In this
issue:
i) Romancing Stones - S.
McAllisteri
ii) The Tithe and Contributions (Part
1) - C.E. Wigg
Romancing
Stones
Stuart
McAllister
Driving to work
one day, a commercial on the radio offered the compelling thought of "recess
time" for adults. Immediately memories of school came to my mind—the daily
struggles of learning and discipline, math and reading, tests and exercises. Was
the strain of school any different from the chores and deadlines that bombard
you today, the advertiser seemed to ask. And yet, the refreshing reward of
afternoon free time and recess—where has that gone? The commercial's invitation
was actually to a steakhouse that promised the delight of recess for those
craving a break, though it prompted the thoughts of much more. The nostalgic use
of my own memory was powerfully utilized to urge me not to miss out on life
itself—via missing out on recess, store-bought relaxation, and steak.
The world of
advertising continues to package worldviews and lifestyles for us. We are led to
believe that if we buy this product, experience this item, or go to this place
in this vehicle, then we will really live.
I don't doubt
that many people would claim to have been satisfied by pursuing materialism as a
way of life; nonetheless, we have an abundance of evidence clearly stating the
futility of pursuing these ends. If we are purely material beings with our lives
confined to the years we have on earth, then perhaps living for pleasure might
be a legitimate goal. Yet it seems that the human spirit cannot be reduced to
mere matter. Such a contrast is seen in the movie Chariots of Fire when the
vision of life modeled by Harold Abrams (who lives for success in this world
alone) is set in sharp relief by Eric Liddel (who runs for the glory of God and
in running feels God's delight). In our best moments, we recognize that we are
somehow destined for higher, greater, more enduring things.
The Christian
message introduces a story that locates us in history, defines who and what we
are, and spells out the conditions and challenges to having a true life under
the guidance of the living God. One writer speaks of this story as the "sacred
romance" in which we are created for intimacy and adventure. It is a love story,
in which humanity is pursued by the passionate love of God. But as in all good
love stories, the sub-plot introduces the problem of other loves and other
lovers.
Across time and
culture, the same story is repeated. As we turn the limited and temporal
pleasures of time into objects that will give us a deeper or more lasting
quality of life, we discover again and again we are let down. Hundreds of years
ago the prophet Hosea described a people who eat but never have enough, who
drink but never have their fill, and who pray to gods who do not save. "They
have deserted the LORD to give themselves to prostitution, to old wine and new,
which take away the understanding of my people. They consult a wooden idol and
are answered by a stick of wood. A spirit of prostitution leads them astray;
they are unfaithful to their God" (Hosea 4:10-12). A people following after
false loves are lost and foolish.
If we have been
made by God and for God, and if knowing Him and following Him is the essence of
life, then any other kind of life is a departure from our original design and
thus, by definition, can never fully satisfy us. A finite love can never touch
our souls. An object that had to be created itself will never be able to reach
beyond creation with hope or meaning.
The biblical
story reminds us that we are meant to flourish and function as human beings in
the context of a love story, in the framework of a right relationship with God
through Jesus Christ. "Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your
heart… Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow
to anger and abounding in love" (Joel 2:13-14). Even now, He who became flesh
that life could dwell among us seeks your will, your heart, your
all.
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[Copyright(c) 2005 Ravi Zacharias International
Ministries (RZIM). Reprinted with permission.]
The
Tithe and Contributions - Part 1
Charles E. Wigg
The first reference to tithes in the Bible was when Abraham
returned from the slaughter of the Kings. On that occasion he gave to the
mysterious person Melchisedec a tenth of all. This seems to have been a freewill
response, for the goodness that Jehovah had shown to Abraham in giving him
victory over the invading kings. It was the response of Abram’s heart, there is
no reference to Jehovah commanding it, or requiring it of Abram’s hand. This
principle seems to carry right through the matter of tithing. The tithe is given
to God, but God being a Spirit has no use for material things, but it is the
spirit behind the response that He appreciates. The heart-felt appreciation of
His boundless grace, and His willingness to give or to help, in any situation of
need is to be the spring of our response in our giving to Him. In each case the
tithe is first given to God, but then to those who are serving Him, to enable
them to continue in His service.
A Warning" Perhaps it would be appropriate to sound a
warning at this juncture. Many false cults have seen in the tithe a means of
getting wealth for themselves, and thus they emphasise it in a manner in which
God does not (in the Bible). As a result these false cults have amassed
property, and have investments, and they loudly claim this to be the evidence of
the blessing of God on their witness, though the teachings that they hold are
obviously erroneous, and are contrary to the clear teaching of the word of God,
and because of this are heretical.
It obviously suits the pride of the unregenerate human heart
to think that he can give something to God that will make God richer, and
predispose Him to give “good luck” to the worshipper. Even Pagan men can be very
religious, as Paul discovered at Athens. But he had to warn the people that the
True God was not worshipped by men’s hands as though He needed anything. (Acts
17:25). He is the great giver of all, and finds His delight in giving to man His
creature, “Life and breath and all things”. However when the redeemed heart of
man is touched by His love and kindness, and has a desire to give something back
to Him, then He is both pleased and glorified.
False indeed are the hopes of evil men who think that they
can bribe God into granting them a place in Paradise by their building Him a
Mosque, with money that they have already stolen from Him. We read in (Psalm
24:1), that “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof”, thus God is
neither poor nor bankrupt, and has no need of man’s “Generosity”. The fact
remains that no person, whether claiming to be a Christian believer or not can
ever give to God, anything that is not already His.
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[Reproduced with
permission of the
author]