Tithing

Crown Financial Ministries has some great info on tithing. They say that tithing is a matter of the heart, and not an absolute law. It's an ackowledgment that God owns it all anyway, and a desire to contribute to the expansion and upkeep of his kingdom.

That said, it doesn't matter whether you tithe on the gross or the net. To say that you have to tithe on the gross is legalistic, and negates the admonition that every Believer should give as they determine in their own heart, because God loves a cheerful giver. Being legalistic makes you into a grumpy giver, or even a fearful giver, and you don't want to be that.

And...the tithe doesn't all have to go to your church. The Bible says it goes into the "storehouse" for the use of the leaders, the upkeep of the temple, but also for times of trouble and hunger. I don't know of too many churches that have money set aside for times of hunger, so I think it's okay to give part of your tithe to health missions and food pantry operations.

I started small. When I first started giving, even 50 cents was a big deal to me, I was so poor. And when I had more, I started to give a small percentage, like 3%, and year-by-year built up to ten percent.

God has blessed me beyond my dreams, not because I give him some money, but because I give him my full heart, which is reflected by me giving my money, my time, my hands, my brain, and so on. Don't withhold anything from God, and he will withhold nothing from you!

To be honest, I don't really give as much to my church as I should. Mostly because I don't have much money with me. I get tips from my job, and since I'm so horrible at math I don't know what 10% is out of my tips.

I always take my paychecks to the bank no matter how large or small they are. I need money for a car and college. So I have to pay the church with my tips.

However, I most always spend my tips on things at Walmart and the mall, and with school coming up soon, I need to save money for supplies as well.

I so should give so much more to my church then I do. *ponders* Maybe someone can help me. I usually get $12.00 in tips on most days I work. What is 10% of that? Oh I am so terrible at math.

But I agree 100% with you lambslove. "Don't withhold anything from God, and he will withhold nothing from you!"

$1.20

thanks.

You're welcome!

Malachi 3:8-10. One of my favorite passages. I find one other interesting point to make from that passage. God actually challenges us to test him. We have all heard about not "putting the Lord your God to the test." But how often do we recognize that God actually wants to be tested on this. He really wants to bless us, if we will only be faithful.

If you don't earn much money, then your tithe isn't much. 10% of zero is really small. Please don't anyone take this as a heavy-handed rebuke. Just a simple encouragement, to joyfully give back to God, and allow Him, by His own word, to "throw open the floodgates of heaven, and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."

Mark 12:42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

Mark 12:43 And he called [unto him] his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

Mark 12:44 For all [they] did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, [even] all her living.

Luke 21:1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

Luke 21:2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

Luke 21:3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

Luke 21:4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

It is not how much you give but the love you have for the work of God.

at first me and my wife had alot of doubts about titheing. every summer is a big strugle for us financialy. last summer we commited to titheing, what we discovered was that even tough we were poor we still tithed and the Lord provided. the Lord saw us through. So we are very much belivers in the tithe. it is a joy to be a part of the work the Lord is doing, to help ministries that are leading and nourishing people in the Lord.It took me quite awhile to understand this ( I am a bit of tight wad when it comes to money). I still am learning about giving.
That said,i would be wary of congragations that beat you with the titheing stick. For awhile I went to a church, were that seemed to be the only thing they talked about, was more money for more "projects". So i try to be discrinmating where I give my money. Is this money going to spread the gosple? Is it minstering to the needs of people? Is there finacial accountablity in the organization? Is this really serving the kingdom? These are all questions i ask and pray on before i give

I believe that tithe can bring about arrogance . It's like we're saying that we have something that God doesn't. At my church we don't even pass around a collection plate. We just have a box that people put money in, so people don't feel pressured to give. You shouldn't give because you feel like you have to, but because something in your heart wants to. Also considering what we've become and what we've recieved, 10% sounds a little low. I think that we (the church, christians, etc. . .) have used tithe as an easy way out. It's easy to just give 10% of your money away, and not think about it the rest of the week. When later on we'll see our brother struggling, but we don't/can't help them because we tithed . (Last Point) I also don't believe that money is the only way to "tithe" we must also invest love and time to others . . .Okay I'm through. I know I just rambled on, sorry.

Luke 11:42- "Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone."

Tithing is a Old testament Mosaic law. It is ment for the jews, not gentiles. The bible says that if you think you have to keep one of the Mosaic laws, you should also keep the other 612 laws of moses. Otherwise you are under a curse...

Think twice before you tithe. You want to live by pure grace or under the laws of Moses?

Martijn (from Holland)
Psalms 91;1

PuppyforChrist said:

I so should give so much more to my church then I do. *ponders* Maybe someone can help me. I usually get $12.00 in tips on most days I work. What is 10% of that? Oh I am so terrible at math.

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There's a simple way to calculate 10%. Move the decimal point one space to the left.

hakvoort31 said:

Tithing is a Old testament Mosaic law. It is ment for the jews, not gentiles. The bible says that if you think you have to keep one of the Mosaic laws, you should also keep the other 612 laws of moses. Otherwise you are under a curse...

Think twice before you tithe. You want to live by pure grace or under the laws of Moses?

Martijn (from Holland)
Psalms 91;1

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We're having a similar discussion in the Financial forum. You can decide where you want to address this. I've no desire to have the same discussion concurrently.

You seem to be encouraging people not to tithe. Why? I did not see anywhere in this thread where someone was trying to be justified through their giving.

Tithing is a state of the heart. It is also a sacrifice for many of us.

One of my questions is: if someone gives you money to help you pay bills, is that to be tithed on? Or are tithes on things we gain (such as Abram giving to Melchizedek)?

ms_lizzie said:

Tithing is a state of the heart. It is also a sacrifice for many of us.

