Comm & Tithes

Communion

Every time I read about the Crucifixion I get a mix of emotions

In most stories the death of the hero is extremely tragic

But Jesus didn’t just die, but He was also crucified, perhaps the most insulting and excruciating way to die

It’s one of the least humane things you can do to a man

This bitter ending always gets to me

because it’s not just some fictional character

It’s real suffering that was inflicted upon a real man

I had some part in it

Every one of us had some small part to play in that horribly tragic scene

Yet at the same time, Jesus wasn’t just a man, and that crucifixion wasn’t just His death

It was the death of our sin

We sit here today, forgiven, because of that

In taking communion we proclaim this death, this victory over sin, just like Paul says in 1 Cor 11:26

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 11

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

Cause that’s the thing that fills me most with hope, that it wasn’t the end of the story

He raised from the dead, proving that He was not just a man

Not only that, but He’s coming back as well

And when He does, we all will hope to hear the words “Well done, good and faithful servant”

Tithes

In Acts 5:1-11 there is a peculiar and rather terrifying story about a couple named Ananias and Sapphira

Just before this Barnabas had come and sold his property and given all the earnings to the church

He recieved much praise for this because it was something very generous and charitable

Just like if some billionaire gave 85% of his income to a charity, he’d get showered with praise

So Ananias and Sapphira decide they want some of this too

But they both decide to only give some of the earnings to the church and keep some for themselves

this wouldn’t be bad, but they claimed to give it all to the church because they wanted that praise

Peter says to them this in verse 4

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 5

“While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

Both Ananias and Sapphira died that day

They sin wasn’t that they held some back to themselves, but that they had lied

It was all rightfully theirs to have, and they had every right to keep some of the earnings for themselves

yet they decided to lie about how much they gave

So I implore you church, be honest with your giving

Just be honest with God in general, cause truth is he already knows it all

You may fool men, but it wasn’t men that killed Ananias and Sapphira