Our debts to the bank and to God

by TAN SIN GUAN

A managing director's perceptive statement caught my attention. He said, "We are more concerned with what we owe the bank than with what we owe God."

Our economy revolves around debts. The availability of credit energizes the demand and supply chain. Coupled with the materialistic culture in the marketplace, debts are viewed as necessary in order to achieve a certain kind of lifestyle and quality of life. Consequently, it is the norm for the majority of working professionals to have some form of debts - be it credit card, car, housing or business. Repaying debts has become routine and, for some, an agony.

The Bible teaches that there is another kind of debt that carries eternal implications - our tithe. The idea that we owe God our money is derived from the fact that everything we have comes from and belongs to Him. We are merely stewards of the resources He has entrusted to us. Consequently, we are accountable to Him and need to show integrity, faithfulness and wisdom in managing the resources. This includes our attitude and the way we handle our money - to meet our needs and pay our tithes.

The Bible teaches that there are three kinds of tithes. The first was intended to meet the needs of the priests and Levites (Numbers 18: 21, 24); the second provided for a sacred festival (Deuteronomy 12:17-18, 14: 23) and the third supported orphans, widows and the poor (Deuteronomy 14: 28-29, 26: 12-13). God instituted tithing to ensure that the priests and Levites could concentrate on serving Him. In addition, He wants the less fortunate to be taken care of too. Failure to carefully observe God's command to tithe would not only cause difficulties to the Levites and priests but would shape the spiritual and social atmosphere of the nation.

God views the issue of tithing so seriously that He calls the defaulters robbers. Malachi 3:8-9 records God's conversation with His people. "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse - the whole nation of you - because you are robbing me." The Lord was angry with His people because the Israelites' action reflected their attitude toward Him - there was no fear of God in them.

The issue of tithes has been central in numerous controversies. The reason is not so much the differences in interpretation but rather it is about money. Richard Halverson, former chaplain for the US Senate, made this observation, "Jesus Christ said more about money than about any other single thing because, when it comes to a man's real nature, money is of first importance. Money is an exact index to a man's true character. All through Scripture there is an intimate correlation between the development of a man's character and how he handles money."

The teaching on tithing has great implication for Christian professionals because this is the group of people whom God has placed in the marketplace - to be not only His salt and light, but also His instruments of blessings to those whom He has called to serve Him in a fulltime capacity, such as missionaries and pastors. It is true that the Bible teaches that every Christian is a fulltime worker in his workplace. However God has also called some of His children from the marketplace to serve Him in a fulltime capacity - such as pastors and missionaries - and to trust Him to meet their daily needs. God could definitely intervene and feed them just like He did the prophet Elijah, but His instruction is for His people to represent Him to meet the needs of fulltime workers and the needs in the mission field.

It is a challenge therefore for every Christian professional to look at money from God's perspective. Unless we view money correctly, we will be shortsighted in our vision. Money is not only an exact index to a man's true character but also a tangible indicator of his heart toward God.

The New Testament added upon the teaching on tithes by emphasizing the heart of the giver toward God. The Gospel of Mark recorded an important comment by Jesus on this topic. In Mark 12: 41-44 we read that a poor widow put two tiny copper coins into the temple offering box. She gave everything she had - all she had to live on. But Jesus did not stop her; neither did He question her wisdom nor persuade her to be more sensible. He gave an unqualified commendation: "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all that she had to live on." The people gave out of their wealth but the widow gave out of her poverty. It was not the money that touched God but her heart.

Many Christians, like the poor widow, may not be in a position to give. Most of them have their own struggles and difficulties. The upward trend in toll fares, utility fees, consumer goods prices, housing and car costs and educational fees has caused even big income earners to feel the pinch and struggle for survival. However, what pleases God is not when we give out of our wealth, but rather out of our poverty.

Moreover God challenges His people to give and assures them that they will lack nothing. "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." (Malachi 3:10)

There are many ways that Christian professionals can to the Lord. They can decide to set aside a sum monthly (no matter how hard it is) to give to the mission fund in church. In addition, they can also:

1. Seek to know their missionaries or pastors and take the initiative to understand their needs and struggles. Make it a point to meet their needs. It would really be encouraging if a group of Christians could jointly adopt one or two missionaries for a period of time. Some of these missionaries are living below poverty level. In addition to getting first-hand information about the missionaries or pastors, this approach would also ensure that the offering reaches individuals who need help.
2. Identify a specific need, such as certain ministries among certain people groups in the mission field. Some of these works include orphanages, old folks' homes and schools, which are in dire need of financial assistance.

We need to be wise in managing the resources God has given us, including our money. Assuming that we take home RM2,000 a month for a period of 30 years, we would have had the privilege of managing a total of RM720,000 in our lifetime. What would we say to Him when He asks, "Where did the money go?" Randy Alcorn in his book Money, Possessions and Eternity made this remark, "There would be an eternal difference in heaven… not all Christians will hear the Master say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." What will He say to you? Let us be more concerned with what we owe God than with what we owe the bank.

Tan Sin Guan is director of Malaysia Campus Crusade for Christ’s Impact! ministry. He is also an associate pastor of Klang Chinese Methodist Church.