Upwards Church

Our Guatemala Mission Group just got back yesterday. We were able to feed hungry children, give gifts and share the good news of Jesus.

 The missionary we work with said it takes about $450 a month to feed the 100 kids at one feeding center 3 days a week.  This amount is given by some churches, but for every 100 kids fed there are thousands that go hungry each day.  Could the American church feed all hungry children in world?

Thanks to the research organization The Empty Tomb (www.emptytomb.org) we now know the answer to this question.

Here’s what could happen:

If Americans who identify with the historically Christian church had chosen to give 10% to their congregations rather than the 2.43% given per year, there would have been an additional $172 billion available for work through the church.¹ If those members had specified that 60% of their increased giving were to be given to international missions, there would have been an additional $103 billion available for the international work of the church. That would have left an additional $34 billion for domestic missions, including poverty conditions in the U.S.,² and this all on top of our current church activities!

• One source estimates that an additional $70 to $80 billion a year could address the basic needs of the poorest people around the world.³
• Additionally, $5 billion a year⁴ could end the estimated 8.8 million children under five dying around the globe each year.⁵
• Basic primary education for all children around the globe would cost $7 billion a year.⁶
•  The total cost to evangelize the world including ongoing work would $1 billion a year.⁷

This information should encourage us. Progress is possible!

Here is the a graphic to show what was just explained:

It is within the church’s ability in America to end child deaths worldwide, educate all children worldwide, help the poor worldwide and evangelize the world!  We have this capability!

Could we feed all the hungry children in the world?  Yes, if everyone gave 10% like you do. Thanks for doing your part.

Darrell

Tithe online at www.ridgefellowship.com

Doctors, psychologists and counselors say that the healthiest emotion is gratitude.  Gratitude will change your life, your relationships, and everything around you.

It’s no wonder that it’s a biblical command.  “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you” 1 Thessalonians 5:17.    Thirty-four times we are told to “Give thanks” in the Bible!  This passage I just referred to says, “this is God’s will for you.”  God doesn’t want us to miss the power of gratitude.  There has been much written on the power or gratitude.  Just do a Google search and you will find countless books, articles and research that says gratitude is powerful.

Our tithe expresses gratitude to God.   Proverbs reminds us to “Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income.”  Proverbs 3:9  We give appreciation or honor by giving the “first part” of our income or tithing.  It is simply saying, “Thanks God for all you have given me!”

Rick Warren says, “The number one reason we give is out of gratitude for past blessings.  We know that God is the source of all that we have.  He’s the source of our life.  He’s the source of our abilities.  He’s the source of all the natural resources.  He’s the source of everything.  We give because God first gave to us.”

I have to admit that many years ago when I first struggled with the concept of tithing — I prayed, “Are You really sure You need this ten percent more than I need it?”  In time I sensed Lord’s answer, “You’ve missed the whole point.  I don’t need your money.  It’s not your money that I want.  What I want is what it represents. Your money represents your life.  That’s what I want.”

God does not want your money.  He doesn’t need your money.  What He wants is what it represents.  He wants you.  He wants your life.  He wants you to commit yourself to Him.  Then you can give in gratitude.

We give not because God needs it but because we need to give.  It’s all about gratitude.  Giving keeps us from being selfish.  It keeps us from being Scrooges, from being self-centered and thinking we’re our own God and the whole world revolves around us.   Selfish people are unhappy and unhealthy people.  Be grateful and be happy and healthy.

So here’s to good health and happiness!   Darrell

Tithe online at www.ridgefellowship.com

When it comes to tithing, I thought it might be interesting to look at what Jesus said.  As I read the gospels I am blown away how Jesus takes any subject and gets to the heart of the matter.

For Jesus, there was no question whether a person should give to God.  The question was how much? He said things like, “look at this widow, she gave everything” (Luke 21:2-4) as he commends her before the disciples for her giving.   He says things like, “whoever does not give up everything cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33)   He said in the Sermon on the Mount, “you cannot have two masters, you cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24)

There are so many other examples but the point is, Jesus gets to the heart of the matter to reveal that God owns it all.  Giving back to the One who gave it in the first place is a given, and money cannot be first place in your life.

So what does He say about tithing itself?   We see in Matthew 23:23 where he nails the Pharisees for their hyper religion that leaves out some major issues:

23 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You SHOULD tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. Matthew 23:23

When I read this used to think, “How ridiculous!” to tithe out each item from the garden.    But then Jesus says, “You Should” He doesn’t even make fun of them for this attention to detail in giving.   This is very convicting to me.   The life, sacrifice and teachings of Jesus have impacted me greatly.

Now I am going to share what we are doing personally (and this has taken some time for us to get here).

• In our family we give our tithe from the Gross, (before the Government gets any God gets his).
• We tithe on money we receive from birthday or Christmas presents (from a $100 gift, $10 goes back to God) or any extra income, we give 10% of it to God.
• We are increasing our giving amount beyond 10% which is currently around 20%.

We are so blessed.  We have found it to be true, you can’t out give God.    Compared to what Jesus gave, what we give is really small. We also pray that we are rich in justice, mercy and faith as well.

So when I reflect upon Matthew 23: 23 and beyond to the cross… I am giving so little in return.

Thanks for stepping out in this journey.   Jesus is our example.  I pray you have meaningful, reflective and powerful walk with Christ.

Until next week, Darrell

Tithe online at www.ridgefellowship.com

PS check out the latest tithing testimony in the comment below.