Giving-Part 2

Every time I've ever heard anyone teach on giving, this sentence or something similar is included;

"When you give, give to God, it's not our place to worry about how the money is used? Just let it go and trust that God's will will be done."

Ever heard anything like this? Maybe it's presented a little more eloquently, but that's the basic message. Now, I appreciate the heart who gives to God without wanting it back, that’s how we’re suppose to be. But, are we really suppose to be blind with our giving? Look, I may really appreciate a particular person as a Bible teacher and I may enjoy the fellowship of a certain gathering, but if what I give to the Lord only goes to pay for some guys’ house and car, what good is that? Now, you may be thinking, well, the Bible allows for that. Yes, it does, in Galatians, it says (paraphrase) share all good things with the one who teaches you the word. But, here’s my dilemma; what is the difference between Sunday morning and the home Bible study I go to? The guy who teaches the home study prepares just as much, the difference is he has a job that he works 50 hours a week at. The other difference is I tend to get more from the home study because it’s more intimate. But, I’ve never been concerned about giving and the teacher has never been concerned about receiving. The Bible teaches pastors receiving money as an exception, not a rule.

Now, I’ve also heard (a lot) the scripture in Malachi that says, “…bring the tithe into the storehouse” (tithing is a whole nother subject). I think it’s pretty absurd to assume that our “church” is the storehouse. Where does Jesus say to store up treasure? That’s right, in heaven. It seems to me that heaven is a more likely candidate for being the storehouse. With that, here’s my real point with this post; the New Testament talks about giving to the poor, widows, and orphans, not much else (those places you read of offerings for a particular church is for a poor persecuted one). If Jesus talked about storing up treasure in Heaven and then talks about giving to these groups, we have to ask if that’s what we’re giving to. I love to see churches involved in these areas, it let’s me know that they’re concerned with what Jesus is concerned with and I therefore can feel good giving there. But, those places that pay the pastors salary, pay rent, and put some in savings (if there is any), I don’t feel real comfortable giving there. You can get all that stuff at a home fellowship and still give to the poor. Is the pastor more important than the poor, not in my Bible? Now, if you go to a church like this, remember they are providing a service (i.e. childcare, donuts, and a place to meet) so don’t pull all your support. But, thoughtfully consider what your finances are being used for and if they’re not being stored in heaven, then you might want to consider reinvesting some or all of them elsewhere.

Tell me if I’m crazy or if this needs clarification.