Last one in this series....
Growing up, dinnertime was always anticipated in our household. It was the tastiest meal of the day! As a mother, it is a meal that I enjoy providing for my family. There is something special about everyone gathered together at the table to eat and share together. I would never have considered disrespecting my mother and the effort she put into providing a delicious, warm meal for me. As a mother, it would be insulting to prepare meals for my family only to have them disregard those meals and the effort that was put into them. In our household, appreciation is shown in different ways. My family is generous to say thank you for what is served, complimenting my efforts (even when it doesn’t turn out so good- I’d mention the recently grilled corn, but that’s another story), and by helping to set and clear the table and clean the kitchen afterwards. My husband is generous to provide the finances I need to put these meals on the table, and he enjoys the result!
As a Church, “eating at the table” should be accompanied by equal respect. Have we shown our appreciation for what has been offered? Have we assisted in some way for what we are about to share in? Have we provided what was necessary to put the “meal” together? Or are we simply consumers or food critics? Do we eat and run? Do we eat and pick apart the meal?
Sometimes, it is when visitors come to eat that we are shown the most appreciation. I am always blessed when visitors in a service give an offering. They don’t have to do that, and there’s a certain graciousness to it-sort of like bringing a hostess gift when visiting someone else’s house. It shows a generosity of spirit and it’s always a thoughtful surprise. As members of the church family however, we move beyond graciousness and become intentional participants in family life. So I might ask, “What table are you sitting down to eat at?”
Showing posts with label Money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Money. Show all posts
Monday, June 29, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
ENTITLEMENT, EXCUSES AND ECONOMICS
ENTITLEMENT, EXCUSES AND ECONOMICS
One of my first professors in University was a microeconomics professor who liked to say “There’s no such thing as a free lunch”. That has stuck with me all these years. Everything has a cost, everything. My love costs something: when I love I often say “no” to me and “yes” to others. My affections cost something: what I give to one thing I cannot give to another – my resources are finite. You get the drift. And guess what, eating costs money!
We like to eat dinner out, and my attitude towards tipping was initially developed by those I respected – I watched how they approached tipping and followed their example. Often, that example was one of tipping for excellent service. If the service was great, we tipped. If not, we tipped less, a sort of sliding scale. Tipping was a matter of personal judgment of the service received. Interestingly, while I might be inclined to tip more or less, I have never even considered walking away without paying for the meal I have eaten. The food had been purchased and prepared for me. The location of the meal had been prepared for me. Even when I have not particularly enjoyed a meal, I have always paid for it. I may never go to that restaurant again, but when I do choose to eat their food, I pay for it. Tipping then tops things off, showing my appreciation for the service rendered by the staff.
I want to suggest this scenario as a picture of our relationship to the Church, painting with broad strokes, so bear with me. When we attend a particular church, we become “patrons” of that establishment. We choose to go there and to eat off their particular menu. We avail ourselves of their services, their “spiritual food” and their hospitality. Why then do we think nothing of “skipping out on the bill”? (Here is where the broad strokes come in. We don’t “purchase” anything in the Church with our tithe– it is an analogy of spiritual life). We partake of what the Church offers, but fail to bring our tithes. Maybe we will leave an occasional “tip” of goodwill, but week in and week out we choose to come, to take part, and to not contribute to the overhead of the establishment? It takes money to keep a building open, the lights on, the place clean, staffed, atmosphere set. There’s no getting around that. We wouldn’t do that to any other establishment!
Perhaps we get around it by saying that it is a “spiritual establishment”. But it resides in the natural. Does our spiritual life not need natural sustenance?
Perhaps we get around it by saying that “such-and-such church” or “that ministry’ is more deserving of our money. Then go eat there! Where you eat, that is where you pay the bill. I don’t eat at Applebee’s and then pay the bill at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse – I pay Applebee’s. If I am sustained and nourished in a particular house of worship, then that is where I bring my tithes.
Perhaps we get around it by saying that the money belongs to, and goes back to God, so we can give wherever we felt “led” to give. Where do we feel “led” to be connected to the Body (God)? Where do we feel “led” to come and eat? That is where our tithe should go. If we aren’t getting fed where we are, or we don’t like the food served, then by all means change where we eat, but then pay where we eat. To do otherwise lacks integrity.
Giving is not limited to one place, but for certain it is right to bring your tithes to the house that is feeding you.
To do otherwise is ungrateful, unthankful, arrogant and entitled. How do you see it?
