Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated. Then why doesn’t the ice cream last? During this Lenten season we are always reminded of the events surrounding the last earthly days of our Lord. When Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume, Judas complained that a better use for that amount of money would be to spend it on the poor. Then comes this often overlooked verse in John 12:6 (NLT), “Not that he cared for the poor — he was a thief who was in charge of the disciples’ funds, and he often took some for his own use.”
That last phrase tells us a lot about his character. Having him as the caretaker of the funds was about as smart as having a pyrotechnic maniac for your fire chief. He probably figured that the other disciples didn’t know how much money he had and wouldn’t miss it.
Lest we be too hard on Judas, some folks are guilty of doing the same thing in church, like taking money out of the plate as it goes by. You say, “Nobody would be that brazen.” What’s the difference whether you take some out or hold back from putting in the plate what you really should. Think about it! Both are stealing from God. In Malachi 3:8 (nlt) we have these searching words, “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me,” But you ask, `What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me.”
You say your defense is that the quote is from the Old Testament — we aren’t bound by that. Really — that means I no longer have to pay any attention to the 10 Commandments, right? We’ll just call them 10 Suggestions. We always need to be smart enough to know when God has established a principle, whether it be in the OT or in the NT.
A principle is a guide for life, and a good lifetime principle is to give to God a proper amount to further his church. Let me get personal. If every member gave the income percentage that you give, would your church survive?