when the man in black tithed

I once read a story about Johnny Cash, late in his life, joining a church in the Nashville area and making a point of telling the pastor that he fully intended to tithe.  On the chance that some might not know what that means, it means that he intended to give 10% of his income to the church.  The pastor supposedly responded, "Don't you dare!  You'll ruin my church!"  Now, I haven't been able to find that story again and it may not be completely true.  One never knows with stories like these.  Either way, it makes a good point.

Supposedly, the pastor knew that if one tenth of Johnny Cash's income began to poor into the offering plates all needs of the church would be met and this was unacceptable.  How could this be inacceptable?  Well, at the core of the tithing and stewardship discussion is the reality that, while churches do have budgets and needs (including ours, of course), what is most important is the reality that learning to be generous, to give sacrificially and to steward well over our finances is a necessary discipline if we are to become the fully formed followers of Jesus God intends we become.  If Johnny Cash's tithe began to make people in the church think their giving was "unnecessary," they might stop giving.  And if they stopped giving, their discipleship journey would be stalled and the health of the church would be in question.

The story goes that after some discussion, the pastor and the Man in Black came to an agreement that, while Johnny could give some of his finances to the church, the bulk of his tithe would go to other needs outside the church.  Johnny still tithed, but to other ministries, because stewardship was key for his discipleship, too.

The Apostle Paul puts it this way,

Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.  Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. (Philippians 4.15-17, emphasis mine)

Catch that?  Paul is not concerned that his readers meet his need.  He's concerned that what they give will be "credited" to their "account."  In other words, it's good for them to tithe, regardless of the impact it might have on Paul and his ministry.  Giving is good for us.

Later in that passage Paul emphasizes, And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus (v.19).  Paul knows that in the end, it is God who meets needs, not good offerings.  God has met his need and he will meet the needs of his readers as well.  These are the words of a person who has learned to trust in God, not in wealth or possessions.  This is where he finds his security.

May we all so find our security in God alone that we, too, can become the generous, giving, fully devoted followers of Jesus God intends we become.  Amen.