Divine Lunacy: Paying vs. Returning

Today, at church, I am responsible for the offering appeal.  This is my least favorite duty at church.  Why?  I loathe asking people to cough up their hard earned money, even if it is what God has asked of us all.  I loathe asking, because we should all be joyous about returning our tithes and offerings to the God that provided it for us in the first place, but instead, we see it as an obligation.

I think people view tithes and offerings in the same manner as taxes.  We have to pay or else.  With taxes that is true, but with a few differences.  If you don't "pay" tithes and offerings, no one is going to send you a bill with interest that is compounded daily.  If you don't "pay" tithes and offerings, no one is going to arrest you, try you in a court of law, and put you in prison for tithes and offerings evasion.

There is another glaring difference.  When we "pay" tithes and offerings (especially with a willing and happy heart, mind, and soul), God has promised to "open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams." (Malachi 3:10, MSG)  I don't believe the IRS can or will match that kind of promise.

Some of you may be wondering why I have typed pay in quotation marks.  Because when we "pay" our tithes and offerings, we aren't really paying God.  We are actually returning to Him what He has provided for us.  Another glaring difference between the IRS and God.  The IRS hasn't given us anything of account for our troubles and they keep wanting to tax us for every little thing!  (Isn't this one of the reasons we left England?)  In all the time I have known God, He has never once asked for more than 10% of my income.  Ten percent and whatever I deem for other offerings.  That's it.  No more; no less.  Seems to me that the IRS might do well, to take a page from God's Book, don't you think?

Anyway, it isn't easy coming up with new and fresh ideas for something we should be doing without prompting.  I long for the day when people will just walk up to a pastor, elder, or deacon and say (with a huge smile):  "Where do I return my tithes and offerings?"

Divine Lunacy Speaks Softly...

A friend of mine posted a news story on FaceBook today.  It was about a man on his way home from work.  He got off the subway one stop early to eat dinner at his favorite diner.  As he was starting to climb the stairs, a teenager pulled a knife and demanded his money.  He handed the kid his wallet and then said, "If you are going to spend the night robbing people, you better take this, too."  Then proceded to hand the kid his coat.  The kid couldn't believe it.  He asked the man why and the man responded that the kid must need the money even more than he did and that he didn't want to kid to be cold while he was out robbing people.  Then he gave the kid an option.  He could take the coat and wallet and continue to rob people or he could go with the man to the diner and have dinner.  The kid accepted the dinner invitation.  During the course of the dinner, the servers, cooks, cashier, and even the dishwashers came over to say "Hi" and chat for a moment.  Impressed, the kid asked the man if he owned the diner. The man said no, but that he ate there often.  The kid said, "But you're even nice to the dishwashers!"  The man asked the teen, "Didn't anyone ever teach you to be nice to people?"  The kid replied, "Yeah, but I didn't think people actually behaved that way."  When he asked the teen what he wanted out of life, the teen looked sad.  He couldn't (or wouldn't) answer.  When the bill came, the man told the teen he would have to pay, since he had the man's wallet.  Or, if he would give it back, the man would gladly pay for their dinners.  Not only did he give the man back his wallet, he gave him the knife.

It made me think of that verse in the Bible, Proverbs 15:1, which reads:  "A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire." (The Message)

This man was that verse in action.  He could have yelled and brought all kinds of people; he could have said unkind things to the kid.  He could have done a hundred different things, all knee-jerk reactions to the situation, I'm sure.  But he didn't.  He responded with a soft answer.  Instead of seeing some attitude-laden, trouble making, good for nothing punk, he saw a scared, hungry, hurting kid.  Instead of finding a police officer or subway cop to arrest the kid and cart him off, he invited him to dinner.  Instead of lecturing the teen on how he was wasting his life, the man asked him what he wanted from life.  This man was Jesus with skin on to this kid and this kid's life will never be the same, of that I am sure.  Oh, he will have to make a choice as to what kind of life he will lead.  Now, however, he has been shown that there is good in this world; that people are capable of being kind and caring, even to total strangers.

Father-God, I lift up this young teen to you.  I pray that this man's brief influence be profound in this teen's life.  That the echo of it will reverberate long and loud and that he will find his way.  I ask that you bring more people into this young man's life like our hero; more people who will show this troubled boy Your tender love and care.  I ask for a special blessing on our hero.  May he continue to touch the lives of those around him with his gentle, yet strong spirit.  Thank you, Abba.  I ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen

I hope I, too, can learn from this man.  That my words and actions will be a hand up and not a slap down to others.

God be with each of you today and always.