Inspired to tithe. Tithers only please.

[GodismySalvation]

Tithing has been a great blessing in my life. I didn't see it at first, but I kept getting the leading to follow my pastor and other spiritual leaders on this. That was many years ago. God will use the faithfulness, faith and proven stewardship that tithing entails to bring great blessing into your life. What you do on small scale is exactly what you will do with greater amounts.
Many believers disqualify themselves from God's best over this area. Tithing as a grudging obligation would be going back to the law. But tithing as worship and obedience is an act of faith and as such it pleases the Lord.
My wife and I were in poverty when we began to tithe. We had to have government assistance for awhile. But we began to tithe when we were poor. It didn't all change over night, but soon enough, our lives improved. Doors of opportunity opened for us and continued to open over the years.
Today my annual tithe is three times what my annual income was that first year. I give glory to God.
There aren't many who truly tithe these days, and there are many bitter Christians who can't sit still or remain civil when the subject comes up. What does this tell us about their heart?
If you know God is leading you in this, then look to the Word and the testimony of the many good pastors and teachers who can encourage you. Don't let the internet naysayers discourage you. God is faithful, and He is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him.

Thank you I like the details you give. This is very encouraging. It helps me understand. I studied the bible verses in the 600 post tithing thread and became convinced tithing ceased to be a law but became an act of worship in the NT. Now I was hoping to hear real life experiences of grace tithers. I won't fall back because I see what the bible says now. I didn't know it was so clear until the tithers gave such good clear bible proofs for every criticism against tithing.

 

[GodismySalvation]

- I was taught to tithe when I was a young college graduate holding down my first job. I started at that point in time. Looking back, I'm convinced now that my original motivation was rooted in religious fear. Legalism was something I was under at the time and didn't even realize it. Now I do it because I sincerely believe that God has given my wife and me the gift of giving. We want to be obedient and thus, we do it as an act of worship. It's a joy to put our tithe in the offering plate. It's no longer some kind of religious tax.

- I say feel free to start small and build up over time to 10%. Also, be careful about what motivates you to tithe: legalism or God directing you to.

- Since I was young and single, I had few financial responsibilities. So, it was relatively easy for me.

- It's still easy although we have many more financial obligations that sometimes put a crimp on our cash flow.

- 15 to 20 years ago, we were barely living from paycheck to paycheck. Tithing was very difficult at the time. Our church taught heavily on paying the tithe and sowing financial seed claiming that God would bring in a financial harvest if we did. We weren't seeing any harvest at the time. But we directed our prayers and meditation that way even though it was hard and we often felt like giving up. After several years of struggling, God forced me into a job change by basically getting me laid off from the company I had essentially married myself to. The new job had some financial incentives tied to it that paid off in ways I could never have imagined. Our financial situation has changed entirely. While I've learned not to tithe in order to keep the Law, I still believe God was faithful to what He promised in Malachi 3:10-12. I think God honored our obedience.

- I had to actually NOT tithe on some money we received one time. Like I said earlier, I was under a lot of legalism as a young Christian and while I eventually got free from much of it, the church I attended preached tithing from a very legalistic point of view. I often gave out of fear that God would punish me if I didn't. By not tithing on that particular sum of money, I proved to myself that I was depending upon God's grace to protect me, my family and my finances and not on my ability to keep some point in the Law.

- See point 5 above.

Hope this helps!

Yes it does especially the parts about legalism and fear. I really want to start out and continue to tithe as a form of worship as Simply Put said. I wanted to hear more about what the Lord told him on worship tithing. He said it changed things for him.

 

[jamadan]

Please don't post here Soldierofthecross84, Faulty, jamadan, and others if you are not a tither. Please be respectful.

Just as you desire to control what people give (requiring 10%), you now desire to control what people post. Sorry, but since we're free from the Law and attempts to manipulate and control, I'll post whenever and wherever I please.

 

[motherprayer]

<staff edit>

If you read my post on how and what I tithe you will see that I do in fact trust the spirit to lead me, and that is also what I advised the OP to do.

Tithing is not about a number, but about giving honor to God for all He has already done for me. I tithe not just by placing an envelope in the offering, but also by buying equipment for my church which I or my husband install, by giving in service whereever I see a gap that I can fill.

To call my faith "small" is not honorable to God. Especially because you do not know me in any sense other than a few words posted on a website.

 

[true2theword]

If you read my post on how and what I tithe you will see that I do in fact trust the spirit to lead me, and that is also what I advised the OP to do.

Tithing is not about a number, but about giving honor to God for all He has already done for me. I tithe not just by placing an envelope in the offering, but also by buying equipment for my church which I or my husband install, by giving in service whereever I see a gap that I can fill.

