Tithing when in debt?

[Elliemare]

Are we supposed to tithe even if we're in debt? What exactly does 10 percent of our profits mean? What if we have no profit left after we meet all of the obligations of the bills we must pay?

I'm confused? I've given more than I had to give in the past, then actually regretted it later, feeling that I should have put it toward my bills instead.

Our pastor just recently spoke about how those who are responsible with their money, are blessed with more. Wouldn't God want me to take care of my financial obligations first and foremost?

I'm currently praying that I can get out of debt so that I will be able to give more in the future, but should I be giving now, or focusing on paying off those bills instead?

Just wondering if anyone had any insight on this matter?

 

[JackKerouac]

Where are you getting this word "profit", because that's not what Scripture talks about. It talks about giing of your firstfruits. Other than that, I got nuthin foer ya other than I understand and have had similar questions.

I've heard my Dad point out more than once his belief that 10% is an arbitrary amount that comes from the Old Testament.

 

[StillTryin]

i personally feel that God does not want you to be a miserable giver, which would most likely happen if one was not able to pay bills. however, i know there are believers who will tithe over paying bills, because they know God will provide. i would just give what you can, pray on it, and know/believe God understands where you are at.

 

[Elliemare]

I've been tithing over paying bills, but still manage to pay my minimum balances and pay on time. I just wonder if I should be putting more toward bills and tithing less for the time being? I'm really praying to be blessed so that I will be able to give more.

My pay fluctuates from week to week since I get paid straight commission. Some weeks 10% seems like an awful lot???

 

[StillTryin]

well, i guess what helped me, since you are paying the bills, is knowing it is God's and i would not even have an income if it were ot for Him. i think if you get to that point it will not even register. you will just get by and know He will provide what you need.

 

[Bella Vita]

You don't have to do the 10% that is just an approximate. But yes you should tithe we had a hard time with it at first as well. But even when you aren't sure if you can pay that bill on time God will bless your tithe and he always provides. Your faith is weak right now and tithing even when it seems you really can't shows amazing faith and you will be blessed for it. =]

 

[forGod1]

I can't remember the book or the verse, but rich people were tithing.. and then an old lady came and gave everything she had.. and Jesus said it meant more, because the rich were still rich.. but it was all she had. Her faith was much stronger.. and she was surely more blessed..

 

[BFine]

The Lord gets "his" first, everyone else has to wait.

Make sure you aren't living beyond your means, make cutbacks as needed.
Debt consolidation, is that an option for you?

 

[linssue55]

Are we supposed to tithe even if we're in debt? What exactly does 10 percent of our profits mean? What if we have no profit left after we meet all of the obligations of the bills we must pay?

I'm confused? I've given more than I had to give in the past, then actually regretted it later, feeling that I should have put it toward my bills instead.

Our pastor just recently spoke about how those who are responsible with their money, are blessed with more. Wouldn't God want me to take care of my financial obligations first and foremost?

I'm currently praying that I can get out of debt so that I will be able to give more in the future, but should I be giving now, or focusing on paying off those bills instead?

Just wondering if anyone had any insight on this matter?

You give as your heart leads you.

This 10% thing was made up by money grubbing, legalistic, reversionist believers. There is NOWHERE in the bible that says we are to pay "ANY" percentage. If you don't give this percentage that the apostate church GUILTS you into to.

Guilt is a sin, but they don't care because they want to build and furnish their Mega churches.

[FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Bible Verses Covering Principles of Grace Giving:[/SIZE][/FONT]

• [FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you. That always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed: as it is written, "He scattered abroad, He gave to the poor, His righteousness abides forever." (2 Cor. 9:7-9)[/SIZE][/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=-1]But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Tim. 5:8) (Feed your family before giving)[/SIZE][/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (Heb. 13:15-16)[/SIZE][/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=-1]"In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" (Acts 20:35)[/SIZE][/FONT]

Corinthians 9:7:
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
(Deut 12:5-6)
[FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=-1]
[/SIZE][/FONT]

I don't see 10% or ANY percent at all.

DO NOT let the religious types tell you any different. Stay with the word!
Live your own life as unto the Lord, leave them to the Lord.

 

[woodpecker]

tithing is under the Law, under the new covenant of grace, we do not live under the tithe, we give from our heart, as little or as much as you can.

