This is the 16th post as
I attempt to visit everything (pretty much!) Jesus said about money in the
gospels over 2 weeks. In order to do this I will be putting up around two posts
each day. This is coinciding with a 2-week preaching series that we are going
through at Community Church Putney- Jesus On Money.
“Woe to you,
teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your
spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters
of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the
latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat
but swallow a camel.” (Matthew 23:23-24)
Some religious people can be very
meticulous over some religious observance (‘straining gnats’) whilst being completely
blinkered about gross ungodliness in other very important areas of their lives
(‘swallowing camels’).
These Pharisees were very conscientious
about tithing (Deuteronomy 14:22-29) to the point of neurosis; but were
neglecting the central thrust of God’s character and scripture, ‘justice, mercy
and faithfulness’.
Jesus does not tell them to stop tithing;
rather, he encourages them to continue doing it but with balance in their lives.
Jesus on money teaches us to give
generously – and tithing is a good start! But lets also be open to God’s will
in every other aspect of our lives.
Take a moment to ask God to search you:
What are your ‘gnats’- things that you focus on and care a lot about, and what
are your ‘camels’ things that rarely enter your mind? (examples: pastoral
care; evangelism; giving; prayer; teaching; social action; bible reading;
fasting; devotion to meeting; spiritual gifts etc.)
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