Tithing - Do/Don't?

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kimbalee

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Born again believer here that tithes but not on a consistant basis. Not because I am cheap, but sometimes I get finacially scared.

example:
my weekly paycheck is $500 and I have $440 worth of bills that have to be paid with that check, leaving me with $60 left... do I give my tithe of $50? Leaving me with $10?
How will I eat? How will have gas to drive to work?

Now on the other hand, If i have more money left over on the next check, I will try to catch up... but honestly, with my finances I haven't been able to do that for the last couple of months.

I do try to do other things to give in the world besides $, I consider myself a humble servant to people... I try to give in other ways.

My concern is .... I'm robbing God, like the book of Malachi states?
Does this mean God is dissapointed in me? Is this gonna stop me from being financially ok? Will this stop God from blessing me?

Malachi 3:8
8Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In your tithes and contributions.
10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
 

Bryan Cotton

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My concern is .... I'm robbing God, like the book of Malachi states?

Does this mean God is dissapointed in me? Is this gonna stop me from being financially ok? Will this stop God from blessing me?

Malachi 3:8
8Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In your tithes and contributions.
10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

My take on it, In Malachi 3:8, God is talking to the children of Isreal. They were under the law. Since the return of Jesus, did Jesus, The APostle Paul OR the LORD speak to any followers of Christ about 1) paying tithes, 2) Robbing God?

But, id you bleieve that you should pay tithes, then when you get paid shouldn't you give up the tithe up front, then take care of your bills , etc etc. After all, the beleif is if you pay yout tithes, the lord will take careof you every need.

Even if you don't beleive that you HAVE to tithe, if you make that decision to do so, always do it without feeling you HAVE to, but do it because you love sowing into the kingdom of God
 
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Wade Smith

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Born again believer here that tithes but not on a consistant basis. Not because I am cheap, but sometimes I get finacially scared.

example:
my weekly paycheck is $500 and I have $440 worth of bills that have to be paid with that check, leaving me with $60 left... do I give my tithe of $50? Leaving me with $10?
How will I eat? How will have gas to drive to work?

Now on the other hand, If i have more money left over on the next check, I will try to catch up... but honestly, with my finances I haven't been able to do that for the last couple of months.

I do try to do other things to give in the world besides $, I consider myself a humble servant to people... I try to give in other ways.

My concern is .... I'm robbing God, like the book of Malachi states?
Does this mean God is dissapointed in me? Is this gonna stop me from being financially ok? Will this stop God from blessing me?

Malachi 3:8
8Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In your tithes and contributions.
10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

The widow had nothing to give put 2 mites, and Jesus said that she gave more than everyone, because he saw her heart.


Now some in the prosperity camp have the audacity to pervert that passage to say, "See! You ought to give the church every spare cent you have!"


But the truth is, in the New Testament the only thing you ever see are free will offerings. There is no Tithe and no compelled giving.
 
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My take on it, In Malachi 3:8, God is talking to the children of Isreal. They were under the law. Since the return of Jesus, did Jesus, The APostle Paul OR the LORD speak to any followers of Christ about 1) paying tithes, 2) Robbing God?

Yea, I was going to say that. Sometimes one has to realise who is being spoken to, it can change the perspective.

Give what you can, and where does it say you have to give to a church? You can sponsor a child in Haiti and be fulfilling God's wish that we take care of His orphans. Something tells me God doesn't require monetary membership fees to be in His club. :thumbsup:
 
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LargeCat

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I don't Tithe. I have my reasons. I will not go into that here.
HOWEVER, I do help support charitable programs, religous based and otherwise, which make a positive difference and a positive impact in the world. Many of these are faith based/ecumenical programs, but all are not. I look for groups that use the money and goods they receive to help others as opposed to funding advertising and administrative costs (like the United Way for example)
I do not think Tithing is the answer, but Charity? Absolutely. We as Chrsitians need to be examples to our community, not by what we say but what we DO and charitable works not only do that, but more importantly, they make our community and our world a better place.
 
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really.. i have always been told that you should always tithe no matter what.

Were you always told that by church staff? :preach:

It's unfortunate that some church leaders go on and on about tithing and try to make people feel guilty for not giving "10% off the top". Yes, churches really do need the money (well, some churches really need it) and it's a social responsibility to give as much as you can afford to give.

But "should" and "must" do not have the same meaning.
 
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Wade Smith

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really.. i have always been told that you should always tithe no matter what.

Unfortunately, some preachers abuse malachi chapter 3 to make people feel guilty. "You're robbing God if you don't pay tithe..."