By the way, as I’ve matured, my tipping habits have changed. I have chosen to live a generous life and enjoy blessing the hard working staff where we eat. It would have to be truly terrible service for the tip to dip. I tip generously. I try to engage with the wait staff and verbalize my appreciation, backing it up with my money at the end of the meal. Whether it is acknowledged or not, it matters to me. I am blessed to be a blessing. And as much as I like to receive good things, I want to give that to others as it is in my power to do so. What kind of patron are you?
One of my first professors in University was a microeconomics professor who liked to say “There’s no such thing as a free lunch”. That has stuck with me all these years. Everything has a cost, everything. My love costs something: when I love I often say “no” to me and “yes” to others. My affections cost something: what I give to one thing I cannot give to another – my resources are finite. You get the drift. And guess what, eating costs money!
We like to eat dinner out, and my attitude towards tipping was initially developed by those I respected – I watched how they approached tipping and followed their example. Often, that example was one of tipping for excellent service. If the service was great, we tipped. If not, we tipped less, a sort of sliding scale. Tipping was a matter of personal judgment of the service received. Interestingly, while I might be inclined to tip more or less, I have never even considered walking away without paying for the meal I have eaten. The food had been purchased and prepared for me. The location of the meal had been prepared for me. Even when I have not particularly enjoyed a meal, I have always paid for it. I may never go to that restaurant again, but when I do choose to eat their food, I pay for it. Tipping then tops things off, showing my appreciation for the service rendered by the staff.
I want to suggest this scenario as a picture of our relationship to the Church, painting with broad strokes, so bear with me. When we attend a particular church, we become “patrons” of that establishment. We choose to go there and to eat off their particular menu. We avail ourselves of their services, their “spiritual food” and their hospitality. Why then do we think nothing of “skipping out on the bill”? (Here is where the broad strokes come in. We don’t “purchase” anything in the Church with our tithe– it is an analogy of spiritual life). We partake of what the Church offers, but fail to bring our tithes. Maybe we will leave an occasional “tip” of goodwill, but week in and week out we choose to come, to take part, and to not contribute to the overhead of the establishment? It takes money to keep a building open, the lights on, the place clean, staffed, atmosphere set. There’s no getting around that. We wouldn’t do that to any other establishment!
Perhaps we get around it by saying that it is a “spiritual establishment”. But it resides in the natural. Does our spiritual life not need natural sustenance?
Perhaps we get around it by saying that “such-and-such church” or “that ministry’ is more deserving of our money. Then go eat there! Where you eat, that is where you pay the bill. I don’t eat at Applebee’s and then pay the bill at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse – I pay Applebee’s. If I am sustained and nourished in a particular house of worship, then that is where I bring my tithes.
Perhaps we get around it by saying that the money belongs to, and goes back to God, so we can give wherever we felt “led” to give. Where do we feel “led” to be connected to the Body (God)? Where do we feel “led” to come and eat? That is where our tithe should go. If we aren’t getting fed where we are, or we don’t like the food served, then by all means change where we eat, but then pay where we eat. To do otherwise lacks integrity.
Giving is not limited to one place, but for certain it is right to bring your tithes to the house that is feeding you.
To do otherwise is ungrateful, unthankful, arrogant and entitled. How do you see it?
By the way, as I’ve matured, my tipping habits have changed. I have chosen to live a generous life and enjoy blessing the hard working staff where we eat. It would have to be truly terrible service for the tip to dip. I tip generously. I try to engage with the wait staff and verbalize my appreciation, backing it up with my money at the end of the meal. Whether it is acknowledged or not, it matters to me. I am blessed to be a blessing. And as much as I like to receive good things, I want to give that to others as it is in my power to do so. What kind of patron are you?
Monday, June 22, 2009
LAMBS TAILS, CHURCH LIFE, & MONEY
Money is an uncomfortable subject for many to talk about, but honestly, it's a necessary part of our daily life, so let's talk.
Just as our physical bodies have many members, as believers we are all members of one Body, Christ’s. When we withhold from the Body, it strangulates the flow of life, potentially resulting in death to parts of the Body.
Growing up I had friends who raised sheep for showing – you know, competitive judging for best in breed, etc. One day I watched them place rubber bands tightly at the base of the each lambs tail. When I asked why, they explained that the rubber band cut off the circulation of blood to the tail and eventually the tail would fall off, which was part of the requirements for showing. Blocking the flow of blood to the tail resulted in death, severing the tail from the body.
In Biblical application, 1 Corinthians talks about how we are the Body of Christ. This truth can be applied to our lives both individually and to the church – many churches make up Christ’s body, and each part contributes to the health and vitality of the whole.
