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Tithing Can Be Taught
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” - Proverbs 22:6
I cannot remember when I did not tithe. My parents were teachers and when they gave my sister, Betty Jane, and me our weekly allowance, a lesson was taught and repeated each week. The amount given increased as we grew, but for my purposes here, let’s say it was 30 cents given in small change. When the allowance was given, banks and offering envelopes came out. The Fort Morgan First Baptist Church envelopes had two pockets—one for the local church and one for missions. I cannot remember when I did not give to missions. Ten cents went into savings, 10 cents went into my Calumet Bank, and 3 cents went into the offering envelope. I had 7 cents a week to spend recklessly—usually for 5-cent LifeSavers or candy.
What is a “Calumet Bank?” It is a bank made from a Calumet Baking Powder can. When Mother had a birthday, Dad did not give me money to buy her a gift. The money came from that bank, as did my family Christmas gifts. Thus, my gifts really were from me.
As far back as I can remember, allowance time was a learning time about saving money, tithing, mission giving, and planning ahead for special occasions. When I started to work—delivering newspapers, watering lawns (no one had sprinkler systems), mowing lawns with a reel mower, and many other jobs, the money I received was handled in a like manner.
When my mother, Pearl Brown, died, I tithed her estate. With help from a friend, Nancy Holeman, I am using the American Baptist Foundation to provide an annuity which pays me monthly interest on my money. Upon my death, I will give funds to Calvary (my home church), and several other American Baptist entities.
Because I was guided by the teaching of my parents to give the 3 cents to God from my 30-cent allowance, it was second nature for me to tithe my retirement salary, and my inheritance from my parent’s estate.
Prayer: Father, help us so to plan our living and our giving in ways that honor you. Amen.
Rev. Mason Brown
Member
Calvary Baptist Church
Denver, CO |
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