The first part is highlighted in Red for our Oasis family joining this from my email, and don't want to read this part over. If your reading this for the first time then you can start at the beginning. Oasis family can jump beyond the red highlight since you've started reading in my email first. Thanks for listening.
No doubt the subject line might have intrigued, you but believe it or not they are linked. Hear me out before forming an opinion. I have wrestled all week as I’ve considered my email. I take it very seriously each week when I write to you. Your time is valuable and I don’t want to waste it. I had planned something totally different, but after lots of prayer and also conversations, just this morning I finally switched my topics of this email.
As you know we are in a unique era in our country. Our economy is still diving. There is worse news each hour. Just turning on the radio an hour ago on my way to get a Dunkin’ coffee I heard the news of 5 million jobless claims…the most in history. I’m not trying to depress you. As I told a life-long friend this afternoon, as positive a person as I am, I am struggling each day to stay positive when I see so much doom and gloom around me. God reminds me each day He is in Control, and most all we are worried about centers around possessions. Most of us still have life and family (well, we all have life if you’re reading this).
But for those who voted for President Obama, less than a month into the new presidency, all the hope and excitement and expectation for change has been tempered with reality. For those who didn’t vote for our new president, most I have talked to still pray for him and hope he will have wisdom, and succeed. But if this week wasn’t a stark reality check he is not going to bring the hope most wanted. It is estimated that the 1 trillion he has now committed us and our children and grandchildren to will probably be 3-4 trillion dollars, I don’t even know how to write that much out in zeros. The stock market has tanked 25% lower since he was elected, when we thought it couldn’t go lower. Now about 10% of folks in trouble will cost our economy and future trillions of dollars. Those of us who have paid our bills and worked hard, have seen our retirement, and even house values plummet daily. The economy continues to sink, we continue to spend money we don’t have. It didn’t start with Obama, it started with President Bush throwing the first trillion out there. In the 70’s, when I was first old enough to vote, Jimmy Carter was a godly man many of us admired greatly. But he started the giving away of homes to anyone, our Congress continued to make it possible for those who couldn’t afford homes to get them, and it has just continued to pile up until now it’s crumbling. It hasn’t been one president or one congress, or one party…it’s been many. Now, for those who think this is political, I’m sorry. It isn’t. The reason I decided to write this today to our church is because it goes much deeper than political. I believe it is....... ethical, biblical and moral in nature. How do I say that? We as a country have bought the line that we could spend ourselves into prosperity. We deserve all we have and more. We have leveraged our futures and our kids’ futures. I’m not chastising here. I’m getting to a point.
For those of you who will want to cast the blame on our new president that would be so wrong, don't leave political comments about him. He has only been in office one month. The former President Bush, started this latest round . This is systemic in our society and our politicians only mirror it. Read on because you and I also need to take responsibility in our own lives as Believers.
For those of us who are Christians, try not to despair. Our God is in control! He loves you and He will meet your needs as He has promised. But it is important we learn from this and get back to just good ole biblical finances. The Bible makes it very clear throughout. Go look it up.
- You work for what you get -- an honest day’s pay for honest day of work. There is no free lunch
- The borrower is servant to the lender, Proverbs tells us
- Throughout scripture it talks about owing too much and also loaning money
- There are hundreds of scriptures on the way we should spend and save
As Christians lately I have heard many say they can’t give the Lord the tithe since their economic situation is so bad. I’m going to be brutally honest here at the expense of offending some and if so, I’m sorry but I am a Pastor who loves the sheep, and I can’t help unless I am sharing my heart and what I believe God wants from us. God expects us to give back a first fruit to Him whether we have lots or little. The Bible makes it clear. That is why the tithe -- 10% is so incredible. It doesn’t expect from us equal gifts. To those who have been given much then much is required. Now, some will think “OK, Pastor, you’re trying to make up the budget shortfall and the church is hurting.” I knew I would be accused of this and frankly, it’s why I probably haven’t said much. But at the risk of dishonoring God and causing hundreds of you to miss out on God’s healing and your financial wreck being corrected, I have to say this.