One of my questions is: if someone gives you money to help you pay bills, is that to be tithed on? Or are tithes on things we gain (such as Abram giving to Melchizedek)?

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Great question.

I think this partially depends on your convictions. If the money was given with the specific purpose of paying bills (ie: electric, gas, phone, mortgage, etc) then I do not believe a tithe is necessary.

I am a Deacon at our church. We run into this sort of thing all the time. When we help someone with their bills we will pay their creditor rather than the person. Obviously, they cannot tithe on this money.

If someone gives you money with a specific purpose I think you are bound to honor their intentions with the money.

Mark 7 : 9-13 applies. it is a passage where jesus rebukes the pharisees for neglecting financial support of their parents by pledging it instead to God.
1 Timothy 5: 8 also speaks of the same concept. The passage talks about the sopport of widows and thsi verse says someone who doesn't support their own family is worse than an unbeliever.
My opinion these two passages teach that our first obligation is to our family. It also teaches the principle that it is not right to neglect our other obligations by using the excuse we are giving to God instead. So first pay all your bills, support your family, help the poor. Whatever abundance you have left is available to give to the church.
The church has no biblical right to demand money from people which is needed for supporting their family and paying their obligations. Using tithing or any other arguement is actually the same exact thing the pharisees in mark 7 were doing when they were rebuked by jesus.
2 corinthians 8: 13-15 is the christian pattern fro giving which was established in exodus 16. The passage refered to in verse 15 is exodus 16:17-18. meditate on it for awhile.
What I got out of it is this. First God is our source and the money we receive is like the manna from heaven. We need this perspective for all our money not just 10%. Second, hording money or manna is a sin. We need to be content with our needs being met. Third, it is wrong to take from those with lack. Those with abundance are to help those with lack.
Now pastors and full time ministers have a lack in the same way as the levites. They are not able to work because they are called to full time ministry. However it is not just them that receive from those who have abundance but any who has lack in the body of Christ.(the only exception to this is the admonition that if someone refuses to work and becomes a lazy bustbody instead then they don't receive anything) This distribution is to include widows, ministers, poor, etc.
In the old teastament the tithe was not limited to the levites. they were but one part of what the tithe went for. The poor received from the tithes as well and even to this day the poor were exempt from paying tithes among pharisees but instead receive. Also there was more than one tithe so it was not just 10%.
The principle carries over into the new testament in 2 Corinthians 8 where it teaches the spirit of the tithe which is those with abundance do not horde but instead supply the needs of those who lack. As the scripture says there should be no lack and none with too much(hording)
This principle is unfortunately violated by some modern day church "pharisees" who reduce God's commands to a legalistic 10% while they horde abundance and leave lack within the body of Christ without lifting a finger to help.
So my advice, if you have abundance then follow the spirit of tithing and give to thsoe in the body who have lack.

Yitzchak:

I think your posting about tithing is pretty good. I believe that current Christianity is divided, not unified, because the various church organizations are not being truthful about tithing, and several other things. How can God bless a body of believers who trust in a lie? How can God trust church ORGANIZATIONS that perpetuate a lie? Your use of scripture was good, it showed the truth. Why isn't that being done in all the various denominations? I think it is because they are afraid to obey God and trust him with their finances, and they justify the scriptural destortion around tithing to get what they think they need. These church organizations are no better than Pharisaical controllers.

There are a few other lies that the vast majority of so called Chrisitian organizations perpetuate. Another huge misunderstanding caused by shallow use of the scripture by church organizations to fit their convenience is the one about hierarchial church government. That somehow the pastor is the earthy representative of God or something. But truth is that only Christ is in that position. Pastors I believe are intended to be more of facilitators and moderators. Anyway, I would appreciate your views on current hierarchial church government, and the way it should be.

We just started a new church and it has a small attendance right now, so I can see where our church really needs the money. Right now we've been giving $25 every week, but we're praying for financial wisdom and discernment, so that we can work up to giving a full 10%. We also give in other ways and I do think we give with a joyful heart. In the end it all belongs to God. We do tithe and wish to do more, but we're taking it slowly.

Blessedwithgrace said:

We just started a new church and it has a small attendance right now, so I can see where our church really needs the money. Right now we've been giving $25 every week, but we're praying for financial wisdom and discernment, so that we can work up to giving a full 10%. We also give in other ways and I do think we give with a joyful heart. In the end it all belongs to God. We do tithe and wish to do more, but we're taking it slowly.

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That sounds fine.

You say you want to work up to a 10% tithe. What is preventing you from doing this?

desper84unity said:

Yitzchak:

I think your posting about tithing is pretty good. I believe that current Christianity is divided, not unified, because the various church organizations are not being truthful about tithing, and several other things. How can God bless a body of believers who trust in a lie? How can God trust church ORGANIZATIONS that perpetuate a lie? Your use of scripture was good, it showed the truth. Why isn't that being done in all the various denominations? I think it is because they are afraid to obey God and trust him with their finances, and they justify the scriptural destortion around tithing to get what they think they need. These church organizations are no better than Pharisaical controllers.

There are a few other lies that the vast majority of so called Chrisitian organizations perpetuate. Another huge misunderstanding caused by shallow use of the scripture by church organizations to fit their convenience is the one about hierarchial church government. That somehow the pastor is the earthy representative of God or something. But truth is that only Christ is in that position. Pastors I believe are intended to be more of facilitators and moderators. Anyway, I would appreciate your views on current hierarchial church government, and the way it should be.

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I will be glad to give my view, however I would prefer to start a thread on that issue rather than taking this thread down a tangent. I have seen that done on other threads I was interested in and it is better to start a new thread for that subject I believe. If you start a thread on that , I will respond.