So this morning I visited Sunnybank District Baptist Church, (which is an incredible friendly and welcoming church! As soon as the service was finished we were swarmed by 3 very welcoming people, trying to get to know us and what not, it was great), and the sermon was about giving and tithing, and the importance to tithe (which is to give 10% of your earnings to the church). And this topic is very hard to hear, some people when they hear this would probably think, ‘oh they’re just a money making business trying to take our own money for their personal gain’, and can put out someone immediatly. The pastor did agree that some of the money does go to the pastors, but that is their only income, in some cases. It’s us paying them for the work they do, weather that work is teaching/preaching, youth working, family guidance, care work, small groups/life groups/bible groups, etc. Also the money goes to different causes as well, I was looking in their bulletin and it shows that they support missionary work, and missionary work mainly finances through the giving of the church. I would’ve asked the pastor what other organisations they give to, but I was getting introduced to so many people, that I didn’t get time.
But there are also other ways to give or tithe. What I do and what my family does, is we give some of our tithes to other organisations. And there are so many good ones out there to give to, that includes, Compassion, Destiny Child, Mission Australia, New Tribe Missions, Baptist World Aid, Scripture Union, or maybe’s there’s one in your own area.
Hearing things like giving away your money is really hard to hear, but sometimes it’s a good little wake up call, which is what I find, it’s saying, ‘hey, you know what? look around you, you have so much STUFF! You have a roof over your head, food in the pantry, a place to rest, maybe a job for some, family and/or friends, why not just give 10%! of that to help someone else who doesn’t have these things.’
A good statement that the pastor was trying to put across is that , maybe you personally can’t give 10%, (like me at the moment, only having enough for rent, food, petrol (to get to work and back), go card money (to get to tafe and back), and savings so I can pay my rego for my car which is coming up (so I have a car to drive to get food and go to work), and save for my upcoming wedding, etc. But yet I always seem to find enough money to buy junkfood, which isn’t good for me, go to the movies and small little things that just take up room and mean nuthing.) But to ask yourself, and I will ask myself, is ‘What is the MOST I can give? What am I spending money on that doesn’t necessarily benefit me in the long run, which I could give to someone who is barely scrapping by?’ And maybe just work from there..
Flight of the Kettle 