Do the Math (A Meeting at the Kitchen Table)

The book of Exodus tells the story about building the Tabernacle, the sanctuary for God’s presence to dwell. The people whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were willing brought their offerings for the Tabernacle and all its service. The people kept bringing their offerings every morning until the workers told Moses the people had given more than enough to complete the work the Lord had commanded. So Moses told the people they had given enough. In fact, they needed to stop giving because there was too much. The people had to be restrained from giving more! (Exodus 25, 35, 36)

This story exemplifies generous giving to God’s kingdom. Unfortunately, it also shines a glaring light on our unfaithfulness with money.

Charitable giving has remained stuck in our country at 2% for nearly fifty years, ever since we started measuring it in the 1970s. That accurately reflects the average giving in The United Methodist Church, too. The problem, of course, is that 2% is a far cry from scripture teaching us to give to God first, to give generously and cheerfully, and to give 10% of our income.

If Salem is going to thrive and be fruitful, then we need the resources to accomplish our mission. We need to fund our ministry beyond just paying the bills. In order to do that, we’ll need to break out of this cultural norm and take seriously what we read in scripture.

When I was a new pastor serving my first, full-time appointment, my wife, Joy, and I had only been married a few years. Like many young couples, we were struggling financially. I remember well when we decided to have a money meeting at the kitchen table. We did the math. We looked at the numbers to know exactly how much income we were receiving and how much we were called to give for God’s kingdom. It was there that we made the decision to commit our money to God. We literally got on our knees at the kitchen table and asked God to help us handle the money entrusted to us in a faithful way. We committed to tithing, giving 10% of our income to the church. Our financial situation didn’t completely change overnight, but it did begin to change for the better.

That was over twenty years ago, but because of that kitchen table meeting we live with no debt except the mortgage on our home. And we’ve lived through some financial challenges. In 2008 we moved to Cedar Rapids just when the housing market crashed. Our home in Des Moines didn’t sell for 18 months. We’ve paid for a wedding and for two daughters to graduate from college, with a third in college now. Incredibly, we’ve spent $20,000 on braces and oral surgeries for the girls as they grew up. That may be why I drive a car that’s older than all of them!

While the budget adjusts each year, we have continued to give around 10% of my income to the church. Is it difficult to give away such a big percentage of income? It’s not about whether it’s tough or easy. It’s simply about intentionally choosing how to use our money.

So the first thing we intentionally choose each month is to give in response to God’s abundant grace in our lives. We give, as Jesus and the church have taught us, because it supports the church’s mission to make disciples of Jesus who transform the world. We give because, as followers of Jesus, we are called to have the character of Jesus. And we give so that we are not defined by our money, so that we are not captive to our wealth. Clearly, God’s way is different than the worlds.

How have you decided to give to God’s kingdom? Have you done the math? Have a meeting at the kitchen table and do the math. Are you giving 2% or closer to 10%? Let’s grow together and fund God’s work through Salem so well until we too have to be restrained from giving more.