Every morning Sara likes to watch the Today Show on NBC. Sometimes the TV
stays on during the morning as we are moving around or playing with Lewis. On Tuesdays (my day off) when the TV is
left on NBC, I sometimes watch parts of The 700 Club. I know. I know.
It is embarrassing. It is
like a train wreck; you can’t look away.
The other day The 700 Club was having their
annual telethon to raise money for CBN.
The whole show was devoted to asking viewers to pledge to give a monthly
tithe. The way they achieved this
goal was to show short videos about how tithing to CBN helped them out of their
struggle. Usually, the stories
resulted in financial blessing.
Here is one of the video’s they showed.
Two of the biblical texts used during the
show were Luke 6:38 and Matthew 6:31-33.
These verses were used to show that God promises that if we give (money),
God will give (money) back to us.
Luke 6:38 says,
Give, and it will be
given to you. A good amount will be poured into your lap. It will be pressed
down, shaken together, and running over.
Matt. 6:31-33 says,
So don't worry. Don't
say, “What will we eat?” Or, “What will we drink?” Or, “What will we
wear?” People who are ungodly run
after all of those things. Your Father who is in heaven knows that you need
them. But put God's kingdom first.
Do what he wants you to do. Then all of those things will also be given to you.
A simple reading of these texts in their
proper context reveals just how out of context these verses were used. In Luke 6 Jesus is preaching his Sermon
on the Mount. At this point in the
text, he is telling his followers to love their enemies and not judge
others. A better understanding of
this verse is not greater financial blessing, but rather a greater blessing of
grace and mercy heaped upon us.
Matthew 6 also is in the Sermon on the Mount text and Jesus is
discussing worry. Money is
something that we sometimes do worry about. It is certainly included within the “do no worry”
realm in which this passage is trying to correct. Yet, is Jesus saying that
if we stop worrying about money and do what he wants us to do, (like
tithe to CBN) that he will give us more money? What is Jesus saying?
I think he is telling us that we will be given what we need. We may need peace and relief from
anxiety.
I know God works, and can work through the
700 Club. But, is this good
theology? Personally, I cringe
when I watch stuff like this. What
is the video telling us? If you
are struggling or need help, just give money (to CBN) and God will bless you
financially. I am sure this can
happen. I am sure it does
happen. What about those who have
continued to suffer after giving?
Buddy Jones (our preaching minister) preached
a sermon a few years ago titled God’s Math. He told us a story about how he and his wife decided to
test God financially. When
they were younger they tithed a large amount of money, about a months wages,
and waited to see how God would bless them. Eventually they ran out of money and didn’t have any food. One evening a gift basket was left on
their doorstep with a recipe and the food to make tuna casserole.
Where was the multiplying? They gave 500 dollars…all they had! Where was the 50,000 dollars!
Where was the multiplying? They gave 500 dollars…all they had! Where was the 50,000 dollars!
Where was the blessing? Well, they didn’t starve. They learned the true application of
Matthew 6:31-33. God provided them
with enough food to last them until their next paycheck. They learned contentment and dependence
on God. Sometimes, when we test God, he tests us. Maybe that is the truest
blessing one can receive. Yes, we give so that we can receive blessing from God. But we must trust that God knows what
will truly bless us.
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