Should we tithe or give?

Don't struggle, do it ...

 

Yes, I understand that God gave abilities and provides ways to plan our retirement. Maybe this wasn't the greatest example of my struggle. I have been blessed with a good income and have too often indulged my own wants and desires rather than given to ease the burden of the poor.

Retirement is an example of savings, at what point does it become hoarding. While there is probably nothing wrong with some saving, when does it become excessive? When does it become a snare? We are stewards of what God entrusts to us. When is it appropriate to hoard rather than give?

We in America, I think, are so used to an affluent society that we don't look on ourselves as being self indulgent when we simply have the norm for our culture. Compare to those in poorer countries and we are quite rich by comparison, and indulge in what to people there would be great luxeries. This entails some of what I am starting to feel convicted about.

This is probably something I should have started a new topic for, though. I didn't mean to redirect from the topic of tithing.

 

Isn't prioritization of one's spending habits important to the doctrine of tithing?

 

Prioritization of one's spending habits is important to the doctrine of tithing, or offering, or simply giving back to the Lord for what He has given us.

I believe that giving to the Lord should be the top priority. I was brought up in a church that didn't call for tithing as such, but did always teach that you should give to the Lord's work from the top rather than the bottom. This has always been my belief. When I got married, my wife had grown up with the idea of tithing. As a couple we have always done 10% although, as a rule, I would tend to do more than that, all other considerations aside.

I wish I could say that we always do give the 10%, but I will make no such claim. This is the goal, however. I try to take that off the top without regard to what bills are outstanding. When I am most faithful in this, I have the least financial problems. A funny thing about God's provision. He blesses obedience, even if it is simply to our own committment to Him rather than the express command of scripture.

 

Show me ...

 

Soulman,

Are you a Pastor? Just curious. Also, is this 'solid Bible Study' fruit from your own personal study, or is it from some fellow on the internet who is just as aberrant in his teaching on other doctrines?

El Guero, the answer to your question is yes. However, stewardship and priority are not popular amongst many on the BB.

 

Soulman,

I would appreciate a copy of the bibile study on the tithe. I would like to review the scriptures and search out if there are other applicable ones as well.

Thanks,
Dave

 

Deuteronomy ...
chapter 14: 22

might be a good place to start ...

 

I want to let members of BB know of my beliefs on tithe.

I was once faithful giving tithes to the church from my paycheck by more than 10% or more. God do truly blessed me by giving tithe to God during church service.

Till about 3 years ago, I realized tithe was part of God's law, and used during Old Testament's economy.

When reading throughout the New Testament, I cannot find a single verse saying that we are commanded to give tithe to God at the church service.

Either Jesus or Paul never teaching on tithe is a commanfdment.

I learned that Malachi 3:10 is not just speak toward us as Church of today's. This verse, also include whole chapter 3(in contextually) was speak toward Levi priests.

Often many churches use 1 Cor. 16:1-2 teaching on tithe. But, 1 Cor. 16:1-2 never saying about church service. 'Store' is speak of temple. The context of 1 Cor. 16:1-4 is not just focus on money or offering. Paul asked them, to give anything - food, clothes, letters, money, etc. No one colleect them till Paul comes and bring them all to Jerusalem, because the poor people needs things.

Also, throughout in the New Testament does not teaching that we must give exactly 10% of our income salary money to God at the church service.

Many churches are mistakely teaching on tithe to the congregation.

I already seeing so many pastors in America are greedy, and have lack of their faith, they only teaching or urge members to giving tithe, many pastors received money come from members' money.

I ask you, do Jesus and Paul asking to people, that they need support or money from them?

I find no verse in the four gospels, that Christ begs people or disciples to give tithe or money to Christ.

I consider, Jesus Christ was the world's greatest missionary, because he have great faith. He does not have a job, and never ask for support like as 'deputation'.

Same with Paul, I consider, Paul was the world's second greatest missionary. He never ask people to give tithe or support money to him. He only have his own bussiness - tentmaker, by selling tents to people, that's how he earned money from the customers by brought tents.

You see, America is the world's richest nation. Now, we see there are so many fancy church buildings, Bible colleges, Christian business, etc. Because of tithe reason.

Should I judge Christian who continue giving tithe faithfully? No. I rather leave them alone, let God takes care of them who giving tithe. No doubt, God do truly blessing them who is giving tithe.

Many pastors have the wrong idea, that they saying God will punish upon a Christian, who do not giving tithe. The reason is, many pastors seem pushing them or to scare them to giving tithes, so, they will making some money from them.