The past couple of weeks I have spoken to 4-5 good friends who are very committed Christians. They have shared how they could not give because of their financial condition. I have shared with them how this is the very time to give and keep giving. How do we expect God to bless and provide when we are directly stealing from Him? How can a thief ask the One he is stealing from to continue to bless him? It can’t happen, and it won’t. So, as long as you withhold God’s tithe and offerings, you can’t expect to be blessed. Now read Malachi. God spoke in that way to His people He loved. Just as we all bought in to the promise of the politicians that this stimulus would help us, and then to wake up the last couple days to realize it might a few (but mainly the big guys…fat cats, and each of us will get a whopping $13 a week). Whoopee! Many of us need to wake up and remember we cannot expect God to provide nor bless us if we are stealing from the very God who is so much in love with us, Who created us and told us to test Him and see how He would bless us. I’m so glad most of my friends I have challenged to begin to trust and test God have done that. Do you know that in the American church only 20% of all people who call themselves Christians actually tithe? That I’m sure would be no different at Oasis. Is it any wonder we are in the mess we are in? I’m surprised it’s not worse. But, by God’s grace is the only answer I can figure out. Now, I’m telling you straight, don’t expect God to bail you out if you’re spending His tithes and offerings to pay other bills, go on trips, even eat out a meal or buy a pack of cigarettes or anything else that is not a bare necessity. When will we as individuals and as a country ever realize we cant spend ourselves into prosperity and happiness!! It never has worked and never will.
This is the time for the church to stand up and live out what we say we believe. If He is in control, than why are we trusting in Barack Obama more than God? Why are you afraid to tithe and to give back to Him? Now there will be some offended that I’m saying this in our worst economic time. You might even leave Oasis Church. OK…go ahead if your Pastor is telling you straight, in love, so that you can actually begin to have your economic life stimulated by God, Himself by your being obedient…if you want to blame me and leave our church, do it. I love you as a church too much to see you hurting so badly and yet, we are buying the lie from Satan that the less I have, the less I give to God. No, it should not matter how much or little…it’s proportionate. Please trust Him, test Him. If you say, “Guy, you’re doing a money grab for Oasis Church”, please hear me. I’m not! If you really think that, then go and find a church you can love, one that preaches the gospel, but please, give the Lord’s tithe to them. This year our family lost one income through this recession, and yet, we have given to more outside ministries than in many a year, continued to tithe, give to our new mission work in North Florida and give to missions. Have we cut back? You betcha we have, but God has somehow supplied. I just want our church to be obedient, and our families to find the abundant living God has promised us. This is a part of it. It’s easy to overlook in these times, and yet these times are when we need to practice what we say we believe.
Just today, not two hours ago, I got an unsolicited email from one of our members I won’t name since I have not even had time to ask her permission, but listen to her story below:
"I have to tell you when things in our country are so bad and so many people and families who are out of work, it can be tempting to cut back on giving. Some time ago God very clearly put it on my heart to increase our giving to 15% and I wondered how I was going to do this (especially since I just resigned from my job). But God is good and has always met our need, and we are able to pay our bills and have no debt, SO how can I cut back?!!! I find if we put God first He is the master of our universe and is in control, and will take care of His own. He has never failed us. We are supporting our son and continue to support our Lord in His work as long as we trust Him."
Amen!!!!!
When Tonia and I were in our 20's and bought our first house in South Florida, President Jimmy Carter was in the White House, inflation was over 10%, unemployment reached 11%, mortgage rates were between 17.5-23 Percent, yes, 23% that is not a typo. Our country was far worse in the late 70's !!! And yes, we bought our house under those circumstances. Yes, we never missed Tithing and I stand here today and say its not about who is in the White House, That is not our hope and they are not in control of our lives. God is!!! Please trust Him and turn to Him, don't let possessions or lack there of decide your life and don't sell out to the lie Satan tells us. When I can afford it I will give God His tithe!! Please begin today. I promise He will bless and keep you. I have never seen God not take care of them who are obedient to His commands and principles. TEST HIM!!
I thank God everyday for those hundreds in our church who are obedient and continue to honor God in their lives and Giving. You bless me!!!
God bless you Oasis Family , I love you!!
piece in the casket with me...just in case!!) Oh, and dont forget the "Santa's White Christmas" coffee from Barnies. If not Dunkin Coffee will do.
