Proverbs 3:9, “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops.”
Jesus taught that our attitude towards money is an indicator of our hearts. Paul taught that when we are loved by God and love God in return we will give cheerfully, sacrificially, and regularly.
The Bible teaches that God is the owner of everything, including our money and possessions. When we give, we give back to God what God already owns. Our giving is an indication of trust, discipleship, and commitment. We believe that it is a worthy goal for us to make regular strides towards achieving the minimum Biblical standard for giving of 10%, commonly called a “tithe.”
Medford UMC periodically offers classes designed to teach and encourage both Biblical stewardship and money management, with the ultimate goal being how to approach the subject of money in a proven, systematic way that can lead to true financial peace. Part of this strategy for our money would be to give the tithe and even beyond a tithe to support the ministry of Christ in the world. This is sound teaching; after all, remember that Jesus had more to say about money than almost any other subject in the Bible.