To call my faith "small" is not honorable to God. Especially because you do not know me in any sense other than a few words posted on a website.

tithing is a number, a tenth........I will say we tithe, but we don't tithe, because its an old testiment mandate that was set up for the priesthood, while its nolonger for today, the biblical principles and blessing are by far what causes everyone who supports tithing to keep tithing, and to teach tithing is for today


undeniably giving unto God the first fruits of your increase, showing God that money does not come before Him, and all the principles about how people are blessed cannot be argued with. these are sound biblical teachings, thats why supernatural increase comes to people who put God before their own needs.

the principles of tithing is what opens up the flood gates of heaven and pour out more blessing than one can contain, I'm not so much against teaching people the principles of being a generous giver as I am about people misleading people to believe an old testiment requirement still applies to them.



there is no argument that people who tithe are better off for doing so, they are, they will find greater blessing, and the promises God offered to those that would put their trust in Him, but its the biblical principles behind the tithe that bring forth the blessing.

I would encourage all believers to try 10% giving as a base for giving, as this was a biblical base for the Israelites, not that this law applies for new testiment believers, because to say it was would be to teach in error of the truth

 

[haf]

I tithe. Not because I consider it any sort of legalistic obligation, but because I believe God Led me to do it.

Since I started tithing, I've gotten a better paying job, through circumstances that seemed amazing, and I've been able to pay off debt that I shouldn't have incurred.

I believe that God is honoring the obedience of Me and my family doing what he's called us to do.

To the OP, I would charge you to spend time Both studying the scripture and praying and seeking God's will on what you should do with your finances. If you sense God's guidance in your heart that tithing is appropriate, then God will bless your life as a result.

Strange as this may sound after the above statements, if you don't have God's leading on this, it won't be the blessing I describe above, but it will be a yoke and a burden, and that is not Gods will for your life.

Thanks,

haf(husband and father)
a tither.

 

[dysert]

I'm a tither, but I must admit it's mostly because of my wife. If it were just up to me, I wouldn't be consistent. If it were just up to me, I'd be tithing (10%) at the *end* of the month only if I had enough money in my bank account. The reason I've become a bit cynical about this, even though I still do it, is because of the promise in Mal. 3:10:
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

I tithed "religiously" for my entire Christian life, but then I thought I'd take God up on His test. Long story short: my perception is that He did *not* "pour out such blessing that there wasn't enough room to receive it". Since (in my mind) He "flunked" His test, I was no longer so gung ho about keeping my end of the deal. Still, though, we tithe because (1) I think it's what God wants, and (2) I'm sure it's what my wife wants.

 

[true2theword]

I'm a tither, but I must admit it's mostly because of my wife. If it were just up to me, I wouldn't be consistent. If it were just up to me, I'd be tithing (10%) at the *end* of the month only if I had enough money in my bank account. The reason I've become a bit cynical about this, even though I still do it, is because of the promise in Mal. 3:10:
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

I tithed "religiously" for my entire Christian life, but then I thought I'd take God up on His test. Long story short: my perception is that He did *not* "pour out such blessing that there wasn't enough room to receive it". Since (in my mind) He "flunked" His test, I was no longer so gung ho about keeping my end of the deal. Still, though, we tithe because (1) I think it's what God wants, and (2) I'm sure it's what my wife wants.

first of all take a few minutes and read the verses following the do not rob God scriptures

“Your words have been harsh against Me,”
Says the Lord,
“Yet you say,
‘What have we spoken against You?’
14 You have said,
‘It is useless to serve God;
What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance,
And that we have walked as mourners
Before the Lord of hosts?
15 So now we call the proud blessed,
For those who do wickedness are raised up;
They even tempt God and go free.’”



(this is the same things you have said)



Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another,
And the Lord listened and heard them;
So a book of remembrance was written before Him
For those who fear the Lord
And who meditate on His name.
17 “They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts,
“On the day that I make them My jewels.[a]
And I will spare them
As a man spares his own son who serves him.”
18 Then you shall again discern
Between the righteous and the wicked,
Between one who serves God
And one who does not serve Him.





considering you probably steal the blessing from your family because you are not happy about giving, I would imagine that your in for a rude awakening on judgement day as well. (not because your not a tither) but because you complain against God and say there is no value in giving

 

[motherprayer]

considering you probably steal the blessing from your family because you are not happy about giving, I would imagine that your in for a rude awakening one judgement day as well. (not because your not a tither) but because you complain against God

I think we are all in for a rude awakening. Some of us for complaining, others, for pridefulness

 

[ByTheSpirit]

I think we are all in for a rude awakening. Some of us for complaining, others, for pridefulness

Amen! You know the Lord showed me something last night about what is about to happen in the church. He had a large basket full of empty containers. Once they held large amounts of liquids of various types and now they are empty. He began to dump those empty containers out and as He did so He told me that in the same way He was about to remove those empty vessels from His flock. Immediately I began to pray that I would be found worthy of Him.

Point being, there are A LOT of people in the church that think they are something when they are in fact nothing. I pray for them all the time as well as for myself because I am not above any other. I hope we are all found worthy of eternal glory on that Day, but as stated, sadly, many will not be.

