Reconciliation and Generosity

Many of you have heard me say by now that returning God’s tithes and our offerings is not about the money, nor is it about paying the church’s bills, nor, either, is it about giving so that you can call the shots. Giving to God’s work through the church is first and foremost a spiritual discipline, and in worship it is part of our responding to the reading and proclamation of the word. 

However, to leave it simply in those terms is to present, at best, an incomplete understanding of what it means to biblically and faithfully return God’s tithes and our offerings. What if I told you that as part of our financial stewardship we are called to be reconciled to those with whom we have some unfinished business?

Yes, that’s right - part of our practice of returning God’s tithes and our offerings is to pursue reconciliation with those that have something against us.

Before we go too much further, take a moment to consider again that last part about “pursuing reconciliation with those that have something against us.” THAT is a whole other matter than simply forgiving those with whom we have a beef. Let us hear from the words of our Lord as recorded in Matthew 5:23-26 - 

“So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.”

Now we’re getting personal, aren’t we? Not only are we called to forgive those who have done us wrong but now we are called to go out and pursue reconciliation with those who have a beef with us?

In a word, yup. But why? We can’t control how others respond to us.

Yes, that is true. The kicker is, though, our actions are not about what the other does as much as it is about us needing to do our best to be reconciled to all.

Returning God’s tithes and our offerings is all about reconciliation. Under the law, the faithful were called to leave their tithes and offerings as a way to make peace with God; with Jesus’ sacrifice being the way into which we are reconciled once and for all with God, we offer God’s tithes and our offerings not so much out of obligation as much as out of thanksgiving. After all, we know now there is no sacrifice we could possibly attempt to reconcile us totally with God - only the body and blood of Christ could accomplish that miracle.

Along with returning God’s tithes and our offerings as an act of grateful worship to give thanks to God’s reconciling work in Christ, and as a way to continue God’s work through the community of faith, we are called to be people of reconciliation. Much as far from repealing the mandate of the tithe Jesus actually raised the bar for giving generously to God through the church, Jesus also in this discussion raises the bar for His people to pursue reconciliation with all because of his sacrifice bringing the ultimate reconciliation between creator and created.

Allow me to close with this: In no way do I presume to think this is easy work. Far from it, in fact. However, as we read in Philippians 4:13, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Praise be to God! 

Grace & Peace,
Lamar