To Give

[ray]

To Give? To tithe? Do they mean the same or different?

when is to much giving and titheing to much or not enough? I can give 10% of time better than I can give 10% of my income. As long as giving of one does it mattere which is given?

Thanks

ray

[Guest Calamity]

Hi ray. I don't know a whole lot on this subject, but there's some others here that do. I basically think a "tithe" or "tenth" is a meaning a required amount, and "giving" is just that - giving what you feel the Lord would have you give. WHich is different for each individual, I would suppose. And to your last question, I don't know..

[stevehut]

Whatever amout that you give, it should be a sacrifice. It should be enough to hurt a little, or it doesn't mean much. 10% is a good place to start, I believe.

Anyone who can't afford to give 10% probably has money-management or spending issues. And apart from giving to the church, this is a spiritual issue unto itself.

[hal]

According to Malachi 3:8-11 we owe the tithe.

What we give beyond that is our offering.

In 1947 we were encourage to try tithing for one month.

We have never stopped. We have never had a financial problem,

never bought anything on credit.

It is the best investment that a Christian can make.

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings Ray,

The term "tithe" means "tenth". It is an OT command to offer to God the FIRST portion of what God has blessed you with. This is before taxes, before you eat or before anything else, however, it become a rigorous and onerous "law" that was laid on the backs of the Jews by the priests. We are told in Romans 9:31 that the Jews sought "righteousness" (right standing with God) by means of "obeying the law". So giving of the tithe became just one more ritual they went through to obtain that righteousness.

Jesus came to reveal that the law was NOT given for the purpose of attaining righteousness. The example given in Romans is of our mutual Father in the Faith - Abraham. He "believed God" and therefore it was credited to him as "righteousness". This in fact is really all we have to do to attain "righteousness", but the NT also recognizes that "faith without works is dead", and elsewhere we find that "we are created unto good works".

In regards to "giving" in the NT, we find a story told of a widow:

Mark 12:41-44 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

In God's eyes this is commendable, so contrast that with this story:

Matthew 19:20-24 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

In neither case was ONLY a tithe mentioned, but the fact that ALL was or should be given serves to tell us that God has absolutely no use for your money or possessions or your time, but HE wants ALL OF YOU. It is by His hand that you prosper, and we have numerous scriptures telling us that we should be "good stewards" of ALL that God has given us, whether it be our time, our energy or our money.

This is somewhat lost on the churches today. We have reverted back to thinking that somehow we will please God by giving a TENTH. This cannot be further from the truth. We are to give from our "heart", and whereever we find a need that we can meet we are to give there too. In fact it is better not to give at all if we can't give joyfully, even gleefully, delightfully to the work of God:

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

So as far as God is concerned, your "tenth" or "tithe" will get you absolutely nowhere with Him. He wants your love and obedience. He wants you to take care of the widow and the orphan. He wants you to be led by the Holy Spirit to go whereever He deems you to go and to give according to Him to whatever He deems you should give. If you are listening to Him, you will develop self discipline and will have access to HIS treasuries, for He will provide even more to them that do well as good stewards of what you already have.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

P.S. One day a young man was talking to God and this is how it went:

Young Man: What does a million dollars mean to you?

God: A million dollars is as a penny.

Young Man: What is a thousand years like to you?

God: A thousand years is like a minute.

Young Man: God, can you give me one of your "pennies"?

God: Yes, my son, in a minute.

[AllforJesustheLord]

Whatever amout that you give, it should be a sacrifice. It should be enough to hurt a little, or it doesn't mean much. 10% is a good place to start, I believe.

Anyone who can't afford to give 10% probably has money-management or spending issues. And apart from giving to the church, this is a spiritual issue unto itself.

Just because someone may not be able to give, does not mean they are less of a Christian.

[stevehut]

Just because someone may not be able to give, does not mean they are less of a Christian.

"Unable"? I used to think that way. Anyone can give something

And by the way, my post is in direct answer to a question.

[BobTriez]

No, No, No....

Sorry folks, we are not going to bring this up again so close to the last one. It was locked for a reason.....this topic has the propensity to get out of hand rapidly. Best to stop it now before it gets too hot to handle.

Thanks for understanding.

In HIS service,

Bob