The Scituate Spire
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, 660 Country Way, Scituate, MA 02066
The Rev. Dr. Leo D Christian. Pastor Church Office 545-0058
Email: [email protected]. Web site www.firstbaptistscituate.com
Vol. 57 No. 2 -- February, 2015
THE GRACE OF GIVING
I want to write this month about a topic which can be sensitive to some. It
has been said, ‘I don’t like to go to church. All they ever talk about is
money.’ I am sure in some churches that might be the case, but in our church,
in the past five years, we have never broached the topic of giving.
So why would we be discussing this now? Let me give you a few reasons.
First, as a congregation who believes the Bible we must be willing to talk
about the whole counsel of God, of which our finances are an important
topic. In fact the Lord Jesus used money as an illustration more than any
other topic. Jesus Himself tells us why: “For where your treasure is your
heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) We learn from these words that giving is
a heart issue, not merely a financial issue. Thus, as a congregation we need to
remind ourselves of these precious truths.
A second reason that we look at this topic now is that our congregation has
undergone change. With change there is a need for information and teaching.
Those coming into our church from other traditions love their new church
and want to know how they can also care for its needs and ministries. It is a
point of fellowship for them. As they share in the fellowship of the Word so
they also need to respond in the fellowship of giving. St. Paul said to the
Corinthians, “But you excel in everything; in faith, in speech, in knowledge,
in complete earnestness and in your love for us, see that you excel in this
grace of giving” (2Cor.8:7).
Here are a few helpful principles stated in both the Old and New Testament:
First, Who Is Supposed To Give?
Every one of us who has received God’s Gift of Grace. As the book of
Deuteronomy states: "Every man shall give as he is able" (Deut. 16:17). St.
Paul writes to the church at Corinth what he had already told the churches in
Galatia, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order
to the churches of Galatia, even so do you. Upon the first day of the week let
every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there
be no gatherings when I come.” This Scripture shows that the church was to
depend upon a systematic offering from its people for its support.
in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity, for God loves a
cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7).
I am sure that we as believers understand that everything is God’s. "The
silver and the gold are mine, says the Lord" (Hagg. 2:8). "Every beast of the
forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. If I were hungry, I would
not tell thee: for the world is mine and the fullness thereof" (Ps. 50:10, 12).
We also understand that it is the Lord who provides us with the opportunity
to acquire wealth. “Thou shall remember the Lord thy God: for it is He who
gives thee power to get wealth" (Deut. 8:18). These things being true we
must heed the words of the Lord Jesus, "It is more blessed to give than to
receive" (Acts 20:35).
These passages do not negate the need to tithe. Rather they were intended to
show the spirit in which the tithe and other gifts over and above the tithe
should be made. In essence it is not merely the amount, for Christ honored
the widow’s mite; rather it is that we give in the same spirit that we have
received, for the Lord. As Jesus said "Freely you have received, freely give"
(Matt. 10:8). Giving is a point of obedience and faith to the Lordship of
Christ. When we give to the work of the Lord, we in essence are only giving
back to Him what he has already given to us.
Second, How Much Should We Give?
There have been those who purport tithing which means a tenth or 10%, and
those who purport what is called proportional giving. In either of these
ideologies the idea is that each of us is giving our fair share to help meet the
need of the ministry that God has called us to be a part of.
In the Old Testament Law God instituted the tithe, this way whether we have
great wealth or meager means we are proportionally equal in our giving.
"And all the tithe (a tenth part) of the land, whether of the seed of the land,
or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's; it is holy unto the Lord. And
concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passes
under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord." Leviticus 27:30
In the New Testament under the gospel of grace it is not to be expected that
less should be given than was required by the Law. Let me try to explain this
proportional giving with an illustration of a New Testament believer.
Suppose a faithful Jewish person became a follower of Christ and he was
accustomed to giving his tithe. When he is converted to Christ do you think
that he would feel justified in giving less now that he has received so much
more in Christ? With proportional giving, as the blessings are greater, so the
offering is proportional. What has changed is not so much the amount of the
gift as it is the motive. If the Law required a tithe how much more would
grace inspire our love to give to the things of the Lord?
Here are a few passages that might help you understand the portion that we
should give - as: “God hath prospered you" (1 Cor. 16:2); "If there be first a
willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according
to that he hath not" (2 Cor. 8:12); "Every man according as he purposes
Third, Is There A Special or Right Time For Us To Give?
