If you tithe have you considered the tithe for the poor

[SamAustralian123]

very good. my advice is find a reputable homeless organization run by Christians, and donate to them unless someone already works in that field themselves. in USA there is hope of the valley LA, grants pass gospel rescue mission, mobile loaves and fishes. they provide food shelter clothing and also tell people about Jesus, and offer bible studies. physical bread, and spiritual bread. it accumulates treasure in heaven to help the poor.

whoever lends to the poor lends to the lord and the lord will repay them. proverbs 19 17

 

[Richard T]

Thank you for your reply. I agree with you in general, but I still wonder about the details. Do Jews in Israel still tithe 10%? There is also the problem with people making other people feel guilty to get more donations to their causes. There are thousands of good causes, and it is hard not to feel sympathetic to others suffering. The balance is hard to find. The “extra” 3.33% to the poor is interesting, but I don't know if it indicates anything significant. The article helps.

Here is some info on Jewish giving. Tithing | My Jewish Learning It seems kind of complicated so I am glad that Christ has freed NT Christians from all the rules, but not the spirit of giving.

Following, I lay out a few tidbits surrounding giving in case something might help any reader. You are right that there can be a problem of people stirring up emotions, which of course can be quite legitimate, though in some cases not. I used to have to ask for donations as part of my job for a Christian non-profit. I can say with certainty that the preaching and or teaching gift can still operate when it comes to appeals for money. I will say that I felt I had compromised myself even and learned to back off from emotional, drawn out appeals. God loves a cheerful giver, not a coerced giver.

So, if they are laying on guilt, I would think twice about giving to them. If they are passionate and genuine, though and spell out clearly what the money is doing them that likely is a good place to give. Emotions can work for a believer, but they also can work against us. In reading a Charles Finney's book, "Love is not a Special Way of Feeling." The premise was to hear from God in spite of the emotions, that emotions in and of themselves can be morally neutral. Spiritually can include emotions but it has to go beyond that. (I may not agree with all his theology, but he makes some very good arguments in some of his work)

As I have been in developing countries I am not moved much by American appeals to give. Yes, the church building and ministers must be paid. Most churches have board meetings and you can get their info on how much and where the money goes. God recently blessed my church in the USA, with a new air conditioning system of over 100k and i am glad for that. In contrast though I have visited churches that are in hot climates with no air, where the only chairs are the cheap plastic ones.

So in giving, you have to find your lane. What has God given you to give and where does He want you to employ those resources? Besides this path which may include who and where God has brought you. I admit too that in the absence of any general leading, I try to give where God receives the most praise. I know people that will praise God all day for a hundred dollars. To me that is a mighty confirmation of their true need.

 

[Jerry N.]

Here is some info on Jewish giving. Tithing | My Jewish Learning It seems kind of complicated so I am glad that Christ has freed NT Christians from all the rules, but not the spirit of giving.

Following, I lay out a few tidbits surrounding giving in case something might help any reader. You are right that there can be a problem of people stirring up emotions, which of course can be quite legitimate, though in some cases not. I used to have to ask for donations as part of my job for a Christian non-profit. I can say with certainty that the preaching and or teaching gift can still operate when it comes to appeals for money. I will say that I felt I had compromised myself even and learned to back off from emotional, drawn out appeals. God loves a cheerful giver, not a coerced giver.

So, if they are laying on guilt, I would think twice about giving to them. If they are passionate and genuine, though and spell out clearly what the money is doing them that likely is a good place to give. Emotions can work for a believer, but they also can work against us. In reading a Charles Finney's book, "Love is not a Special Way of Feeling." The premise was to hear from God in spite of the emotions, that emotions in and of themselves can be morally neutral. Spiritually can include emotions but it has to go beyond that. (I may not agree with all his theology, but he makes some very good arguments in some of his work)

As I have been in developing countries I am not moved much by American appeals to give. Yes, the church building and ministers must be paid. Most churches have board meetings and you can get their info on how much and where the money goes. God recently blessed my church in the USA, with a new air conditioning system of over 100k and i am glad for that. In contrast though I have visited churches that are in hot climates with no air, where the only chairs are the cheap plastic ones.

So in giving, you have to find your lane. What has God given you to give and where does He want you to employ those resources? Besides this path which may include who and where God has brought you. I admit too that in the absence of any general leading, I try to give where God receives the most praise. I know people that will praise God all day for a hundred dollars. To me that is a mighty confirmation of their true need.

Thank you very much for your response. Both your post and the link were very helpful.

 

[ozso]

If the church you're tithing to feeds and helps the homeless, that's what a portion of your tithe goes towards.

 

[Richard T]

Thank you very much for your response. Both your post and the link were very helpful.

Many thanks for letting me think and share on this topic. It is helpful to me as well. As I reread part of this thread, I thought of two related issues that at least to me seem to be on God's heart when it comes to giving.

The first one is easy, to give in love.
1 Corinthians 13:3 (NASB)
3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

Interesting that the money here is going to the poor. I think the church does not emphasize this enough. Instead, some ministries overcharge much like Eli's sons did in I Samuel 2.

My second thought is that some Christians may actually neglect giving in faith. I know i am guilty of this. Instead, when you give you should have faith that God will multiply the blessing. "Give and it shall be given..." The law of sowing and reaping is a principle of God.

