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What does the Bible say about giving to the church? It’s always a pivotal moment in a person’s participation with any group when they make that step from being an observer to being a supportive member. There comes that decisive moment when a person says, “I want to be a part of making sure this keeps happening!” Not only receiving the blessing then, but also giving so that others can receive it as well. The same is true in church. There comes a time when we have been worshipping at a church when we are asked to support its ministry. It’s a decisive time when we say “I believe in what this church is doing and I want to be a part of it.” One of the clearest ways to do that at MCC is by making a Faith Promise. A Faith Promise is a prayerfully considered financial commitment to the work of the Lord at MCC. A Faith Promise is a serious step and yet also brings a great blessing. As we consider our financial commitment to the work of the Lord at MCC in the next year, here are some thoughts from the Bible to help guide us. Since the creation of Israel’s place of worship, the Tabernacle, in Exodus 40, God provided a system of giving. Like supporting a church the people of Israel would provide for the ministry at the Tabernacle, and for those who oversee this ministry. Two characteristics were consistent: first, that the gift would come from the first of all that they had, and second, that it be a tenth, or 10% of all that they had. Speaking to Moses, the Lord said in Leviticus 23:10, "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest.” This system provided for the Levites who were the ones who served in the Tabernacle and it was made up of a tenth, or 10%, of all they had. Even the Levites gave a tenth of their income to the Lord as an offering. In Numbers 18:26 we read "Speak to the Levites and say to them: 'When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord's offering.” This is a principle that is worth keeping in mind. God, when He established the offering system, not only established where we get our offering from, (the first of what we have), but also, how much we should strive to give, (10%). It is good to remember that giving is not a just a man made suggestion, but actually a command from the Lord. Now, as we enter the New Testament, God’s people are still called upon to support the work of the church but the focus changes a little from the command of God to the blessings of God! Jesus says in Luke 6:38, “Give and it shall be given to you.” Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 9, “Each person should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times; having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” Did you heart that? As we give to the Lord, we in turn are the recipients of blessings, the blessings of joy and a “harvest of righteousness.” Giving is part of our spiritual growth. And as we give we grow! As you consider your Faith Promise to MCC for this coming year, please pray over these instructions from the Lord. This year’s proposed budget is not extraordinary, but our church is. God is at work through MCC reaching Middleton and the North Shore with the Gospel of Jesus Christ! May the responsibility of supporting God’s work, and the blessing of joyful giving, be shared by all of us at MCC this coming year! See You on the 18th! Larry Schell
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LARRY'S
LETTER - May 2008