My immediate answer is no, although giving should be planned and
consistent. St. Paul's instruction to the church at Corinth is "Upon the first
day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath
prospered him. (1 Cor. 16:2). It is usual to give on the weekly basis as each
of us weekly come to worship. Yet there are folks who get paid every other
week, some once a quarter or those who work for themselves, at the
completion of each job.
I had one friend who was very generous but he did not know until December
what his income was until end of the year. On the last week of December he
would write a check. The idea of St. Paul is to be consistent.
We learn also from Solomon to “Honor the Lord with your substance, and
with the first fruits of all your increase; so shall your barns be filled with
plenty..." (Proverbs 3:9, 10).
This idea of first fruits includes the idea of faith giving. We are not to be
giving God the left-overs; rather give to Him upfront what we had
determined and trust Him to provide our needs.
Someone asked me, “Should I give to the church if I am not at services that
week?” I explained that our gift is not paying for the weekly services that we
receive but part of our overall commitment to ministries of the church. When
Cindy and I are away we try to make sure our check still gets to the church
even if we give two the next week. Whatever schedules work for you is right
as long as it is consistent and comes in the spirit of the generosity of Christ.
Lastly, Where Should We Give Our Gift?
“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My
house." (Malachi 3:10). Making our offering to the Lord is thus associated
with the worship of the Lord. In the Old Testament they brought their gift to
the synagogue. In the New Testament they brought their gift to the
congregation.
This does not mean that we cannot be generous in other Christian endeavors,
for there are many which are worthy of our support. What it does mean is
that the local church is the primary place from which God does His work in
the world. It should be the local church that supports missions and
associations, for it is in the local church where there is a system of checks
and balances. We must remember that giving is an act of worship as much as
it is an act of obedience. As we mentioned earlier giving is a mirror of the
heart.
Conclusion
In the Gospel of St. Luke chapter sixteen Jesus, in giving us the parable of
the shrewd steward, concludes with these words: “He that is faithful in that
which is least is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least is
unjust also in much. If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous
mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not
been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is
your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one,
and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You
cannot serve God and money.”
As we are about to enter the business of the upcoming months, let each of us
remember our commitment to Christ and His Church. Let me close with the
words of St. Paul: "But this I say, He which sows sparingly shall reap also
sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully"
(2 Cor. 9:6).
February Days to Remember
Birthdays Carol Miles (5)
Wayne Robbins Jr (12)
Rebeccah Serino (16)
Alanna McCravy (18)
Muriel Smith (19)
Spyer News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
with Snoopy Sue
Following a delicious luncheon provided by the congregation of First Baptist
Scituate the 2015 Annual Meeting was held. The meeting was held by the
Steering Committee, chaired by Gary Ludwig of First Baptist, Hingham.
Gary considers First Baptist Scituate as the committee’s “opportunity to do
mission here.” Diane Badger, the Committee Treasurer enlightened us
regarding our finances and commends First Baptist as “faithful stewards of
our endowment.” Marlene Gil, despite a bad cough, spoke; Cheryl Hebert
and Michael Dickinson attended also. Pastor Leo encouraged us to
“embrace each other, love each other.” He would like us to come back
stronger, and not just coast along! Overall, an encouraging event!
We now look forward to our Geoffrey Hicks concert which will take place
on Sunday. Feb. 15 at 6 pm. Dr. Hicks is a pianist, composer, performer,
lecturer, recording artist, arranger and conductor! A musician of many
talents! The Boston Globe said he can swing a crowded room into a state of
bliss! The Boston Magazine says he tickles the ivories with tunes of
Gershwin and Porter. Bay State Banner – he just blew us away with a
fabulous piano and voice. Ron Della Chiesa of WGBH Radio says he sings
in a style which reminds me of Nat King Cole Now, if all that does not
persuade you to come to the concert, I don’t know what will!
Grace and peace
The First Snowfall by James Russell Lowell
Pastor Leo
The snow had begun in the gloaming, and busily all the night
Had been heaping fields and highway with a silence deep and white.
Every pine and fir and hemlock wore ermine too dear for an earl,
And the poorest twig on the elm tree was ridged inch deep with pearl.
From sheds new-roofed with Carrara came Chanticleer’s muffled crow,
The stiff rails were softened to swan’s down, and still fluttered down the snow.