Should I tithe?

[evangelist6589]

Just completed my 5th week of my new job. Its only $14/hr so I am not making bank but it is something. I am not making anything beyond min payment on my debts until I can collect more savings and or if I were to become unemployed again. I ponder the question if I should tithe. God knows my financial situation and I just cat find scripture that says I will be blessed financially if I do tithe. I would like to one day tithe again, but God knows my heart. I am reading a book by Mac on this subject but I have not yet read the tithing chapter. However if I were not to tithe I wonder if it would be right to spend money on leisure things such as DVD's and the like. Maybe a bad idea. I usually do give something to a ministry, but not always a full 10% due to my large debts and income.

 

[annsni]

Honestly, I feel like you're asking "Can I keep all my money and not give anything to God?"

Tithing is not for the New Testament church but generous giving is. Your heart is not generous towards God if you're even asking what you've asked.

 

[preacher4truth]

Just completed my 5th week of my new job. Its only $14/hr so I am not making bank but it is something. I am not making anything beyond min payment on my debts until I can collect more savings and or if I were to become unemployed again. I ponder the question if I should tithe. God knows my financial situation and I just cat find scripture that says I will be blessed financially if I do tithe. I would like to one day tithe again, but God knows my heart. I am reading a book by Mac on this subject but I have not yet read the tithing chapter. However if I were not to tithe I wonder if it would be right to spend money on leisure things such as DVD's and the like. Maybe a bad idea. I usually do give something to a ministry, but not always a full 10% due to my large debts and income.

Just give cheerfully. And learn to budget, you've shared your many financial failures here on BB, so we are certain you can't handle funds. Get some counsel, and put your books on the back burner, and listen.

 

[annsni]

However if I were not to tithe I wonder if it would be right to spend money on leisure things such as DVD's and the like.

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[clark thompson]

Honestly, I feel like you're asking "Can I keep all my money and not give anything to God?"

Tithing is not for the New Testament church but generous giving is. Your heart is not generous towards God if you're even asking what you've asked.

I agree. God does not want us to be in debt but we need also to live within our means as well.

 

[Revmitchell]

Whether or not you believe in the tithe we should be giving in a significant way to the Lord. Placing a ten spot in the plate on Sunday morning is a failure to to give appropriately. It is easy to do the right thing when everything is going well. Our faith in God is put to the test when it becomes difficult to do the right thing.

When we look for excuses to avoid our responsibilities based on how tough things are then our faith in God is shown. Abraham was put to the test and he did not faulter. Satan wants us to curse God and die when things get tough. Just ask Job.

Stand up to Satan and do the right thing even in tough times. Rely on God's word and trust Him to provide. Otherwise all of your street preaching becomes hypocritical.

 

[Salty]

Wow 14/ hour! I dont even make that on overtime.

Even if you only work 20 hours a week that would be $280 per week.

If need be Start with $1 a week and add 25 cents per week at the end of one year you would be up $13.50.

Just a thougth......

 

[padredurand]

Just completed my 5th week of my new job. Its only $14/hr so I am not making bank but it is something. I am not making anything beyond min payment on my debts until I can collect more savings and or if I were to become unemployed again. I ponder the question if I should tithe. God knows my financial situation and I just cat find scripture that says I will be blessed financially if I do tithe. I would like to one day tithe again, but God knows my heart. I am reading a book by Mac on this subject but I have not yet read the tithing chapter. However if I were not to tithe I wonder if it would be right to spend money on leisure things such as DVD's and the like. Maybe a bad idea. I usually do give something to a ministry, but not always a full 10% due to my large debts and income.

ONLY $14 an hour? That's a king's ransom in these parts.

Your financial blessing has absolutely nothing to do with what you give to God. You can find that sort of teaching but you'll have to learn how to dance and take a tambourine to church. You don't give with the intention of getting something in return. You give to be obedient.

P4T was spot on. God loves a cheerful giver. Propose in your heart what you will give and do it. That's what is required of you. If you give a mite or a million and grumble about it just keep it in your pocket. God doesn't need your money that bad.

I've been to the School of Hard Knocks on this financial thing. Here's some things I've learned along the way:

1. Give God His portion first. You should be giving to your local church. Don't shortchange the local church for some national name. They'll get along fine without you for a season. Ain't none of them going to drop what they are doing to do your funeral.

