Tipping God

Some people have strange ideas about the offerings we take in church. Many people see them sort of like Tipping God.

The plate comes around and they give God a tip for “good service.” Maybe even 10% if His service has been really good (even waiters and waitresses get more than that).

But Jesus told a parable that turns this kind of thinking on its head.

A master gave different amounts of money to three of his servants. One was given 5 bags of gold; one received 2 bags; while one received 1 bag. Then the master went away with the promise to return.

Two of the servants were productive with their God-given resources. They received the master’s commendation, “Well done!” But remember what happened to the man with the one bag of gold? He hid it in the ground. The master reprimanded him saying, “What!? You could have at least put it in bank and earned interest! Give it to the faithful guy.”

There are several action points for me:
1. Our money is not ours; it’s God’s.
2. We are simply managers of that money. We have been asked to use it wisely for God’s kingdom.
3. God will hold us accountable for how we do that.

It is a whole different way to look at money. When we give 10% to God as an offering (and we should), we let go of our management of it, trusting the church to use it wisely.

But the rest – the 90% – is still God’s. And that is the treasure He has given to us. That is the portion we are managers of. That is the part He will hold us accountable for.

Unless we see all of our resources as belonging to God, and as money we have been asked to use generously, wise, and graciously for his kingdom – all we are doing is giving God a tip.