Giving History

"When you have come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground which you harvest from the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place the the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his name."

(Deuteronomy 26:1-2)

At Palmdale United Methodist Church, where I serve as pastor, we have two annual giving campaigns. All of the other churches I've been a part of have done just one (and I know a few who don't have stewardship drives at all - they simply teach ongoing generosity). Within Christian circles, the idea of TITHING is strong: giving 10% of one's income to God. Part of that originates from Deuteronomy 26. God asks his people to give "some of the first of all of the fruit of the ground" to the priests and poor.

It's interesting to note when God asks them to do this: AFTER they've settled into their new homeland and have had a chance to cultivate their crops. This tells me that God wants them to share what they've been given in thankful obedience - not simply "ante up their fair share" immediately.

God even teaches WHY they're doing this, by scripting a speech to be made when they give their "first fruits." It's a wonderful speech that traces their HISTORY as a people - how God has led and guided and provided for them over the years.

This is crucial. God wants our giving/stewardship to be wrapped up in our history. We don't give because we face dues or have been given a bill. We are generous because of how marvelously generous God has been to each of us over the course of our lifetime! In fact, each day is a new opportunity to sense God's blessings. They're everywhere! May we (I!) never forget our giving histories - that we (I) might have a heart of gratitude and generosity always. AMEN.