I haven't give "tithe" for 3 years. My finanical is doing GREAT! I faithfully paying the bills on right time. Even, I do willing giving money during offering time by through my heart. I never get in trouble with finanical while I do not give 'tithe'.

Tithe is no longer apply to us as New Testament saints.

Because we are under the new covenant through calvary. Christ already pay our sins through his blood.

We can only is giving thank to God for Jesus Christ.

Also, we should helping to giving for what people needs, also, helping to support missionary too.

Early Church history, Christians do not have own church building. They were worshipped together in their homes.

The true meaning of 'Church' means God's people, NOT a building, where people attend to worshipping God.

Tithe was caused teaching come from Roman Catholic. Because Roman Catholics builted their own fancy church buildings by stolen from people's money. They were wrong.

Now, almost all religions are practice tithe. Thank to Roman Catholic's influence.

God does not push or force us to giving. God only interest in our heart with our desire, and joyful with the right attitude, that's all.

In Christ
Rev. 22:20 -Amen!

 

If Duet. 14:22 is a good place to start, lets look at the rest of the chapter. According to Duet 14, I can plant a garden, eat my own tithe from it for three years (eating at a designated location ); or i can redeem the crop and buy whatever i want with the money. At the END of the THIRD year, i give the tithe to others. I think I'll start to look at the seed catalogues, now.

22 "You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year. 23 And you shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always. 24 But if the journey is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, or if the place where the Lord your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, when the Lord your God has blessed you, 25 then you shall exchange it for money, take the money in your hand, and go to the place which the Lord your God chooses. 26 And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household. 27 You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no part nor inheritance with you.


1. 28 "At the end of every third year you shall bring out the tithe of your produce of that year and store it up within your gates. 29 And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.

 

Quoted from Richard above...

posted March 07, 2005 05:39 PM
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If Duet. 14:22 is a good place to start, lets look at the rest of the chapter. According to Duet 14, I can plant a garden, eat my own tithe from it for three years (eating at a designated location ); or i can redeem the crop and buy whatever i want with the money. At the END of the THIRD year, i give the tithe to others. I think I'll start to look at the seed catalogues, now.

22 "You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year. 23 And you shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always. 24 But if the journey is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, or if the place where the Lord your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, when the Lord your God has blessed you, 25 then you shall exchange it for money, take the money in your hand, and go to the place which the Lord your God chooses. 26 And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household. 27 You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no part nor inheritance with you.


1. 28 "At the end of every third year you shall bring out the tithe of your produce of that year and store it up within your gates. 29 And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.
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Hummmm.....This SURE doesn't sound like the kind of TITHING we hear taught about in most Baptist(or any other)Churches today....does it?Sounds like the model of the idea of distribution to the saints to meet the needs of those who DON"T have anything...nothing in here about building big ole church buildings either.....just a thought.Hummmmm!

Greg Sr.

 

I am afraid that our churches, in many places, are in the pitiful shape that they are in due to how the membership treats the Word of God. There are many teachings in the Word of God that we readily accept and choose to live by- as well as encourage others to live by (10 Commandments, Model Prayer, Beattitudes, etc.). However, the problem arises when the Word gets personal, ie.: the Tithe. We then try to re-interpret, re-write, or make it say what it does not say, in order to let us off the hook. We can't have it that way folk. The claim that the tithe is bondage for believers today is absurd. The greatest freedom I have ever known is when I became captive to God, His Son, and His Word.

I say again, tithing, like other disciplines of the christian life, is a matter of obedience. We give of our treasure to those things we love- entertainment, vices, wants, non-essentials, etc. In most cases, in most situations, the tithe is there-it is just given to someone else other than He Who is Altogether Worthy of it.

In answer to the OP, should we tithe or give? the answer is a hearty YES!

 

I have given ample scriptural support to tithing in other posts. The point is, we need to quit watering down the Word in order to soothe our guilty conscience. Soulman, I do not want to get into a war of words with you, I just want to challenge you to be a better student of the Word, and more than that, an obedient doer of the Word.

I am reminded of a song we teach our children at church that is fitting here: "O-B-E-D-I-E-N-C-E, obedience is the very best way, to show that you believe. Action is the key, do it immediately; joy you will receive. Obedience is the VERY best way, to show that you believe!"

Soulman, find joy in giving God His tithe- and His offering, and whatever else! But the minimum is the tithe!

 

Greg Sr. & Richard I am impressed ... ACTUALLY reading God's Word and what He has to say about the subject ...

That is the ONLY passage that has changed my theology in all of these years of study ...

In Christ