The bible teaches you are to provide for your family, if you are giving to others and this is hurting your family, then you need to adjust, God will not curse you, He loves you, and wants you to provide for your family. Are you not as much His child in need as the others in need.

The church building has become more than it should have, I give a small amount to the church and give more to charity. You need to pray about how you are to give.

 

[InSpiritInTruth]

Are we supposed to tithe even if we're in debt? What exactly does 10 percent of our profits mean? What if we have no profit left after we meet all of the obligations of the bills we must pay?

I'm confused? I've given more than I had to give in the past, then actually regretted it later, feeling that I should have put it toward my bills instead.

Our pastor just recently spoke about how those who are responsible with their money, are blessed with more. Wouldn't God want me to take care of my financial obligations first and foremost?

I'm currently praying that I can get out of debt so that I will be able to give more in the future, but should I be giving now, or focusing on paying off those bills instead?

Just wondering if anyone had any insight on this matter?

The law was just a shadow of things to come, but not the very image of those things.

 

[1-4 All OurGodAll 4-1Sad]

I agree things sure can be hard.I think 10% of your take home pay should go to your Church but if that's not possible,God understands,and would be just as happy with/ for you to pay all your bills first(debts)as you need to live without penalties(power being cut off etc.)and the 10% to come from your money left over after your living expenses have been paid(travel,laundry etc etc)Tithing is the one area God says to test him and whatever you can do honestly our Lord will reward you.I think a key to it is to not expect/want anything back from him for it,like buying a house in an auction for $20,000 less than expected after 8 years of tithing etc and having the mindset of -looking only to eternity in Heaven and not the 80 odd years down here.God is awesome.Try to be proud,you lose,want to be meek your exalted,the more meek the more exalted,obedience,blessing.I guess if your(us)are really living for God,trials are overcome with less stress/worry etc as "when you are weak,then you are strong"God really is awesome.If you don't compromise you really cant lose.I for one need to get over my compromises,sick of the distress etc,which i thank God for as its my fault and i would hate to be left alone(no concience)to seep back into full blown sin.Guess God shows his love in all sorts of ways.

 

[Migdala]

I know that I went through a time where I believed (and still do!) believe that we are not under a 10% tithe law anymore....BUT, when I stopped tithing my full 10% and more, then all kinds of bad things started happening, where I had to spend way more money than I had-things like car problems, things breaking down in my home, etc., etc. Started back tithing and it helped dramatically. I've talked to many others who have had similar things happen like that to them too. I never could understand it, but it's not worth it to me to even risk it.

 

[TheDag]

Are we supposed to tithe even if we're in debt? What exactly does 10 percent of our profits mean? What if we have no profit left after we meet all of the obligations of the bills we must pay?

I'm confused? I've given more than I had to give in the past, then actually regretted it later, feeling that I should have put it toward my bills instead.

Our pastor just recently spoke about how those who are responsible with their money, are blessed with more. Wouldn't God want me to take care of my financial obligations first and foremost?

I'm currently praying that I can get out of debt so that I will be able to give more in the future, but should I be giving now, or focusing on paying off those bills instead?

Just wondering if anyone had any insight on this matter?

The 10% was an OT rule. If there is a rule as to how much we are supposed to give then we look to the NT where it would say we are to give all! The other principle is give what you are willing and cheerful to give.

I know some people who have said Well we don't have enough to pay the bills so we may as well give it all to God. They have then had money turn up or the bill has been paid. Could I do that myself? Probably not!

So I suggest you decide what you are happy to give and give that.

 

[Danidiaz]

Malaqui 3:10 "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out blessings that there should not be room enough to receive it."

 

[Migdala]

Malaqui 3:10 "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out blessings that there should not be room enough to receive it."

Danidiaz, have you ever actually read the full context of how the people were to tithe, in order to not rob God?

Read Nehemiah 10:35-39 The tithes were given to the LEVITES to put in the storehouse. Not only were they to give 10% of their income, but also their cattle, the fruit from the trees, etc. etc.......

So just giving 10% of our income is STILL "robbing God", and that's why Malachia 3:10 was written-because they were not giving all they were supposed to give under the old testament law.