Yet "Tithe" was what went to the Old Testament priesthoods.

If your pastor is not a Levite, he has no right to ask "tithe" of anyone.
 
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kimbalee

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My husband and I were convicted by God to start tithing about 10 yrs. ago....we have recieved nothing but blessings by doing so. You can't outgive God.

oh absolutely, i agree with not be able to outgive God, but do i tithe when i am in the example at the beginning of this post?:confused:

example:
my weekly paycheck is $500 and I have $440 worth of bills that have to be paid with that check, leaving me with $60 left... do I give my tithe of $50? Leaving me with $10?
How will I eat? How will have gas to drive to work?
 
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Bryan Cotton

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... and i have always felt that i will miss out on God's financial blessing if I don't tithe on regular basis. i feel a little bit better about it now.

With that in mind, think of this

2 Corinthians 9:6But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.


I don't tithe. But if you look closely at the money I sow into the church I attend and the churches I visit, you would think I do. While what you sow may equal or exceed 10%, if you sow with a cheerful heart and you know that the mow you sow the more you reap in blessing, then that's what counts.

Think of all the people who tithe but feel forced to do so or feel bummed out when they tithe. I think God will look at that in bad terms opppose to someone that is joyed when they give.
 
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alancrookham

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I am a missionary in Panama and usually live off of the tithes of other people. For example, this month I only have $350 to live on, that's with a wife and a son. Which is okay, I can make it on that. However I have always, always given my tithe in the years I have been a missionary. Most of my fellow missionaries do not, because they say that they can't make it. However, ironically most of them get three times or more support than I do, and yet they can't make it and end up going back to the States to raise more support every six months or so. I haven't been back to the States in almost four years, living on whatever I am given. Now, I personally don't believe that it has anything to do with managing finances, I think that it is God providing for me in many ways that they are not provided for, as a direct result of tithing.

For example, those missionaries I mentioned earlier, who don't tithe, they may have a lot more money than I do, however I have been given a house for free. I have never made a single payment, I have been offered motorcycles, cars, and all kinds of other things. I always use everything I get for ministry, and God knows that. I believe that all of those things are because of tithing, and I think that we can usually afford to tithe even when we think we can't. We all know the story of the Widow's mite, she gave out of her poverty and Jesus said she gave more than anyone else. Not having much money, is a great chance to have Him say the same thing about us!
Alan

Do you love Jesus? Let's seek Him together.
seekingtheking.blogspot.com
 
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Bryan Cotton

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I haven't been back to the States in almost four years, living on whatever I am given. Now, I personally don't believe that it has anything to do with managing finances, I think that it is God providing for me in many ways that they are not provided for, as a direct result of tithing....

... however I have been given a house for free. I have never made a single payment, I have been offered motorcycles, cars, and all kinds of other things. I always use everything I get for ministry, and God knows that. I believe that all of those things are because of tithing, ...

I think it's because you are not affraid to sow into (whereever your tithes go to). Like 1 Corinthian 9:6 says about sowing little and sowing a lot. That's why I think that tithing is not a bad thing, but I feel you shouldn't tell people i you don't tithe your doomed. But if you don't tithe, and your not getting all the blessing you feel you need, then evaluate how much you sow.

alancrookham said:
and I think that we can usually afford to tithe even when we think we can't.

I totally agree with that in the sense that, usally we can sow more then what we can see with out eyes. The bible mentions walking by faith and not by sight. I think God has provided for you because you walk by faith that God will provide and not by the sight that your finances are low.
 
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Bryan Cotton

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my weekly paycheck is $500 and I have $440 worth of bills that have to be paid with that check, leaving me with $60 left... do I give my tithe of $50? Leaving me with $10? How will I eat? How will have gas to drive to work?

The tithe teachers would say give the $50 because it's God's not yours in the first place. And by giving the $50, God will provide. I even heard someone say if you only have the $10 left, just do what you can and if you can't afford to eat, its a good time to fast. I don't buy that, but just speaking from what others have said.
Me, personally, I'd do one of two things.

1) give what the spirit leads you to do. Give what you feel you should give plus a little bit more.

2) Evaluate your bills and see what you can cut out.

Most people speak about the bills they have as a means to not sow into the church or other peoples lives. But a lot of times we have some luxuries that we say we can't do without. Even if it's doing without the Starbucks coffee each morning or killing the ulimitted text messeging on your cell phone. Even if it means going to dial-up internet from broadband. Sometimes doing this will also free up more time to spend with the lord.
 