So can I give to get? I used to think that was selfish. It can be if the getting is for us. But I think it is yes, and amen if the getting is for others. I think this line of how much should you spend on yourself has to be examined by every individual. Is 90% too high? I can't say. I would assume based on the bible that if they gave more they would have a bigger harvest. That even back in 2 Cor 9:8 we give so we "can have an abundance for every good deed." Thus, we must reorient our thinking that God wants to use us as a conduit to others. This occurs by our faith in him and the word of God and is not selfish but rather righteous. Too often we might be complacent but there is tremendous need.

I notice too in the scripture below the idea of "producing thanksgiving to God," which affirms to me that some of the best giving is where the result ends in thanksgiving.

2 Corinthians 9:10-11 (NASB)
10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness;
11 you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.

 

[FutureAndAHope]

This is very interesting, and I have not considered this before. My wife and I don’t have a congregation, so we tithe to what we consider efficient and legitimate causes. However, I was wondering if the taxes to the king were above and beyond this 23.3 % tithe. Without priest and the temple, is the tithe reduced to only 10%? If you have a church to support, do you tithe 10% to the church and 3.3% or more to the poor?

Me and my wife both work. She tithes 10% to the church. I tithe 10% to the poor, and a further 5% to a ministry in the church helping people come off drugs.

So the maximum we tithe is 15%.

I believe we should have the attitude of helping the needy as much as we can. My wife and I have different thoughts around money. She likes to save money, and I like to spend it. So we came to the conclusion of splitting the tithe between the church and the poor. This did not put my wife under too much strain. If I had suggested we both tithe 10% to the church, there would have been no money for the poor. I believe helping the poor should be a priority.

 

[Jerry N.]

Thank you for the nice comments. Giving 10% seems like a good start. The only thing I would like to add is that giving is a form of thanking God, and we thank God again when we receive blessings. It is indeed a win-win situation. Beside the interesting thread provoking thought, my wife and I have been rethinking charitable giving because of recent blessings. I retired a few years ago, and my wife’s small business has been rather stable. This is the first time in many years that we are not in debt and meet our obligations by the end of each month. God has been very good to us. Our total income is rather small by most European standards, but we are comfortable and have a little extra for special things like small home improvements. One blessing I would like to mention to thank God on this forum happened at the end of last year. On the side, we have a little hospital to treat young, sick, or injured wild animals. We made it in our old sheep barn, when sheep farming became too difficult for my health and unprofitable, It was very crude, but we have an excellent vet who helps. Anyway, somebody in the government decided to help us. We didn’t ask for it. We now have modern equipment, plumbing, and heat. It was a great blessing and a surprise gift from God. I can’t imagine that any government would do something like that unless God had His hand in it.

 

[Jerry N.]

I wanted to add that I don’t think helping animals should be part of tithe. It is just something one does if they can, and it is not particularly praise worthy. It feels no different than treating a sick or injured sheep. Real charity is helping people.

 

[trophy33]

Anyway, somebody in the government decided to help us. We didn’t ask for it. We now have modern equipment, plumbing, and heat. It was a great blessing and a surprise gift from God. I can’t imagine that any government would do something like that unless God had His hand in it.

European governments are based on Christian values. A huge part of the budgets are various social programs, grants or financing local development.

 

[Jerry N.]

European governments are based on Christian values. A huge part of the budgets are various social programs, grants or financing local development.

That is true, but one normally has to apply for grants or loans. It is a long and tedious process, but none of that happen here.

 

[Sam91]

Thank you for the nice comments. Giving 10% seems like a good start. The only thing I would like to add is that giving is a form of thanking God, and we thank God again when we receive blessings. It is indeed a win-win situation. Beside the interesting thread provoking thought, my wife and I have been rethinking charitable giving because of recent blessings. I retired a few years ago, and my wife’s small business has been rather stable. This is the first time in many years that we are not in debt and meet our obligations by the end of each month. God has been very good to us. Our total income is rather small by most European standards, but we are comfortable and have a little extra for special things like small home improvements. One blessing I would like to mention to thank God on this forum happened at the end of last year. On the side, we have a little hospital to treat young, sick, or injured wild animals. We made it in our old sheep barn, when sheep farming became too difficult for my health and unprofitable, It was very crude, but we have an excellent vet who helps. Anyway, somebody in the government decided to help us. We didn’t ask for it. We now have modern equipment, plumbing, and heat. It was a great blessing and a surprise gift from God. I can’t imagine that any government would do something like that unless God had His hand in it.

The blessings from God are just so amazing. Have never lost out by giving. (Told son by the way that 10% isn't what I give. I fluctuate but told him I won't tell him what I do because my left hand shouldn't know what I'm doing so I don't pride myself, others commend me and that giving is generally done with a grateful heart, but 10% is a good benchmark).

Anyway, back to the story your post brought to mind. When I was 15 I had spend months secretly longing for an NIV study bible. It was £40. On my birthday I received £40 exactly. I wasn't expecting money as I always got gift vouchers, rarely cash except for my grandmother who often gave me £10-ish for birthday and christmas.

Well, so happy I was and took myself down to the bookshop and dragged my little brother with me. I was about to pick up the NIV study bible when I felt that my brother didn't have a bible. I bought him a teen bible and just got myself a commentary on the new testament instead. I felt a little sad but very content that he now had a cool bible.

Now, my birthday is in November. I didn't tell a soul what I had done. Christmas day I went to church and dragged my two brothers with me. I was so surprised to discover they had bought all three of us presents. The boys got a few gifts each I got one only. However, the one gift was the only thing in the whole world I desired. Which was my NIV study bible. Praise the Lord.