$$$ Giving... how much is enough?

God requires 10% for to maintain the church. As far as I know, that should go into the general fund. If we are a elder we have some say in how it is spent, otherwise we do not.

Beyond that, it is a free will offering. For building funds or missions or whatever. That is our money and so we can designate where it goes. God will bless it, and always give us more than we gave.

Abraham paid Tithe to Melchizedek of salam, which is now Jerusalam. Genesis 14:18 "Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High." That was 700 years before the law was given.

God loves a cheerful giver though. I do not think He wants us to give out of compulsion or obligation. He really does want to work a attitude in our heart so we give cheerfully and heartly. There is even a annointing for giving. In our church, the giving part is just as annointed as anything else. I have seen our pastor raise up to one million dollars in a half hour or less of time. I know he could not have done that if God had not already done a work in the people. Because I have seen other times he had problems to raise aaround $60,000, for whatever the cause was. Thanks, JohnR7

Hmm.... God wants us to give, volunteeringly, not out of obligations.

What is it all worth to you?

Is there ever enough?

there is never enough!

but we have to give with our hearts not with our hands...cuz if we just give with our hands it's not worth anything...

I agree. We cannot give and think it is going to get us into heaven
or that we are doing God any special favors.

Giving the Tithe is as much worship as singing or praising God. It's all about attitude.

Z

It does not say to give 10% in the New Testament it says to give with a cheerful heart and as you have been prospered. That could be 10% or 5% or 2% or it could be 50% or 75% but Jesus never said to give a specific amount.

We should give because we want to support the church. We should give what we can.

We should do this because it is a form of worship, not because we are obligated to.

God is the source of all things. God will provide for his church, with or without your donations.

Inspectorvol,

The only thing that Jesus ever commended the Pharasees for was their Tithing. I see that as a carryover form the OT to the NT.

(Just my opinion)

Z

OK.

Zamar,

I agree that 10% is biblical but I think that it is a principle and not a hard fast rule. What I mean is that we must remember the spirit of the law and the spirit of our worship to God. If some one can't give 10% to God becasue they are very poor then I think that they give as they can and they still are worshipping God. A little caution here because many who say that they can't give that much really can if they just gave up their wants (cds, going ou to eat, etc.) a little for God and His work. But for the ones who are really poor I thik that God is going to accept what they can give as long as their heart is in the right place.

blackhaw6

I don't disagree,
I do see it as a principal also. Like I stated earlier, It is tied to Worship. We put our money where our heart is.
For those who simply cannot afford it, Whatever they do give is received and blessed of God. (Remember the Widow's mite)

Z

Zamar,

I agree. Everything is God's and one way in which we worship God is to freely give whatever He neeeds of it back to Him. I like what I heard in a sermon once.

Sometimes we lift hands when we sing. When we do it we do it with open fists and with palms up. The reason why is because we are opening up our hands so that God can give and/or take anything He wants from our lives freely. We are giving everything we have, even ourselves, to God fully. They are His to do with as He pleases. That is true worship.

blackahw6

I look at it this way. By lifting open hands to the Lord we are in fact "casting our cares on Him" and recognizing that He "cares for us".

Good post Blackahw6.

um, we ARE the church. thus everything we do should be in a giving and huble attitude before the Lord. EVERYTHING we do.

"If some one can't give 10% to God becasue they are very poor then I think that they give as they can and they still are worshipping God. "

If someone can't give 10% the church isn't doing its job then to support its own. The thing to go on is what a church I went to awhile go said, "not equals gifts but equal sacrifice." And like the Lord our God says, "I want your obeience NOT your sacrifice."