The Carnival Barker
If you've ever been to a carnival you know who I'm talking about. The carnival barker. He shouts to you as you walk by trying to persuade you to try his game of chance. "C'mon, win the lady a prize! Just 50 cents to play! Everyone's a winner!" So you lay down your quarters and throw the softball at the cement laden milk bottles that a bowling ball couldn't knock over, and sheepishly collect your little plastic bear as your consolation prize. It was the lure of the giant stuffed bear that you could have won for a mere 50 cents that got you to challenge the odds. It was only 50 cents, maybe you'll try again, and again...
Gambling is popular because of the lure of easy money. Have you ever bought a lottery ticket? For just one dollar you have the chance of winning millions. Maybe you didn't win the big jackpot this week but no one else did either. That means more people will be buying tickets and the jackpot will go up. Maybe you can get your co workers to all chip in. You’ll have to share the jackpot but you can get more tickets and that will better your odds. If you don't win next week there's always the week after that, or the week after that...
It struck me one day that tithing is a lot like gambling and some preachers are a lot like carnival barkers. They stand at the pulpit and promise riches for a mere 10 percent of your income. Bring the whole tithe into "their" storehouse they bark and you will get a return that you won't even be able to contain. Some television carneys even promise a 100 fold return. That’s $100 for every dollar you put in! But these religious carneys add a twist to their script. Just in case you're not falling for their line they have an ace up their sleeve to try to insure you'll take the risk. This gamble is not optional. God will curse you if you don't they say. They’re quoting the Bible. They’re reading from Malachi chapter 3 so they must be telling the truth right?
Wrong. They’re quoting the Bible alright but what they’re quoting was written for another time and another people. It was not written to Christians. It was written to the Jewish people of that day who were living under the law. They were required to tithe. They were required to tithe on their crops and animals. They were never required to give money.
So what is required of Christians? Here are a few verses to think about.
Matthew 22:37-40: Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Galatians 5:14: The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
Galatians 6:10: Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Hebrews 13:16: And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Christians are not under the old law of sacrifice and rules and regulations. Christ ushered in a new age. We are supposed to be motivated by love. Not by fear and not by greed. So the next time one of these carneys start talking, I suggest you start walking.