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LargeCat

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GREAT POST BRYAN COTTON

Amen to you

The thing with Tithing is, we are taught to give with the right hand not knowing what the left is doing (Someone help me Please, I think that is in the BIble?) Also Someone mentioned the story/parable of the poor widow who gave all she had and what always impressed me about that story was how I could picture that scene in my mind and imagine a bunch of super rich guys coming in and making tithes and donations in front of everyone, almost for their own glory
Rather than for the good of society
Some congregations I have attended make a big deal about who gives most and publicize it as though it is some contest. Being a good example is one thing, bragging is something altogether different I think.

When we help out others, we make our world a better place and as I mentioned in my last post, we as Christians MUST be good stewards and good examples to everyone, not just to make ourselves look good but to make society see the Good in Christ through us

Bishop Spong has this topic on his Q&A Toady I will not recopy the whole thing, you can go read it online if you choose to do so, otherwise I liked the way he made this point and I will copy it but it is Bishop Spong's words Not Mine


Third, Jesus teaching about the way to follow him was dedicated to humanity. You serve Christ when you feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, clothe the naked and visit the sick and those in prison.

As I mentioned, we donate alot to a local catholic run charity because what ever we donate, food, clothes. money all goes to those who are in need of it. It does not go to paying someones salary or administrative or advertising costs (like the united way for example) And the people seem truly thankful.
It is not the only charity in town just one we like and trust. And we don't give out of a tax break or because we have money or because we want to pat ourselves on the back or because we are trying to lease God (Who could see through that anyway) ... We do it because plain and simple we believe that it is the right thing to do.
 
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LargeCat

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1) give what the spirit leads you to do. Give what you feel you should give plus a little bit more.

2) Evaluate your bills and see what you can cut out.

.

Bryan That was not a long post You can write me a book, brother, and I will read it (as soon as I eat LOL)
 
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Bryan Cotton

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The thing with Tithing is, we are taught to give with the right hand not knowing what the left is doing (Someone help me Please, I think that is in the BIble?)

It's in regards to giving alms. Matthew 6:3-4

3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

While alms refer to giving pitty or mercy (a donation to the poor), it's not necessarily tithing. But you will see even THIS quoted in regards to fgiving tithes. But I'm with you. Especially when you say

LargeCat said:
As I mentioned, we donate alot to a local catholic run charity because what ever we donate, food, clothes. money all goes to those who are in need of it. It does not go to paying someones salary or administrative or advertising costs (like the united way for example) And the people seem truly thankful.

While I only give to charities when someone is collecting for them at work, or if I'm out and i see someone collecting for charity, How many of us actually will help out people on the street that's in need.

I won't go into a lot accolads I've done in the streets as far as helping people, but as followers of Christ, if we see people out in the street that need help and we can help, help them. wether it be buying someone a meal, or giving them a few buck for gas or helping someone accross the street. You can be a devout tither, but if we refuse to help a poor person thats hungry and you're chomping down on two big macs, large fries and a shake, then we are out of line.

sorry for the long responses. I think the holy spirit is working my fingers this morning.
 
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Bro.T

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Born again believer here that tithes but not on a consistant basis. Not because I am cheap, but sometimes I get finacially scared.

example:
my weekly paycheck is $500 and I have $440 worth of bills that have to be paid with that check, leaving me with $60 left... do I give my tithe of $50? Leaving me with $10?
How will I eat? How will have gas to drive to work?

Now on the other hand, If i have more money left over on the next check, I will try to catch up... but honestly, with my finances I haven't been able to do that for the last couple of months.

I do try to do other things to give in the world besides $, I consider myself a humble servant to people... I try to give in other ways.

My concern is .... I'm robbing God, like the book of Malachi states?
Does this mean God is dissapointed in me? Is this gonna stop me from being financially ok? Will this stop God from blessing me?

Malachi 3:8
8Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In your tithes and contributions.
10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

Lets go in to Genesis 14:14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

When Melchizedek (Jesus) came on the seen abram, gave his tithes.

23:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
23:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.
23:3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.
23:4 These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.(Leviticus 23:1-4)

If you keeping the sabbath day, the seventh day, yes you should pay your tithes. Can you find keeping an Holy convocation on sunday the first day of the week in the Bible?

Isaiah 55:1Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (this the word of God, the lord is talking)
55:2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

Lets go to Nehemiah 13:3 1 On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
13:5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.

Lets look at what paul said

For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? (1Corinthians 9:9)

Lets go back to moses

27:30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’S: it is holy unto the LORD.
27:31 And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.
27:32 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.
27:34 These are the commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai.

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. (2Corinthians 9:6,7)

peace in jesus name
 
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