The end of the year is coming and one of the many things we receive in the mail, other than election propaganda, are the many appeals for money from charities. Many faith communities also have an emphasis on financial support of the church. Today’s scriptures give us some scriptural background as we consider our response to these many worthwhile causes and balance them against the demands on our finances by the real world. So read on and consider these words from Mark’s gospel but first:
• Do you remember a fund raising campaign that was particularly effective in reaching you? What were some of the elements that brought the message home to you?
*Mark 12:41-44 Sitting across from the offering box, he was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins—a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, “The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all.” * All scriptures are from The Message Version
• How comfortable are you with the idea that Jesus might be watching us put money into the collection tray? What might be some positives and negatives of this kind of reality?
• In what way are the rich criticized in this scripture? How is their contribution different from the widow’s? Is contributing out of abundance a bad thing?
• What is the widow praised for? What would be some explanations for her willingness to contribute everything she had to live on? Is this a practical – real world- understanding of what we should put into the collection tray?
• How might this apply to us when we feel we don’t have the ability to make a significant contribution to some portion (not necessarily financial) of our congregational life?
• What do you think that Jesus has in mind in telling this story? Is it a stewardship message? If so how would you use it to make a decision on your contributions (financially and otherwise) to the work of the church?
• One of the questions raised by the story is how much is enough, what guidelines should we use to determine the level of our financial and personal support of the congregation? One of the ideas used to determine an appropriate level of support is the tithe. This word or concept does not appear in the New Testament, its roots are in the Old Testament (See below). How does the idea of the tithe enter into your giving decisions?
Some of the classic scriptures used during church fund raising campaigns come from 2 Corinthians 8-9 in which Paul is urging support for a collection which will be used to support the church in Jerusalem which was in great need. Read each scripture, consider its message and reflect on its relevance on your thinking about financial support of an church or cause:
8:7 You do so well in so many things—you trust God, you’re articulate, you’re insightful, you’re passionate, you love us—now, do your best in this, too. 8-9 I’m not trying to order you around against your will. But by bringing in the Macedonians’ enthusiasm as a stimulus to your love, I am hoping to bring the best out of you. You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us—in one stroke he became poor and we became rich.
9:10 This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.
9: 12-15 Carrying out this social relief work involves far more than helping meet the bare needs of poor Christians. It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God. This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ… Meanwhile, moved by the extravagance of God in your lives, they’ll respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need.
• In the real world what are some of the factors we should use in making a decision as to how much to include on our pledge form each year? Are there any special considerations as we live in this time of transition?
Closing Prayer
(From Old *Sarum Primer)
God be in my head and in my understanding.
God be in my eyes and in my looking.
God be in my mouth and in my speaking.
God be in my heart and in my thinking.
God be at my end and in my departing.
Amen
*The Sarum Primer is a collection of prayers and worship resources developed in Salisbury, England, during the 13th century. It was used throughout England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, as well as some parts of continental Europe, until the Reformation.Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: 1 Samuel 1:4-20 or Daniel 12:1-3, 1 Samuel 2:1-10 or Psalm 16, Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18), 19-25, Mark 13:1-8
Some History of the Tithe (From several sources)
Under the Old Covenant God made with the children of Israel, he commanded various ordinances pertaining to the institution of the temple with its attendant Priests and Levites. One of these ordinances was the tithe. The tithe consisted of 10% of what the land produced as crops of grain and fruit and what the Israelite herds produced as offspring.
The nation of Israel was roughly 180 miles long and 60 miles wide and was divided between the tribes with the tribe of Levi being excluded from the land inheritance. In order to provide for the Levites, one tenth of what was produced on the other tribal homelands was given to them so that they would have food for themselves and their families in the Levitical cities where they lived. Likewise, each year one in ten of what was born to the Israelite herds was given to them. After the Levites received their annual share, they selected the best tenth of what they received and gave it to the descendents of Aaron who were the Priests. The tithe of food is the way God provided for the Priests and Levites who had no way to keep sustaining crops or producing herds.
The tithe went into effect after the Children of Israel entered their promised inheritance, the land of Canaan. As they wandered in the desert wastes prior to their entry into the land God had promised them, the Priests and Levites ate manna like everyone else.
When considering the Old Covenant tithe it is important to remember that only those people who owned producing land and herds paid the tithe of food. There was no such thing as a tithe of money. Poor people, even if they owned producing land and herds, did not tithe the increase of their land since everything they had was necessary for their survival. In fact, poor people were included along with the Priests and Levites as recipients of the tithe. Jesus was a carpenter, Peter was a fisherman and Paul was a tentmaker and though they paid the two drachma temple tax, they did not tithe. Jesus was not subject to the tithe ordinance for two reasons. He was a carpenter and he was poor.
Some interpretations of Biblical teachings conclude that although tithing was practiced extensively in the Old Testament, it was never practiced or taught within the first-century Church. Instead the New Testament scriptures are seen as teaching the concept of "freewill offerings" as a means of supporting the church. Also, some of the earliest groups sold everything they had and held the proceeds in common to be used for the furtherance of the Gospel: Acts 2:44-47, Acts 4:34-35. Further, Acts 5:1-20 contains the account of a man and wife who were living in one of these groups. They sold a piece of property and donated only part of the selling price to the church but claimed to have given the whole amount and immediately 'fell down and died' when confronted by the apostle Peter over their dishonesty.
Most New Testament discussion promotes giving and does not mention tithing. 2 Corinthians 9:7 talks about giving cheerfully; 2 Corinthians 8:3 encourages giving what you can afford; 1 Corinthians 16:2 discusses giving weekly (although this is a saved amount for Jerusalem); 1 Timothy 5:18 exhorts supporting the financial needs of Christian workers; Acts 11:29 promotes feeding the hungry wherever they may be; and James 1:27 states that pure religion is to help widows and orphans. Tithes were mentioned in councils at Tours in 567 and at Mâcon in 585 they were formally recognized under Pope Adrian I in 787.
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