Scripture
Each person who is counted must give a small piece of silver [half shekel] as a sacred offering to the Lord.
~Exodus 30:13, NLT
Quote
God gave us to hands: one to receive and one to give.
~Billy Graham
When you begin talking about giving, you strike a sensitive nerve is a lot of folks. My father’s mother, we called her Mawmaw, lived to be 102 and could have lived longer had she wanted to, was very active in church. She attended Sunday school well past the age of 100 but was 20 years older than anyone in her class. She was not raised a Baptist and she didn’t believe in tithing and she did not approve of preachers who talked about Christian stewardship. She told me more than once, “There is plenty in that bible to talk about without you talking about money, so don’t be begging.” If you know me, you know I am too proud to beg but I am not bashful when it comes to teaching the truth about stewardship. If I do not tell you the truth; I would be held accountable and we will both suffer–You for not knowing the truth and me for not preaching it.
Moses instituted a small Tabernacle Tax that later become the Temple Tax that Jesus and Peter payed. A half shekel was a day’s wage or maybe two. It wasn’t that much. Moses required everyone over age 20 to pay it and the rich and poor paid the same amount. I like it. As a matter of fact, I think we should go back to Poll Tax which is where you pay a tax to vote. We could make it $10 which anyone can afford but I guarantee you, if would eliminate some of this voter fraud. Personally, I would like to make it $100 and that would eliminate practically all of it. We could apply the tax to the national debt.
You see, I have of the firm conviction that everyone should be held responsible and accountable in the matter of giving. Have you ever been on a ball team where one family reneged on paying their part, then at the end of the year, they order pictures and don’t pay for them either. If you make a bill, you are responsible for that bill, not someone else. I hate this culture of entitlement: it is killing us. I am not rich, I am somewhere in the middle, but I do have some rich friends. Hey, they owe me nothing and they are not responsible for my bills. The fact that they have more money doesn’t not mean that they should pick up my tab. I am responsible. Moses knew, as do I, that everyone needs to learn to be responsible which means we learn to do our part.
You are not going to believe this one but I have June as a witness. Many years ago, a young couple from Decatur began attending DBC and they ask us out to eat. When you ask a preacher and his wife out to eat, it is customary that you pick up the tab. When the server came to our table and ask who got the ticket, the man was mute. After a moment of awkward silence, I said “I do,” and thank God I had enough to cover the bill. I got no argument from him, no protest whatsoever: I think he planned it this way. The next time they ask us out to eat, I came up with an excuse. I sorry to confess my sin, but I do not enjoy the company of bums.
I sorry folks, I digress but there is one more story about this infamous couple. Everyone knows that Yosemite Sam is my favorite cartoon character and back twenty or more years ago when I occasionally wore a tie, I made the comment in the pulpit, that I would wear a Yosemite Sam tie if I had one. I got most of my ties at the thrift store. This couple bought me a Yosemite Sam tie that cost 38$ and they gave it to me one Sunday night. I said, “Thank you,” and started to walk away, and the woman said, “Wait a minute, it is not a gift,” and she handed me the bill. When I told June she almost blew a head gasket. I think she might have told her the next Sunday not to do in more shopping in my behalf. If you think I am making this stuff up, you talk to Big Mama. Just do your part: no one owes you.
Another lovely day on tap I think. I am meeting Doug and his brothers for lunch today in Huntsville. I hope you have a good day and thanks for reading the blog.
By the way, I was looking for a quote on mercy a few days back and I came across this one from Margaret Sanger, founder of PLANNED PARENTHOOD, the evil house of abortion and I could not believe my eyes… “The most merciful thing a family can do to their infant is kill it.” This woman, if you could call her that, had a twisted mind.