2. Put away a little for your rainy day fund. Save one dollar a week until you have the resources to do more. Worse thing that will happen is that you will have $52 in your piggy bank this time next year. $104 the year after that.

3. If you are making minimum payments on a credit card you will not live long enough to pay it off. Minimum payments is bad money after bad. It takes almost 30 years to pay off one credit card. There is a credit counseling center around us that will work with credit card companies to get an amount to settle the account. You give the credit counselor folks a single payment each month and they distribute the funds with a realistic payoff date. DON"T BORROW ANY MORE UNSECURED CREDIT! No cash advances, payday loans or mouse house finance companies.

4. Figure out the difference between your wants and your needs. You need shelter. You don't need an internet account. You need food. You do not need Ray Comfort's newest book. You need the ability to go to work with clean clothes, a decent haircut and serviceable shoes. You don't need a 72 month car note. You might want to take your wife on a cruise. You need to spend quiet time sitting on the couch holding hands.

5. Be a good steward. You learn how to be one. Selfishness comes naturally. Thrift does not.

I learned this lesson from the Amish farmer who plants crops on property I own. Corn took a beating early this growing season. We had so much rain the seed rotted in the ground. One patch got planted twice and when it did grow started came up stunted with many bare patches throughout the field. I said something to the effect of how he must be disappointed in the anticipated harvest. He replied, "I cannot complain to God about what He did not give. I can only rejoice and thank Him for what He did provide."

 

[Gina B]

I personally don't think it's responsible for anyone in debt to tithe. You don't HAVE a "firstfruit" to give because it's already belongs to another person because of the debt.
My personal belief at that point in life, or when someone is unable to tithe/give financially, is seeing what one can give in other ways. Cleaning the building, cooking, maintaining the property, offering services for free that they may pay for otherwise, etc.. In action, a church that has been around a while should have enough people of various abilities (cash and otherwise) that things run smooth. The church NEEDS people who cannot afford to give cash, technically! Sounds funny, but it's the same way a family runs. Someone is good at bringing in money, someone is good at maintenance, someone is good at cooking, someone is good entertainment, someone is good at organizing, and everyone pitches in with the little ones.

 

[Luke2427]

Just completed my 5th week of my new job. Its only $14/hr so I am not making bank but it is something. I am not making anything beyond min payment on my debts until I can collect more savings and or if I were to become unemployed again. I ponder the question if I should tithe. God knows my financial situation and I just cat find scripture that says I will be blessed financially if I do tithe. I would like to one day tithe again, but God knows my heart. I am reading a book by Mac on this subject but I have not yet read the tithing chapter. However if I were not to tithe I wonder if it would be right to spend money on leisure things such as DVD's and the like. Maybe a bad idea. I usually do give something to a ministry, but not always a full 10% due to my large debts and income.

The tithe is your duty. God allows you to miss it on occasion so long as you pay it back with usury.

The tithe existed BEFORE the law and therefore cannot be relegated to a "law thing" that has passed away in the NT.

If it is ok for you to just not tithe, then it is okay for you to commit adultery or not go to church or anything that is convenient for you.

 

[Luke2427]

I personally don't think it's responsible for anyone in debt to tithe. You don't HAVE a "firstfruit" to give because it's already belongs to another person because of the debt.
My personal belief at that point in life, or when someone is unable to tithe/give financially, is seeing what one can give in other ways. Cleaning the building, cooking, maintaining the property, offering services for free that they may pay for otherwise, etc.. In action, a church that has been around a while should have enough people of various abilities (cash and otherwise) that things run smooth. The church NEEDS people who cannot afford to give cash, technically! Sounds funny, but it's the same way a family runs. Someone is good at bringing in money, someone is good at maintenance, someone is good at cooking, someone is good entertainment, someone is good at organizing, and everyone pitches in with the little ones.

So every Christian who has a mortgage does not have to pay the tithe?

That's the whole POINT about first fruit. You owe GOD before you anybody else. You pay your debt to him THEN if you have any left over you pay your debt to whatever OTHER debtors you've accumulated.

 

[annsni]

Debt is a choice in most cases and we can't decide that we'll promise to pay someone for something and we'll just not give anything to the church to pay for it. That's like getting DVDs and not giving!

