tithing

[toddlermom]

It kind of bothers me when some believe that tithing 'money' isnt scriptural.  IMHO, of course people in the o/t gave their tithes in their crops/livestock.  They didnt have money like we do now.  They didnt have utilities, car payments, daycare, credit card bills, insurance, etc etc etc.  Much of what they lived on they raised themselves.  I dont give 10% of my gross pay to my church.  I actually give 15%, because I want to, not because no one told me to!  I dont make that much money, and my husband and I have never had much, and lived paycheck to paycheck.  The very least I can do, is to give Him the first part of what I do have.  I havent always tithed.  I was once of the opinion, "I cant afford to tithe, but I give a lot of time to the church".  :-\  Well, time doesnt pay the bills, it doesnt pay the staff, or the utilities, etc etc.  Unfortunately, the old addage 10% of the people do 90% of the work, also applies to tithing, although I'd like to believe that more than 10% of people in the church tithe.

Imagine, how our churches, and ministries would thrive if everyone tithed.  Churches wouldnt be closing their doors, as unfortunately is the case sometimes, such as the church/school mentioned in a previous church.

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amen i totally agree with you

[Annette443pink]

We tithe on the gross. My husband is the only one working in the home and money is tight but it still feels good to give. I used to struggle with this (even when we were both working). God has given me peace & joy over giving now. I also tithe on child support I receive. I heard someone saying on the radio that it is the absent parent's responsibility to tithe on that income but I feel that it is an increase to me so I tithe on it. I went through years where I could not count on child support so I'm grateful when I get it.

Lack of tithing to me is a sign of lack of faith. Do we love & trust God or not? It's amazing that people actually admit they give "what's left". Wow! I'd just not post if that was my situation. What if God had given what was left over?

It's not about LAW, it's about LOVE. Do your children get more in birthday gifts and unneeded toys than you give to God?

Edited April 20, 2005 by Annette443pink

[Gerioke]

I think God would prefer to get what we got with good cheer rather than get what we feel we owe him because we have to. The kingdom has a better chance of thriving on cheerful offerings than begrudgeing Him his tithe

[Guest Fluffy the Cactus]

I think that tithing includes a lot more than giving money to your church. What about your time? What about your home? What about food? I don't usually go to church because I work nights, and when I do, I give what I can afford. I can't afford 10%, though, and no matter how you budget, if you're making very little, you can't afford anything. But, I give what I can. I see a lot of homeless people in the city where I live, and if I can, I will give them food. I won't give them money for obvious reasons, but I will give them food. I'll give any church I go to money if I can afford it, and however much I can afford, and I don't think that God demands us to tithe because it isn't scriptual to tithe our money. Merchants earned money in the OT. So did other workers. To say that money wasn't around is a gross misunderstanding of economics, even back then. They did have money, they just had it in different forms and it existed in different quantities. I'm not saying it isn't a good idea to give, but what I'm saying is that I don't think that tithing money is biblical, because to my understanding, it isn't. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't give. Why should we tithe? Why should we only give 10%? Making it a set number isn't right in my opinion, because the rich can obviously afford to give more than the poor. That's obvious for many reasons, but there are exceptions to this rule of course. My two cents worth.

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[toddlermom]

We tithe on the gross.  My husband is the only one working in the home and money is tight but it still feels good to give.  I used to struggle with this (even when we were both working).  God has given me peace & joy over giving now.  I also tithe on child support I receive.  I heard someone saying on the radio that it is the absent parent's responsibility to tithe on that income but I feel that it is an increase to me so I tithe on it.  I went through years where I could not count on child support so I'm grateful when I get it.

Lack of tithing to me is a sign of lack of faith.  Do we love & trust God or not?  It's amazing that people actually admit they give "what's left".  Wow!  I'd just not post if that was my situation.  What if God had given what was left over?

It's not about LAW, it's about LOVE.  Do your children get more in birthday gifts and unneeded toys than you give to God?

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that is the best post yet. I am in complete agreement, and I think that it is wonderful that you tithe on child support, b/c it is a form of income. The absent parent should tithe on their income and whatever they give you was their income first.( i hope that came out right). No, i understand that we are not under the law anymore...you know like sacraficing goats...but if we dont give, and have a standard set in which to give, then i can gaurantee that churches would fall. I give with a cheerful heart, but there are times when i could use that money for other things, but thats when you have dicipline, and the love for the church. Tithing has become such a habit for me...that it doestnt bother me to give, bc i have set that money aside...it was never was mine to begin with.

[toddlermom]

I think God would prefer to get what we got with good cheer rather than get what we feel we owe him because we have to. The kingdom has a better chance of thriving on cheerful offerings than begrudgeing Him his tithe

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i also agree with you, but if you are giveing begrudgingly than you should search your heart. and its not i feel as if i owe God...it was never mine..thats what everyone has to realize.

[Gerioke]

tithing is from the law

offering is from the heart

[toddlermom]

I think that tithing includes a lot more than giving money to your church.  What about your time?  What about your home?  What about food?

i agree, its not just about money.

I don't usually go to church because I work nights, and when I do, I give what I can afford.  I can't afford 10%, though, and no matter how you budget, if you're making very little, you can't afford anything.  But, I give what I can.  I'll give any church I go to money if I can afford it, and however much I can afford,  Why should we tithe?  Why should we only give 10%?  Making it a set number isn't right in my opinion, because the rich can obviously afford to give more than the poor.  That's obvious for many reasons, but there are exceptions to this rule of course.  My two cents worth.

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God has proven this to me time and time again... Me and my husband, who was not saved at the time, wanted to get a new more expensive house. On paper, we could make the note and pay the bills but there was no room for tithing. My husband, of coarse, could care less about tithing, but i told him that we could not get the house. Well, I felt that God wanted us to have it, so we got it anyway. Even though I knew that we couldnt AFFORD to tithe, every week, i calculated out my 10% and the money was always there to pay the bills and to give faithfully. It never worked out on paper. That was 5 yrs ago, and we are liveing very comfortably. God has blessed me with 2 paper routes, at 3 am, so that i can make money and take care of my children. If you cant afford to give AT LEAST 10% then you should reevaluate your budget!

[Guest Fluffy the Cactus]

Yeah, but if the money isn't there, it just isn't there.

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[Gerioke]

I think that tithing includes a lot more than giving money to your church.