Do you give from your cattle, your first born child, your trees, etc. etc.?? If not, you are robbing God!

I don't mean to be harsh, but I'm just pointing out that this was an old testament law. Read Hebrews 7 after you read Nehemiah 10:35-39....it tells how the tithe was finished when Jesus died on the cross.

But God wants us to give unconditionally...and like I said, the times that I have not tithed 10%, I have had a lot of bad things happen. Other friends have talked about similar things happening to them-a guy at my church gave a good testimony about how he tithed everything but $20 not too long ago, and his car broke down the next day and they told him that it would cost about a thousand to fix. He was really upset, and then he remembered the $20 he had not tithed. He got the money and took it to church and gave it, and the next day the auto shop called and said that they found out that they could fix the car for $125.00!!!

So I am still really confused about the tithe. And yes, I do tithe 10%, as well as help anyone who asks me when I'm able.

 

[paul1149]

I would say get your financial house in order. Stop paying credit card interest. You are under no obligation to tithe. NT giving is free, from the heart. God owns it all, not 10%. The church doesn't need money to run, so much as it needs love of, and obedience to, the Lord.

I know people who charged their tithe to their credit cards and ran up debt they had no way of paying. They are still under that crushing burden, but at least they have seen the error of their ways.

This doesn't mean we don't give. We're supposed to be on the altar, a living sacrifice. But the letter kills, while the spirit gives life.

If you're running credit card debt, you have an obligation to pay it back. Be careful about putting it off.

 

[InSpiritInTruth]

Galations 5:4;"Christ is become no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law: you are fallen from grace."


Let no man put a guilt trip on you about giving a tenth part of your income to the church, or any other organization. If they tell you it is God's will, they are a liar and a deciever.

Let no man bind you, or put a yoke upon you concerning the ordinances given in the natural law, because they were given as a sign to the children of Israel from the Lord, just as the scriptures say.

That is why Paul said the law was just a shadow of things to come, but not the very image of those things.

The sign given was to represent the Lords portion, which are his people.

If you want to give, then give, but give it from the heart. For the Lord loves a cheerful giver.

But give it to those who truly need it.

 

[briareos]

Are we supposed to tithe even if we're in debt? What exactly does 10 percent of our profits mean? What if we have no profit left after we meet all of the obligations of the bills we must pay?

I'm confused? I've given more than I had to give in the past, then actually regretted it later, feeling that I should have put it toward my bills instead.

Our pastor just recently spoke about how those who are responsible with their money, are blessed with more. Wouldn't God want me to take care of my financial obligations first and foremost?

I'm currently praying that I can get out of debt so that I will be able to give more in the future, but should I be giving now, or focusing on paying off those bills instead?

Just wondering if anyone had any insight on this matter?

I hope this thread doesn't become one long argument on the godliness of tithing.

The purpose and point of tithing is to honor God and to take care of his house and people who have committed their entire lives to preaching his word and serving in his house. This is something you do faithfully, not because you have plenty but because it is the will of God and you do so in faith that he will meet your needs and that he is your provider, not your career or your boss or whoever cuts your check. Be faithful to God, if he has to he will send people across your path to meet your needs, he can send people to give you money, he can send people to give you food, he can speak to your church and cause them give of their plenty to help you in your time of need.

Your situation does not dictate the way you serve him. Your supposed to give 10% from your first fruits, off the top and he will take care of you.
I have never seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging for bread, he is your provider and he will not fail you, giving and serving him, even when it seems you don't have much is faith that he will provide for you.

Do not follow preachers who preach that Godliness is monetary gain, or ask for much money, be content with food and clothing and know that God your protector will never leave you or forsake you and he will provide for all your needs richly.

 

[InSpiritInTruth]

What are the Lord's firstfruits of the harvest?

James 1:18;"Of his own will begat he us with the Word of Truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures."

Here we see how the sign of the natural law is fulfilled in a new and spiritual way in his people.

That is why Jesus said not one jot or one tittle shall pass from the law until all be fulfilled.

Meaning the law was given as a sign of things to come, that would come to pass in the future.

In this we see how the natural law is transformed into a spiritual law by way of prophecy.

It is written the letter of the law kills, but it is the Spirit that makes alive.

It is also written, to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.