 

[padredurand]

sorry. double post

 

[Ed B]

Just completed my 5th week of my new job. Its only $14/hr so I am not making bank but it is something. I am not making anything beyond min payment on my debts until I can collect more savings and or if I were to become unemployed again. I ponder the question if I should tithe. God knows my financial situation and I just cat find scripture that says I will be blessed financially if I do tithe. I would like to one day tithe again, but God knows my heart. I am reading a book by Mac on this subject but I have not yet read the tithing chapter. However if I were not to tithe I wonder if it would be right to spend money on leisure things such as DVD's and the like. Maybe a bad idea. I usually do give something to a ministry, but not always a full 10% due to my large debts and income.

You should give something. I don't believe the tithe is a requirement for new testament believers but I do believe it is a clear biblical principle. I encourage you to pray about this sincerely and give an amount that we feel led to give, and give it cheerfully. Even if it isn't much to start be faithful with the amount you feel led to give.

By the way, regardless of what others are saying $14/hr isn't much money at all, even if it is almost double minimum wage. That is approaching a living wage assuming it is a full time job and you get some overtime to supplement.

 

[Luke2427]

You should give something. I don't believe the tithe is a requirement for new testament believers but I do believe it is a clear biblical principle. I encourage you to pray about this sincerely and give an amount that we feel led to give, and give it cheerfully. Even if it isn't much to start be faithful with the amount you feel led to give.

By the way, regardless of what others are saying $14/hr isn't much money at all, even if it is almost double minimum wage. That is approaching a living wage assuming it is a full time job and you get some overtime to supplement.

Why would the tithe not be a NT requirement?

 

[evangelist6589]

Just give cheerfully. And learn to budget, you've shared your many financial failures here on BB, so we are certain you can't handle funds. Get some counsel, and put your books on the back burner, and listen.

Its not that its just my income has been lacking and I have had some out of pocket expenses and all without insurance. Can you tell me how to pay for such things without insurance and when I had no income? But yes part of what you say is true. I need to give to the Lord cheerfully and yes I do need to budget better.

 

[evangelist6589]

Honestly, I feel like you're asking "Can I keep all my money and not give anything to God?"

Tithing is not for the New Testament church but generous giving is. Your heart is not generous towards God if you're even asking what you've asked.

I agree. I need to give generously and would be a fool if I did not.

 

[evangelist6589]

Whether or not you believe in the tithe we should be giving in a significant way to the Lord. Placing a ten spot in the plate on Sunday morning is a failure to to give appropriately. It is easy to do the right thing when everything is going well. Our faith in God is put to the test when it becomes difficult to do the right thing.

When we look for excuses to avoid our responsibilities based on how tough things are then our faith in God is shown. Abraham was put to the test and he did not faulter. Satan wants us to curse God and die when things get tough. Just ask Job.

Stand up to Satan and do the right thing even in tough times. Rely on God's word and trust Him to provide. Otherwise all of your street preaching becomes hypocritical.

You are correct. I am wrong. I see it.

 

[evangelist6589]

I personally don't think it's responsible for anyone in debt to tithe. You don't HAVE a "firstfruit" to give because it's already belongs to another person because of the debt.
My personal belief at that point in life, or when someone is unable to tithe/give financially, is seeing what one can give in other ways. Cleaning the building, cooking, maintaining the property, offering services for free that they may pay for otherwise, etc.. In action, a church that has been around a while should have enough people of various abilities (cash and otherwise) that things run smooth. The church NEEDS people who cannot afford to give cash, technically! Sounds funny, but it's the same way a family runs. Someone is good at bringing in money, someone is good at maintenance, someone is good at cooking, someone is good entertainment, someone is good at organizing, and everyone pitches in with the little ones.

Its impossible to pay off the level of debt I have with my salary. If I mentioned the amount, well I won't do that. But as Pastor Erwin Lutzer said to me in a letter I made foolish choices years ago and have buried myself in a debt I cannot pay. He said just to be faithful and pay what I can, and try not to get into more debt. But Lutzer never suggested I stop giving to ministry.

 

[evangelist6589]

Debt is a choice in most cases and we can't decide that we'll promise to pay someone for something and we'll just not give anything to the church to pay for it. That's like getting DVDs and not giving!

Debt is not always a choice! When I had a major dental operation and without insurance it was not a choice! If only you had experienced the level of pain that I had you would have thanked God for having a Credit card to be able to pay for the expense!!! I did have an emergency fund of $1000, but the operation cost far more than that so I had to put the rest on the card.