There are parts, some worthy of more honor than others (parts that are more visible, prominent), but we do not disregard any part – all parts of the Body are necessary. God does not create unnecessary parts! Some may esteem one ministry or church over another, but God says there are no unnecessary parts! Where you are positioned in a Church, you are connected to the whole Body. Just think, each part of your own body has vessels that direct the flow of blood, the flow of life, throughout your whole body (via veins, capillaries). If you choose not to allow “life” to flow through your part (such as putting a band around your arm that cuts off the flow of blood), then it will strangulate and separate that very necessary part from blessing and being a part of the Body as a whole.
What strangulates life in the church? Withholding.
· Withholding service
· Withholding money
· Withholding fellowship
· Withholding ourselves. Hearts withheld often results in withholding in other areas.
When there is freedom of flow to each part, life is imparted and shared, enabling each part to function and prosper the Body as a whole with no member lacking. Just think, the veins running through your life, the conduit of blessing through your life, feeds the health of the whole Body. We are “blessed to be a blessing”. Blessing in my life does not benefit me alone! We have the power to bless or curse, to withhold or live generously.
[Note: There are those who argue that the corporate expression of the church is not necessary, but my body is a corporate expression of many parts. What that corporate expression looks like is not what I am arguing, but that we are meant to live in connection with one another, supporting and strengthening each other as we reside in community together. I expect my personal arm to benefit my personal body, etc.].
There is no greater investment than the Kingdom of God. When we give, we give to Him, to the tangible expression of His Body in the earth, and we are supporting the life flow of His Body. Where you are positioned, that is where you are connected to the Body, and that is the point where life is going to flow. As a hand, the life doesn’t flow from my hand to the belly, but from my hand to the arm. Where are you connected to the Body? That’s where your life is going to make a primary contribution to the whole. If you are connected to the Body of Christ via a local Christian Church, then allow life to flow through you to the rest of the Body, freely and generously.
Just as our physical bodies have many members, as believers we are all members of one Body, Christ’s. When we withhold from the Body, it strangulates the flow of life, potentially resulting in death to parts of the Body.
Growing up I had friends who raised sheep for showing – you know, competitive judging for best in breed, etc. One day I watched them place rubber bands tightly at the base of the each lambs tail. When I asked why, they explained that the rubber band cut off the circulation of blood to the tail and eventually the tail would fall off, which was part of the requirements for showing. Blocking the flow of blood to the tail resulted in death, severing the tail from the body.
In Biblical application, 1 Corinthians talks about how we are the Body of Christ. This truth can be applied to our lives both individually and to the church – many churches make up Christ’s body, and each part contributes to the health and vitality of the whole.
There are parts, some worthy of more honor than others (parts that are more visible, prominent), but we do not disregard any part – all parts of the Body are necessary. God does not create unnecessary parts! Some may esteem one ministry or church over another, but God says there are no unnecessary parts! Where you are positioned in a Church, you are connected to the whole Body. Just think, each part of your own body has vessels that direct the flow of blood, the flow of life, throughout your whole body (via veins, capillaries). If you choose not to allow “life” to flow through your part (such as putting a band around your arm that cuts off the flow of blood), then it will strangulate and separate that very necessary part from blessing and being a part of the Body as a whole.
What strangulates life in the church? Withholding.
· Withholding service
· Withholding money
· Withholding fellowship
· Withholding ourselves. Hearts withheld often results in withholding in other areas.
When there is freedom of flow to each part, life is imparted and shared, enabling each part to function and prosper the Body as a whole with no member lacking. Just think, the veins running through your life, the conduit of blessing through your life, feeds the health of the whole Body. We are “blessed to be a blessing”. Blessing in my life does not benefit me alone! We have the power to bless or curse, to withhold or live generously.
[Note: There are those who argue that the corporate expression of the church is not necessary, but my body is a corporate expression of many parts. What that corporate expression looks like is not what I am arguing, but that we are meant to live in connection with one another, supporting and strengthening each other as we reside in community together. I expect my personal arm to benefit my personal body, etc.].
There is no greater investment than the Kingdom of God. When we give, we give to Him, to the tangible expression of His Body in the earth, and we are supporting the life flow of His Body. Where you are positioned, that is where you are connected to the Body, and that is the point where life is going to flow. As a hand, the life doesn’t flow from my hand to the belly, but from my hand to the arm. Where are you connected to the Body? That’s where your life is going to make a primary contribution to the whole. If you are connected to the Body of Christ via a local Christian Church, then allow life to flow through you to the rest of the Body, freely and generously.
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