Tithing

[SuttonPierce]

My church believes in giving a 10% tithe as it says in the Bible. I have been having trouble with it as I don't work full time and it's hard to make ends meet. I've been trying more recently though and ihave been blessed financially.
My questions are: if we aren't earning a whole lot, is it ok to not give 10%? And if I give money to charity is that included as part of it? The Bible says 10% is Holy to the Lord, so that could include any money you give away to others.

 

[ROGER459]

(1Corinthains 16:2) Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

FIRST, Tithing by the OT was also to include up to about 45% of your total income!

SECOND: Does your church, Preach TITHING from the GROSS or the NET, pay check? ?

If from the Gross, THEN it is Correct, BUT if from the NET, then the church says 'to give to Cesar [our Government] first and give God His 10% of the rest!

THIRD: Giving is between YOU and GOD! Although the Above verse is the NT, standard, "as GOD has prospered you" and AS YOU ARE FAITHFUL in your Spending!

Thanks, Roger459

 

[SuttonPierce]

So by that last point do you mean giving to charity is included?

 

[ROGER459]

(Rom 8:14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

All Giving should be Spirit LED! Simply ask Christ, and then listen to the leading of His Spirit, and THEN OBEY!

Thanks Roger459

 

[savedbygracebre]

I tend to see this alot-that we are sill under the tithe system(old covenant). First off-Christ came that we would have life, and in His resurrection he abolished the Law(old covenant).Tithing is not mentioned once in the New testament.The guy quoting Romans should interpret that verse as meaning: that if we are indwelt by the Spirit of God, then we are controlled by God, which means we are His sons.The quote from Corinthians was referring to the saints at Corinth and how the believers could contribute to the collection for rebuilding the Jerusalem church(King James study Bible reference).By the way, i see nothing wrong with giving to the Lord, as it does say in the New Covenant that if we are to give, we should give out of a cheerful heart, or else God doesn't need it. I just needed to make a point, that under the new covenant, we are not told that we should be forced to tithe. It is man made tradition that has taught many today that we must. Tithing was used specifically for the Levitical priesthood in the Old Testament. For those that might not see this then all i can ask ist that you first pray for God to lead you to truth then look in the Word for His answers.Just trying to get some clarity in here and not wanting to offend. God Bless.

 

[holo]

If you have no love, it benefits you nothing. It's pointless. God would like you to give freely, because you care about people, not to keep a commandment.

 

[savedbygracebre]

AMEN! Tithing should always be an act of love(grace)-not law(command).

 

[Beautiful Fireball]

Give when you can and what you can, and because you want to. If you are giving even a little bit because you want to God will see your heart and know your motives and be pleased with that. If you give the standard 10% begrudgingly God will also see that and will not be pleased,

 

[Arclight610]

If you give out off love, God is not going to let you starve.

-TJ-

 

[Johnnz]

Centuries ago Thomas Acquinas taught that the command to tithe was part of the law which has been superceded by Jesus. He was right.

The most extensive single passage of giving in the NT is in 2 Cor 8-9. Iif ever there was opportunity for Paul to stress tithing this was it. But, he never mentions the word. Read those chapters and decide accordingly.

Also, recognise there is no honour in tithing and being unable to pay your bills. Jesus criticised the pharisees for claiming tithing to get around their responsibilities to their parents.

John
NZ

 

[SuttonPierce]

^Ah thanks everyone! I just read that passage and it says 'I don't mean you should give so much that you suffer from having too little'! And 'I want it to be a willing gift, not one given under pressure.'

I do feel a bit pressured at my church from time to time. A few weeks ago I really felt like God wanted me to give more in the offering so I did then I recieved financial blessing. But what you've said here and what I just read makes a lot of sense. I sometimes feel that what the money goes to isn't that much of a worthy cause.

 

[DIVA_for_Christ]

My church believes in giving a 10% tithe as it says in the Bible. I have been having trouble with it as I don't work full time and it's hard to make ends meet. I've been trying more recently though and ihave been blessed financially.
My questions are: if we aren't earning a whole lot, is it ok to not give 10%? And if I give money to charity is that included as part of it? The Bible says 10% is Holy to the Lord, so that could include any money you give away to others.

Hello SuttonPierce

Personally I tithe 10% and give an offering as well. There have been several times when I didn't have enough to return tithe, give an offering, and then pay bills. But in my trusting God, He always made a way. When I first got saved, I went through a stage where I skimmed off of my tithe or gave less in an offering but it didn't sit right in my spirit. So I made a commitment to God that I would not steal His tithe from Him no matter what and that I wanted to sow into His kingdom and without fail - He always comes through for me. I have faced eviction and still tithed and God worked a miracle for me because I trusted Him. I have had utilities turned off and He would bless me with full amount to get it turned back on. No food in the house, then would be given free food or taken out to eat.

