice to God.
So, a tithe is a sacrifice, first and foremost. The question we are called to ask is: Is God worth our sacrifice? Certainly, God thought we were worth God's sacrifice -- see Jesus Christ, cross, death, etc. for reference.
The second week, we spoke of the Prophet Jeremiah, who, in the middle of a war -- again, (weren't the ancient Hebrews always at war with someone?????) and while imprisoned himself, buys a field, a plot of land as an investment in the future. Even though the war was sure to be lost, and the people were sure to suffer.
So, a tithe is like a field. The question we are called to ask is: What's our field? And is our field worth stepping out in trust of God?
This week, Pastor Grant Palma will be preaching (his first sermon here, YAY!) on the passage in St. Matthew's gospel where Jesus calls his first disciples.
So, a tithe is calling. And the question we are called to ask is: Who is calling us, and to what? And, is that calling worth sacrifice, trust and investing in a future we cannot even know or see.
Come and share worship this Sunday, hear Pastor Grant, and let the Holy Spirit of God work on your heart and in your life.
Come and share your 'tithe' -- a.