Simons Spiel: The Pay Check

Well, this week marked a special day, my first real payday in the USA. When your bank account has been heading in one direction for four months it is nice to be able to stem the flow somewhat. It also means that it’s time for Linnet and I to move from our “moving to the USA budget” and on to our “live well within our means budget.” And it means I get to write a spiel that I have wanted but did not dare to write when we had the bookshop, for it involves the subject that puts the fear into the hearts of many a paid pastor - tithe. Over the years, I’ve talked to many pastors and the one subject that they fear the most is talking to Christians about their giving. Now, for people who are not supposed to be about this world, we hang pretty tight onto the folding stuff and don’t like to be told that we might not be following Jesus too well. A lot of pastors have been offered up to the god of mammon for even suggesting that the church as a body might want to invest in the kingdom more than 1% of the gross wage that week. I, on the other hand, don’t have such restrictions so if you are going to throw a huffy, leave now. If, however, you are looking for something that might just take the pressure and guilt off, then read on.
For starters, I think the reason it’s so hard to give away what we have been paid for our 40 hours is that we really think we have earned it. It’s tough to part with what we think we rightfully own. If you earn the money, it’s yours. So if someone in the worship group sings out of tune, less money in the plate this week. Pastor hits on a sore point - I’ll withhold completely. After all it’s my money; I get to choose how to spend it, right? Wrong. This train of thought (and we have all had it) is delusional. You were bought with a price. Christ owns you (and me). A slave with a master doesn’t own anything. The master owns it all. And by the way, the last time I checked, a slave of Christ is what a Christian is supposed to be. Slaves work and if they are lucky their master keeps them well. When they live they don’t own anything and when they die they don’t either. But, you cry, I’m a child of God - entitled, not a slave. Yes, and Jesus could count it not robbery to be equal with God but lowered himself to a slave-status, even unto death on a cross. I hope you’re agreeing with me at this point. If not then think of it this way. I bet everyone who has had a teenager has heard this one, “Get out of my room”. Now does the teenager own the room? Of course not, the Bank does. Ok, ok the parents kind of do. The teen has been assigned rights, privileges and possibly a wage. But a quick look at the deed will show it is definitely not “their room.” The funny thing is that you do “Get out of their room.” Why? Well in most cases, you want them to learn to make the right decisions in life and that can only be learned by living it. You hope that they learn to deal with things responsibly in “their room” prior to owning “their house.” Our money is the same way. When we look at our paycheck and think we own it we effectively say to God “get out of my room.” God graciously does because we are His kids and he wants us to grow up. He has great plans for us and that involves us learning to put money in its correct place, using it wisely, and that can only be done when we realize just like the teen, that we don’t own the room.
So where does it leave my paycheck? Well we will cover that next time. Don’t worry I’m not going to suggest that you do something too radical. I think you will like where we go with it so stay tuned.
PS: A couple of people have asked me to start referencing the verses I quote. I would but…this is a blog and I am trying to keep it short. Don’t be lazy, go look for it. If then you still can’t find it, get back to me and I’ll help. That said for the next installment I will put some in relation to the topic at hand.