Matthew 7:21-23, "21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.</SPAN> 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’</SPAN> 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’</SPAN>"

 

[Messy]

I'm a tither, but I must admit it's mostly because of my wife. If it were just up to me, I wouldn't be consistent. If it were just up to me, I'd be tithing (10%) at the *end* of the month only if I had enough money in my bank account. The reason I've become a bit cynical about this, even though I still do it, is because of the promise in Mal. 3:10:
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

I tithed "religiously" for my entire Christian life, but then I thought I'd take God up on His test. Long story short: my perception is that He did *not* "pour out such blessing that there wasn't enough room to receive it". Since (in my mind) He "flunked" His test, I was no longer so gung ho about keeping my end of the deal. Still, though, we tithe because (1) I think it's what God wants, and (2) I'm sure it's what my wife wants.

But this is said to all of Israel, not one person.
If almost nobody gives anything, there is no spiritual food in the house. The blessing is not a load of money, it's revival.

 

[probinson]

Sorry, but since we're free from the Law and attempts to manipulate and control, I'll post whenever and wherever I please.

Great message of grace you've got there.

I'd suggest those of you who seem to think "grace" means that you can just do whatever the heck you feel like doing go study up a bit more. Start in 1 Corinthians 13.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

To the OP, I no longer personally believe in required tithing as it is commonly taught in churches today, but I commend you for listening to God concerning your giving and desiring to give. If you believe He is leading you to give 10%, then by all means, give it cheerfully and in obedience to what the Spirit is speaking to you.

I've seen God bless me while I was "tithing", and I've seen God bless me just as much or more now that I "give".

For me, I didn't want to be able to take credit for any blessing I received. IOW, I did not want to be able to look to my own actions and correlate that I somehow merited a blessing from God because I hit a specific percentage in my giving. So I felt led to give cash in unmarked envelopes in a way that made it impossible for me to know what I have given. I take money out throughout the week in regular purchases (think "cash back" when making a debit transaction at Walmart) and then I give it at the end of the week. I usually have no idea what I'm giving, as I just pull out whatever I've withdrawn through the week and stick it in an envelope without even counting it. Again, this is only what I believe God told me to do. I don't necessarily believe everyone should do this. In fact, I believe each person should ask God what and how to give and then be obedient to what He tells you to do.

So anyway, the results of giving have been incredible for us. We went from being on the verge of foreclosure, having both our vehicles repossessed defaulting on just about every bill we had, to being caught up on everything literally almost overnight. We then qualified for $33,000 worth of home repairs at no cost to us. This year I received a promotion this year that included a 25% salary increase, and that same thing is poised to happen again in early 2013. The testimony of how this all happened is absolutely amazing to me, and it has demonstrated to me just how much God is Jehovah Jireh, my Provider! We've been able to support multiple ministries that have been a blessing to us and that we feel God has called us to support, and give to our local church which has probably been the biggest blessing to us, as well as helping individuals when we feel God telling us to help.

I guess my point is this; be obedient and cheerful in your giving, and I believe God will honor that. We may quibble on the amount, whether it should be 10%, more or less, but I believe that God honors a heart that is willing and obedient to give when and where He asks.

I pray that God will bless you more than you could ask or think as you give in obedience to what He is asking you to do.

 

[Victory of the Cross]

I don't believe in tithing to churches, I give directly to the poor, hungry, fatherless etc

 

[true2theword]

I think we are all in for a rude awakening. Some of us for complaining, others, for pridefulness

and others for judging others pridefulness

 

[Frogster]

I don't believe in tithing to churches, I give directly to the poor, hungry, fatherless etc

 

[Frogster]

But this is said to all of Israel, not one person.
If almost nobody gives anything, there is no spiritual food in the house. The blessing is not a load of money, it's revival.

the storehouse verse gets overdone, the priest served on rotation, they did not live off it all the time, and besides, these same storhouse verse quoters, never say we should follow the food ordinaces, found in the same law, that they extract the tithing ordinaces from

 

[true2theword]

bottom line if you tithe begrudgingly then you might as well not give at all, because your not going to receive anything, or if you do it will be much like the Israelites received meat when they complained for it, the blessing will be a curse

the sure way to discover if somthing is a blessing from God is found in proverbs 10:22

The blessing of the Lord makes one rich,
And He adds no sorrow with it

 

[dysert]

considering you probably steal the blessing from your family because you are not happy about giving, I would imagine that your in for a rude awakening on judgement day as well. (not because your not a tither) but because you complain against God and say there is no value in giving

I didn't say there's no value in giving. God has left it up to the Church to sustain and expand the ministry. We need to give in order for that to happen. There is value in giving -- at least altruistic value.

As for complaining, I'm just saying that I did what God challenged me to do. I "put Him to the test" of Mal. 3:10:
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

I know He's not necessarily talking about physical blessings, but I'd have settled for any kind of blessing during the test. There was nothing (that I could discern).

 

[FoundInGrace]

If you read my post on how and what I tithe you will see that I do in fact trust the spirit to lead me, and that is also what I advised the OP to do.

Tithing is not about a number, but about giving honor to God for all He has already done for me. I tithe not just by placing an envelope in the offering, but also by buying equipment for my church which I or my husband install, by giving in service whereever I see a gap that I can fill.

To call my faith "small" is not honorable to God. Especially because you do not know me in any sense other than a few words posted on a website.

awesome

 

[motherprayer]

awesome

Bless you!