Everyone of us has a different walk with God, not everyone is willing to allow God to take us down the road of fully depending on Him, it's not an easy road while you are going through but if you can praise Him, trust Him and keep your end of the agreement - He will bless you in ways you can't even imagine.

God Bless!

 

[SuttonPierce]

^That sounds great, but what about the things said in this thread, do you think tithing is still relevent?

 

[gizzergaz]

so i have decided to become hobo and walk everywehere spreading God's word..that way i won't have to worry about paychecks and finances and tithing...i'll just have to worry about food, shelter, and higiene....

talk of money makes me stressed out...aahhh!

I hope everything works out for you though!

 

[DIVA_for_Christ]

^That sounds great, but what about the things said in this thread, do you think tithing is still relevent?

Yes I do, if I didn't I would have never made the commitment to God that I made. I've grown pass people and their "opinions" of me and what they think I should and should not do and I focus on what God is telling me to do and my personal relationship with Him. I'm also learning to trust His word regardless of my circumstances.

 

[SuttonPierce]

^That's really great! I think that's how we should be! I get really confused about what God is telling me though, sometimes I think it's just me or the pressure from other people.

 

[DIVA_for_Christ]

^That's really great! I think that's how we should be! I get really confused about what God is telling me though, sometimes I think it's just me or the pressure from other people.

That's why it's so important to learn how to hear His voice and no matter what do what He tells you to do. People can mean well with what they are saying and their intentions might even be pure, but they will not understand your personal relationship with God or what He tells you to do, especially if they themselves aren't submitted/committed to the level you have chosen to be submitted/commited to God.

Remember obedience is better than sacrifice. Obey God and watch Him reward you.

 

[SuttonPierce]

^Thank you, I totally agree, I just don't know how to hear God, I'm never really sure if it's Him or just me.

 

[DIVA_for_Christ]

^Thank you, I totally agree, I just don't know how to hear God, I'm never really sure if it's Him or just me.

First remember that life and death is in the power of the tongue. So don't speak that you don't know how to hear God. The enemy will have you think that to frustrate you and when we get frustrated it's harder to hear Him because our flesh is stirred up.

You are in the process of learning His voice. Just like in the natural so it will be in the spirit. People that you know - after awhile of constant communication with them either by phone or face to face conversations, you learn their voice. You know their voice so much that if you were walking around in a mall and you heard people talking behind you and you heard a voice of your good friend - you would know it was them before you even turned around to look at them. This is the process God has you in. He is training you to be able to know His voice. I'm sure that has to be at least one time if not more that God spoke to you and you knew without any doubt that it was God. So don't get discouraged when in your process you are trying to understand if it's you, Him or the enemy. There are times when I still ask God for confirmation but I recognize His voice more often then not now.

Take it day by day, increase your time with Him and you'll start to realize that you are more in tune with His
Spirit than you think you are.

God Bless and feel free to PM me if you ever need to talk!!!

 

[wonderwaleye]

Dear HEARTS IN CHRIST


I have traveled a long ways and it has taken me where I knew not to go.


I started out a protestant because my folks were. ( at least that was what was claimed ) Then in the armed services I converted to being a Catholic and I really LOVED it.



Then I read the Catholic Bible enough times to get it locked in my heart. ( or as much as a dummy will receive )



But that caused me a lot of problems because I found a REAL BIG DIFFERENCE between GOD'S WORD and what the Catholic Church was doing as a result of Church doctrine. So again I leave this Church


BUT


I took GOD'S WORD with me!!!


Then I went to a Full Gospel Church where they were preaching receive the HOLY SPIRIT with the evidence of SPEAKING IN TOUNGS.



I had the HOLY SPIRIT DESEND UPON ME and yet I never had spoken in tongues.


When I spoke to the preacher about that he said: " Well that's the way I've always been preaching it and I'm going to continue.



Well that lead me to another protestant Church. After the second Sunday attending and very nice Church elders came to visit. They told me you receive the HOLY SPIRIT two different ways. I ask them where that might be found in the Bible and they said:


" IT'S CHURCH DOCTRINE "



It was at that moment the HOLY SPIRIT spoke to me and said:


" WELL STEVE I GUESS IF YOUR GOING TO WORSHIP ME YOUR GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT AT HOME "


It wasn't easy at first and sure didn't have all the entertainment.


Well it has been many years now and we NEVER left HOME Church looking for another Church. I found my children learned more because they were made a very important part of the Church.



Now this brings me to the point of this OP. Would that mean I would need to give my HOME CHURCH 10% of my GROSS income???



Would I expect other members of the family to give 10%???



Is this what GOD REALLY WANTS OR EXPECTS from us???



TITHE HIM WITH 100% OF YOUR HEART AND ALL THE REST WILL WORK OUT!!!




THAT IS WHY IT IS SO VERY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER:






X Even though you can't see him, GOD is there!!! O
( click on the x and drag to the O ) ( then see who is with you ) steven