Stradivarius On Loan
Most sermons on money seem to have one objective: to make you give more of it. The same pastor who will tell you we are no longer “under the law” will also tell you we are “robbing God” by not paying at least 10% of your income into “the storehouse.” (Read: My Church.)
The New Testament, and especially Jesus, teach that everything (not just 10%) belongs to God. And, that a practitioner’s stewardship (the responsible management of something entrusted) is deciding what to keep.
The Stradivari Society is the finest example of true stewardship I have encountered in modern times. They match deserving young players with million dollar stringed instruments made by Italian Masters. It is a win-win, because the great instruments increase in value for the investors when played rather than shelved.
Life is a Stradivarius on Loan from God.
-What have been your experiences good and bad with money and the church?
-What do you have that you hold onto too tightly?
-Why and how do you give your money away?
March 4th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Ok, I’m going to ignore the questions (sorry) and ask one of my own: If it’s not the 10%, how do you decide how much to give? I mean, you’ve gotta start with something…
March 4th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
You do have to start with something. But I think the ’stewardship’ point would answer - 100%
Seriously, Jesus told the rich young man to sell ALL his possessions, give the money to the poor, and follow him. Now in the context of the encounter, I think he was trying to say that what we *do* is important because it changes who we *are*. It’s not just about keeping the commandments, it’s about living the spirit behind the commandments.
I think the point that stewardship is deciding how to use what we have is right on. God calls some to give everything, some to give half, or a quarter, or a tenth. (He calls some to receive!) Giving away our possessions is good for us; Jesus certainly wasn’t the first or even the greatest teacher of that lesson. The lessons of Jesus emphasize that the intentions and heart of a person should be harmonious with their actions.
So he tells the rich man to sell everything and give to the poor, but he praises Mary for using expensive perfume to anoint him rather than giving its worth to the poor. Why?
Because life doesn’t fit into quantities, categories, or formulas. It’s not about whether or not the 300 denarii worth of perfume go to the poor or to Jesus’s anointment for his impending death. Those are both good actions.
The challenge for us is to make sure our hearts are good. Starting with 10% is good. Yet we should follow that with seeking the greater good - not of how *much* we give, but of *how* we give.
March 5th, 2010 at 5:54 am
“Because life doesn’t fit into quantities, categories, or formulas.” That’s hard for me to remember. I’m the one who makes everything “fit” and tries to follow the plans. I guess “giving” has just always been drilled into my head as a monetary gift. Thank you, Luke.