Do you practise Christian Stewardship? The first example of Christian Stewardship in the Bible is Abraham (yes, Christian stewardship). Abraham paid tithes to Melchisedek, who was the mysterious King and Priest of the Most High God in Salem (Genesis 14:18-20). Melchisedek (Malchi Tsedhek) means My King is Righteous: "King of Righteousness" is a title of Christ. He is King of Salem, i.e. King of Peace, another title of Christ. He is without human paternity or progeny, attributes of Christ the Eternal Son of the Eternal Father (Hebrews 7:1-4). He comes bringing offerings of bread and wine, not animal sacrifices. He is himself the Lamb of God who gave himself as a sacrifice for sin. The bread and wine are the memorials of this one Sacrifice once offered for the sins of the whole world. Melchisedek is a clear adumbration of Christ our great King and Priest and Victim˜ but the Victim who became the Victor over sin, Satan, death and the grave!
Abraham's grandson Jacob renewed his stewardship, specifically undertaking to give to God a tenth of all that he received (Genesis 28:20-22). Jacob means supplanter˜ that's thief in any language. Upon meeting God at Bethel he was convicted of his unfaithfulness in this matter. From then on he prospered greatly. Our prosperity as the Church of God can hinge on our faithfulness in tithing. Will a man rob God (Malachi 3:8-10)? This is not just an Old Testament thing for the Jews. The Scribes and Pharisees, for all their hypocrisy, tithed all they possessed; Christ acknowledged this (Matthew 23:23). By implication St Paul urged tithing (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:5-15). Congregations where tithing is taught and practised never default on their Common Fund Quota; never delay in paying their gas and electric bills; never postpone their Quinquennial repairs. They have money to tithe in their turn, to give away for missionary activities both at home and abroad.
People say "I couldn't possibly afford to give a tenth to God!". But a tenth of a little is a little; a tenth of a lot is a lot. If God gave you exactly nine times what you presently give to Him, could you live off it? The answer, if you give him a tenth, is a resounding "Yes! Praise God!" The common testimony and experience of all who tithe is that God is no man's debtor. God has blessed them since they began to tithe, and they have never again lacked for anything they need. Man should not put God to the test (Deuteronomy 6:16); but in this one matter God invites us "Prove me now herewith . . . if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Malachi 3:10).
When the British Expeditionary Force went to France in 1939, RA Laidlaw went with them at his own expense, and paid for an Army Scripture Reader to accompany him. Laidlaw was a New Zealander who began his working life as a ten-shillings-a-week office boy. He faithfully tithed a shilling of his first pay packet. God so prospered him that he ended up a millionaire owning the firm, and tithing 90% because he only needed 10% for himself. He wrote and distributed a Gospel tract called The Reason Why which is still in print and widely circulated today. When Jesus called his disciples to leave all and follow him, Peter asked "What shall we get?". Jesus replied "No man that has left house or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my sake and the Gospel's, but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time houses and brethren and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions: and in the world to come eternal life" (Mark 10:29-30). It is not "pie in the sky by and by when you die" but "pie now in this time" albeit with persecutions: but "all who would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12). We are going to get persecuted anyway: so let's pay up our tithes and smile. God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7)! Laidlaw and his Army Scripture Reader companion had a hard time in the retreat to Dunkirk, but both came safely through and lived to a ripe old age.
Should I give a tenth gross or a tenth net? If you are a taxpayer, then give a tenth net (i.e. of your income after tax). Then covenant your donation, and the tax you paid on it will be repaid by the Inland Revenue. Should I give it all to the Church? Not necessarily. The General Synod asks church people to give 5% to the Church, just half their tithe. The remainder should be given to Christian missions and charities as you feel led. God will abundantly bless you. Ben Crick