Being a Christian and tithing and offerings

[JohnClay]

I've been thinking about the idea of putting Jesus first but I'm reluctant to give a substantial offering... at the moment I might give 1% at the very most. I am struggling financially and my wife helps support me. I try to minimize my expenses. Is it possible to be saved while only giving about 1% or less? I guess you can only serve one master.

 

[Jord Simcha]

Is it possible to be saved while only giving about 1% or less?

Short answer, yes.

I guess you can only serve one master.

That is true, however, I think it pertains more to selling out (to sin) than to tithing.

 

[Kate30]

I've been thinking about the idea of putting Jesus first but I'm reluctant to give a substantial offering... at the moment I might give 1% at the very most. I am struggling financially and my wife helps support me. I try to minimize my expenses. Is it possible to be saved while only giving about 1% or less? I guess you can only serve one master.

John all depends how you veiw the Christian Faith. Are you saved by tithing or by what our Lord did six hours one Friday ?

 

[A_Thinker]

I've been thinking about the idea of putting Jesus first but I'm reluctant to give a substantial offering... at the moment I might give 1% at the very most. I am struggling financially and my wife helps support me. I try to minimize my expenses. Is it possible to be saved while only giving about 1% or less? I guess you can only serve one master.

I would says that "your tithe" includes MORE than just a gift of your money. It can also include gifts of time and talent, and ability.

For instance, I usually participate in, at least, 4 hours of church ministry per week. At minimum wage, that's equivalent to $60.00/per week.

Examples of where one might be involved in ministry are varied. One could help with church bulletin preparation, or perhaps compose and distribute an online newsletter. As a member of CF, I will routinely respond to the prayer requests which are offered here. If you have the time, you could commit to spending one hour in prayer per day ... specifically for the needs of others. That could be worth about $100.00/week, ... but probably is much more valuable.

Also, when I've had less income, I've given less, ... but I make it a point to give MORE when my income increases.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

I've been thinking about the idea of putting Jesus first but I'm reluctant to give a substantial offering... at the moment I might give 1% at the very most. I am struggling financially and my wife helps support me. I try to minimize my expenses. Is it possible to be saved while only giving about 1% or less? I guess you can only serve one master.

Salvation has nothing to do with money. You should rest in that. Putting Jesus first is loving him and loving one another, not money. Not sure where you got the idea of making a substantial monetary offering would be considered "putting Jesus first" this is absolute error! I hope you are not in a congregation where the pastor is pressuring you. I will pray for you.
Blessings

 

[Lukaris]

Do what you can; works should flow from faith, not otherwise ( Ephesians 2:8-10). While I can & do tithe, I also volunteer janitor work at the church. If I could not afford to tithe money, then whatever I volunteer would need to suffice.


Of course we are not to boast of our works ( Luke 17:5-10).

 

[JohnClay]

Thanks everyone.

BTW I was looking at the story of the rich young man in Matthew, Mark and Luke - the man is asking about how to get eternal life. As well as obeying the commandments Jesus said he needs to sell everything and give it to the poor. The man goes away sad and Jesus doesn't seem to tell him that he can still be saved. Also in Mark 12 and Luke 21 a poor widow is praised for giving everything she has to live on.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Thanks everyone.

BTW I was looking at the story of the rich young man in Matthew, Mark and Luke - the man is asking about how to get eternal life. As well as obeying the commandments Jesus said he needs to sell everything and give it to the poor. The man goes away sad and Jesus doesn't seem to tell him that he can still be saved. Also in Mark 12 and Luke 21 a poor widow is praised for giving everything she has to live on.

Rest assured that the rich young ruler was given a message specifically meant for him. And the poor woman was an example for all present at that time to see and understand. Not all scripture is perceptive some of it if not most, is descriptive. You are not saved by giving money to your pastor.
Blessings

 

[A_Thinker]

Thanks everyone.

BTW I was looking at the story of the rich young man in Matthew, Mark and Luke - the man is asking about how to get eternal life. As well as obeying the commandments Jesus said he needs to sell everything and give it to the poor. The man goes away sad and Jesus doesn't seem to tell him that he can still be saved. Also in Mark 12 and Luke 21 a poor widow is praised for giving everything she has to live on.

The rich young thought that he would be saved by his "doing" ...

"All of these things I have done since my youth."

Jesus, thus, informed the young man that, if he was counting on his deeds to save him, ... he would have to be perfect, and thus, give away all that he had.

"If you would be perfect, ... go and sell all that you have ... and give it to the poor."

Fortunately, we are not saved by our works ...

 

[JohnClay]

@A_Thinker
I find the story confusing. Jesus could have said "to have eternal life just follow me". Since the rich man left with the impression he couldn't be saved then it seems like he would have gone to hell...

