Can you go on vacation, buy a new car, go out to eat, or give your children a new computer while believers starve in Africa, suffer hardship in Japan, and live in tents in Haiti?
This question gets to the heart and soul of both financial stewardship and the issue of poverty theology. On the one hand, we all should react to this question with a heart of compassion. Do we care about brothers and sisters in Christ enough to offer help? On the other hand, must this heart of compassion toward needy followers of Jesus mean that we must lean toward asceticism? While this is certainly not a comprehensive look, I believe there is something that can be learned from the OT system of tithes.
Please let us know your thoughts, comments, and questions.