2-16-25 “Stewardship Month #3: Our Faith in God’s Ownership”

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“Stewardship Month #3: Our Faith in God’s Ownership”

I want to start with something funny that I found on an internet site: A man died and went to heaven. He arrived at the Pearly Gates, where St. Peter welcomed him and led him down the golden streets. As they walked, they passed by grand mansions and beautiful estates. But at the end of the road, they stopped in front of a small shack. The man asked St. Peter why he was given such a simple hut when there were so many magnificent mansions where he would be more comfortable. St. Peter replied, “I did the best with the money you sent us.”

The Gospel of Matthew says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21, NIV). Some people understand this passage to mean that our offerings are like a savings account in heaven. Do you believe that?

How many of you have health insurance? What about life insurance? Most of us likely have some form of insurance. But what if we could have eternal life insurance? What if we could buy a ticket to heaven?

In the 15th century, the Roman Catholic Church practiced indulgences, which means “forgiveness of sins.” Originally, indulgences were granted to veterans who had participated in the Crusades as a way to comfort those suffering from trauma. However, over time, indulgences became a tool for encouraging financial contributions to the Church. Eventually, the Church began selling indulgences, claiming they could even save the souls of those who had already died. These funds were used to construct grand temple.

In 1517, Martin Luther protested against this practice, boldly stating, “We are saved through faith in Jesus Christ alone, by the grace of God.” His actions sparked the Protestant Reformation, leading to the establishment of many denominational churches, such as Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Baptist traditions. Today, we no longer believe that forgiveness can be bought with money.

Now, let’s talk about tithing. Many of us were taught that tithing means giving one-tenth of our income to the church. But I believe its meaning has been misunderstood. Before it’s too late, let’s uncover the true purpose of tithing. In today’s scripture, God commands His people to set aside a tenth of their harvest as an act of worship. Verses 22-23 say: “Set apart a tithe of all the yield of your seed that is brought in yearly from the field. In the presence of the Lord your God, in the place that He will choose as a dwelling for His name, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, your wine, and your oil, as well as the firstlings of your herd and flock, so that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always.”

Did you notice that this passage does not say to bring tithes only to the church? First, we set aside a tithe as an offering of gratitude to God, recognizing that He is our provider. The passage says that you shall eat the tithe in the presence of the Lord. What does this mean? The answer is in verses 27 and 29: “As for the Levites residing in your towns, do not neglect them, because they have no allotment or inheritance with you. The Levites, as well as the resident aliens, the orphans, and the widows in your towns, may come and eat their fill so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work that you undertake.” Tithing is about more than giving money; it is about generosity, justice, and care for others. It supports the work of God’s kingdom—feeding the hungry,

supporting ministry and extending grace to the needy. True tithing is not just about Sunday offerings, but about how we live every day.
As a church, we do this well. We collect financial donations and food to support those in need. We contribute to missions and provide for church staff whose work is dedicated to ministry. Setting aside a tenth of what we produce is a confession of faith, made with gratitude and joy.

But here is something even more important: Tithing is not just about money. It is a declaration of God’s grace, a confession of His ownership over our lives, and a commitment to faithful living. Do you think God’s grace and ownership are only about money? God is the owner of our very lives. If we believe that, we should dedicate ourselves as living sacrifices, not merely give money. The Scripture Romans 12:1 says: “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual act of worship.”

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, preached in his sermon, The Good Steward: “Everything you have is a gift from God, including your ideas, wisdom, understanding, imagination, money, and, of course, your body—your senses, sight, hearing, and even your loved ones. We should use everything to the glory of God. That is good stewardship. But when He requires our souls of us, we can no longer be stewards.” This means tithing is not just financial. It includes our time, energy, talents, gifts, abilities, and wisdom. The Apostle Paul says: “The gifts He gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-12) In other words, we should dedicate ourselves to church ministry according to our gifts.

Let’s make a plan to dedicate our tithe of time, energy, talent, ability, gifts, and resources to the glory of God. You can volunteer in your community, read the Bible, worship, pray, shovel snow for your neighbors, offer a helping hand, or take care of wildlife.
The first purpose of tithing is to confess that everything we have is a gift from God. The Israelites did not tithe out of obligation, but as a joyful recognition that their blessings came from the Lord. We do not tithe because God needs our resources; we tithe because we recognize that He has already provided for us. Tithing is not about paying a debt to God, but celebrating His love and faithfulness. When we give back to God, we acknowledge Him as the source of our provision and trust in His continued blessings. Our tithe is our testimony that He alone is the owner of our lives.

Let us not see tithing as an obligation, but as an opportunity to declare God’s goodness, trust in His provision, and live as faithful stewards of His kingdom. I conclude with Malachi 3:10: “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Put Me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.”
Thanks be to God. Amen!