 

[A_Thinker]

@A_Thinker
I find the story confusing. Jesus could have said "to have eternal life just follow me". Since the rich man left with the impression he couldn't be saved then it seems like he would have gone to hell...

The Jews believed that they were saved by the keeping of the Law. Jesus was bringing the transition to salvation by grace. But the time was not yet, ... that would only come after His death and resurrection. So Jesus responded to the young man ... in the way he had been brought up to understand ... and, truly, we need to understand that God's legal (i.e. of the Law) requirements of us ... are more than we can achieve.

Jesus informed the young man ... that he would ultimately fail to merit God's approval. The young man would, someday, be ready to accept Jesus' teaching on his need for unmerited grace. I doubt that this incident was the last time the young man had a chance to hear Jesus. He had opportunity to accept the message of God's grace every moment of his life from that point on. And there is a christian legend ... which says that he did.

 

[Sketcher]

I've been thinking about the idea of putting Jesus first but I'm reluctant to give a substantial offering... at the moment I might give 1% at the very most. I am struggling financially and my wife helps support me. I try to minimize my expenses. Is it possible to be saved while only giving about 1% or less? I guess you can only serve one master.

Yes. However, I believe in making it a goal to give 10%, and working towards it. Obviously, you have to take care of your family, especially any kids that might be in the picture. But I find that giving is anti-selfishness. If I regularly give some of my money away, that's going to slow down my saving up for a luxury item, and I'm going to be less focused on getting that luxury item. And if I'm less focused on getting that luxury item, that's more disposable income that can go either to helping someone out should a need come up, or further charitable giving. Still save for emergencies and retirement, of course.

 

[JohnClay]

BTW I'm fond of a 1959 well-illustrated book called "Your Bible and You"
https://www.amazon.com/Your-Bible-You-Arthur-Maxwell/dp/B00GEB0W6G

I was just rereading it and it says:

Recognizing God as the possessor of all the earth and that it is "God who giveth ... power to get wealth," the eight prominent businessmen pictured above practiced paying a faithful tithe early in business life. Left to right: M. W. Baldwin, M. S. Hershey, W. Wrigley, Jr., F. W. Woolworth, James L. Kraft, H. P. Crowell, H. J. Heinz, and John D. Rockefeller.

It also goes into detail like "John D. Rockefeller began tithing when he was earning only $3.50 a week." and ".... all put God first in their finances and found themselves on the highway to prosperity".

Also:

I know thousands who are following this plan and they are all seem to be getting along quite well. Somehow they seem to accomplish more with nine tenths than those who spend all ten tenths on themselves. There is a blessing in it. And a very rich blessing it is - just as God promised through Malachi. The windows of heaven are opened and His bounties are bestowed beyond all expectation. Many well-known businessmen ascribe their prosperity to their adoption of this plan.

 

[aiki]

I've been thinking about the idea of putting Jesus first

Why?

but I'm reluctant to give a substantial offering... at the moment I might give 1% at the very most.

When Jesus is first in your life, you'll naturally find yourself giving as you should. In other words, giving will get sorted out as a consequence of putting Jesus, not as a means of putting him first.

Is it possible to be saved while only giving about 1% or less?

Of course it is. Your giving is not an integral part of the basis upon which you become a child of God, a Christian.

I guess you can only serve one master.

Yes, this is so. But, how you serve is a matter that follows coming into service. A servant only worries about how to serve his master after he has become his master's servant.

 

[JohnClay]

I've been thinking about the idea of putting Jesus first

Why?...

I guess to try and be saved though I don't strongly believe in the gospel.

 

[aiki]

I guess to try and be saved though I don't strongly believe in the gospel.

Oh? Why's that? And if you don't believe the Gospel why believe you should try and be saved?

 

[JohnClay]

Oh? Why's that? And if you don't believe the Gospel why believe you should try and be saved?

Well I believe I'm lost so it would help to have more direction in life but I'm careful about what I accept as being true.

 

[aiki]

Well I believe I'm lost so it would help to have more direction in life but I'm careful about what I accept as being true.

The idea of being lost is part of the Gospel. Why believe this part and not the whole of the Gospel?

Being careful about what you accept as true is always a good idea. It is a mistake, though, to make the Gospel all about accepting truth propositions. Behind the truths of the Gospel is a personal Being who will draw near to you as you in faith and humility draw near to Him. Salvation is a doorway into a personal relationship with your Maker, not just into a collection of religious beliefs.

 

[JohnClay]

The idea of being lost is part of the Gospel. Why believe this part and not the whole of the Gospel?....

The idea of Jesus physically rising from the dead is harder for me to believe.

 

[Lukaris]

I would carefully read 1 Corinthians 15.