Your Best Life Then

July 22, 2009 Posted by David NcloseAuthor: David N Name:
Email: dvnilsen@gmail.com
Site: http://reasonfromscripture.blogspot.com
About: In 2003 I graduated from high school with no set direction for my life. I spent a year in Iowa before returning to California to attend Junior College. I changed majors 3 times; from Physics to Business to Film (as you can see, no direction). I was a Christian, attending church regularly, but furthering the cause of Christ in this fallen world was not a high priority. In 2005 I picked up an issue of TableTalk magazine, and I was re-introduced to the work of R. C. Sproul (whom I had read once in high school). Later that year, while taking a biology class with an ardent atheist professor, I picked up a copy of Lee Strobel's "The Case For A Creator." In the Fall of 2006 I came to Biola University and was introduced to the works of J. P. Moreland and John Mark Reynolds. My fate was sealed. Just a few years ago, I was passionless. Now I have two passions: Studying the Word of God and engaging in the task of Apologetics. 1 Peter 3:15 exhorts all Christians to be ready to give an answer for the hope that we have. My goal is to be able to give my answer articulately and powerfully, but even more importantly, in love. There are many purposes for apologetics, but by far the most important is the opening of minds and the softening of hearts for the work of the Holy Spirit. If we don't care about and pray for those with whom we engage in apologetics, we fail to fulfill this purpose. As a wise man once said, "Take a stand for the Truth, but do it in love fool!" Education Info: --Currently: M.A. in Historical Theology student, Westminster Seminary California --2008: B.A. in Philosophy, Biola University --2006: A.A. in Liberal Arts, Palomar CollegeSee Authors Posts (75)

I’m the sort of person who puts 5 dollars in the offering plate. This is partly because I don’t ever carry much cash on me. If I’m thinking ahead I’ll write a check for 15 or 20 dollars, but that isn’t very often. I’ve been in the “starving student” cruise control mode for 6 years now. Then last Sunday I had an eye-opening experience. I glanced over at the family sitting next to me and saw a check for 400 dollars! I had always had a vague idea that I wasn’t giving as generously as I should, but this experience brought that vague idea home in a vivid way.

Now obviously the family next to me probably makes a lot more money than I do, and they probably don’t give that much every week, but that’s not the point. The point is that I had literally never seen or heard of anyone putting that much money into a church offering plate before. That’s a sad thing, and according to most statistics my experience is not unique, since only some 4 percent of professing Evangelicals actually give 10 percent or more of their income.

The August issue of Tabletalk Magazine has been dubbed “The Money Issue.” R. C. Sproul reminds us, using Malachi 3:8 as his text, that failing to tithe is the equivalent of robbing from God. He has blessed us with everything we have and graciously He has only asked for a small percentage in return. Moreover, God has promised to bless us with even more riches when we do faithfully tithe as He has asked.

Lest we are tempted into tithing only out of selfish desires for more wealth, however, John Piper reminds us that the primary reward we hope to reap from our generous giving to others is not earthly, but heavenly. But the order is actually the reverse of what most would think. We don’t give generously and thereby show love to others in order to gain heaven. Rather, by first setting our hearts on Christ and making Him our joy, generosity and love will naturally flow out of us from Him. This, says Dr. Piper, is the teaching of John 12:33-34.

Speaking as someone who definitely does not tithe as much or as often as I should (I am now a sad statistic!), I would encourage all of you to reflect on how much you give back to God. Remember, it doesn’t have to be exclusively in monetary terms, nor does it have to be exclusively to your local church. John Piper provides us with a helpful guideline when he describes the Christian attitude as one of “simplicity and service”, rather than accumulation of possessions, with the ultimate goal of maximizing our joy in Christ. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Where is your heart?

Related posts:

1. Book Review: Passing the Plate by Christian Smith and Michael Emerson
2. Should God Live In His Car?
3. Book Review: A Praying Life by Paul E. Miller
4. God Hates Injustice, Not Inequality
5. Tax Madness
6. Book Review: God is the Gospel by John Piper

Posted in David's Posts, The Christian Life, Theology