Pewboy was like a kid in a candy store. To be more precise, he was like an avid fisherman meandering through a boat show. He liked each one he saw better than the last. In his mind, he could see himself at the wheel cruising the waterways, or in the stern reeling in the big one.
Jim White
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In Walter Mitty-like fashion, he entered his fantasy so fully that he was startled when he heard a voice he recognized. The voice was not a part of his fantasy and it jerked him unceremoniously into reality. Pewboy looked blankly at his friend, Alterego who smiled expectantly.
Pewboy: I’m sorry, what did you say?
Altarego: I said, “You look like you are off in another world.” I guess your response proves how right I was! Where were you, buddy?
P: [Sheepishly] I was out on my new boat. I was out on the Chesapeake Bay feeling the wind and the salt-spray blowing through my hair. It was great. I guess I just got lost in my thoughts.
A: New boat, eh? So you’ve actually bought one of these beauties?
P: Well, not yet, actually. But I’m planning to real soon now that I have a down payment. The economy has some folks scared, so I’m getting a great deal.
A: Great! I’m looking forward to being invited to go out with you, hint, hint. We’ve talked about your finances, and I must say that I’m surprised but proud to hear you saved enough for a down payment.
P: I sure did. I just turned it all over to the Lord and he provided. It was like a miracle.
A: Well, you’ve certainly got my attention. Tell me about it.
P: Well, you know I’ve been praying for a new boat for a long time. You know I tithe, right? Well, we’ve missed three Sundays of church ’cause of the snow, which is an act of God. The way I see it, he must have caused it to snow so I could use the money I would have spent tithing. See what I mean? God provided. It’s like a miracle.
A: [It was now Altarego’s turn to appear catatonic. He shook his head to try to clear his mind.] I don’t know what to say — where to start.
P: I know. I’ve never seen a sure enough miracle before.
A: OK, let’s think about this.
P: About what?
A: About a whole list of assumptions you seem to be making.
P: [Pewboy stroked the new Caribbean Skiff and frowned.] Like what?
A: Well, let’s start with the most basic assumption of all. As Creator, everything is God’s. You seem to be assuming that everything you make is yours.
P: Well, I know everything is God’s in the biblical sense, you know. But in the real world, the one we pay taxes in, it belongs to me.
A: Oh, really? We may call ourselves “owners,” but in truth, we are just users of what God has created. We have a deed that says we own a plot of land. But the most we can hope for is to live on the land during our lifetimes and leave it clean and wholesome for the next generation who will call themselves “owners.”
P: I know I’ll leave it when I die, but while I’m here, I get to own it, right?
A: You have a deed and you pay taxes. If that makes it yours, then it’s yours, if that’s what you want to call yourself. Only, the Bible teaches us to view things differently. Because God created all that is, it belongs to him. We are temporary caretakers who are commanded to be good stewards of what belongs to God.
P: But isn’t that just semantics?
A: No. Not at all. It is a Christian world view that starts with God and not with ourselves. We fit into what God is doing, not vice versa.
P: OK, I can see that.
A: Now, let’s talk about the tithe. If 100 percent is God’s that extends to our incomes.
P: I was afraid you were going to say that.
A: That’s because you’re catching on. So, if 100 percent is God’s, does that include the 10 percent you call the tithe? [He paused while Pewboy nodded reluctantly, then went on.] Sure it does. But you are treating it as if it were a gift you can decide to give or withhold. In fact, it’s even worse. You are treating the tithe as if it were a cover charge for admission.
P: [Rarely had Altarego been so direct with him, but he was beginning to see what his friend was saying.] Go on.
A: If that’s what you think, then if you don’t have church because of the weather, you didn’t attend, so you don’t have to pay.
P: So you are saying we should pay even if we don’t go?
A: Not exactly. I’m saying that whether you have church of not is immaterial. Everything you have is still God’s, and the tithe is still that portion set aside to return to him.
P: Why? I mean, surely God doesn’t need our money.
A: No, but we need to give it. First of all, it is a reminder that we are responsible to God as his stewards. God not only cares about the tithe, he cares what we do with the rest of what he’s given us.
P: OK, I see that. What else.
A: Well, let’s consider another assumption. Although I really doubt that you have thought about it, you seem to think that everything is provided to the church free of charge. Utilities, payments, missions, salaries. How will the church continue to provide literature in Sunday school and meet the needs of it’s community? How will … [at this point Pewboy interrupted him].
P: Alright. I get the point. [He observed Altarego’s look of skepticism.] No, I’m serious. I do understand what you’ve said; and, as badly as I want that boat, I’m going to ….
A: Good. Now we can move to your assumption that God would send a blizzard stranding thousands and disrupting the lives of millions just to get you a boat.