Tithing

[wolfling03]

Just had a quick question on tithing. Its clear in the old testament that it was required but the new testament as far as I can tell does not mention tithing. Does anyone have examples of how God has blessed them after beginning to tithe or how they handle the giving back to God for what he's given to us. Thanks

[oncewaslost]

moved to a more appropriate forum. :)

[Blindfaith]

Good morning Wolfing!

Did you know that giving (gave) is mentioned more times in the bible than faith, grace, or the ultimate, love?  Giving (gave) is mentioned more than 2,000 in the bible.  God is the ultimate giver, and we can always go back to John 3:16, for the ultimate gift.

When the Acts church was getting off the ground, everyone gave everything they had for the body.  They shared, gave and were joyous!  When we give from the heart, not out of obligation, the blessings of God, in whatever form He gives them, is enormous.

For example.  If we don't tithe, how can our particular church function?  The pastor wouldn't get a salary, he'd have to get another job, and that would take away from his study/research time, and time away from the flock that need him.

If we didn't tithe, our church wouldn't be able to help support Missions, to get the Word of God out there to the lost.  If we didn't tithe, childrens programs in the church couldn't be supported, and those lil' precious souls wouldn't get fed the teachings of Jesus.

It's a heart issue.  "Where our treasures are, our heart will be also".  If our treasure is our house, car, boat, computer, relationship, job, that's where our heart is. 

If our heart is with God, we want to help further the kingdom of God, because He is the ultimate giver.  Shouldn't we want to be more like Him?

It doesn't have to be a straight 10% of your money.  You give what you're able, as long as your heart is in the right place.  It could be tithing your time in the childrens program at church, or the soup kitchen.  It could be sponsering a child through World Vision.  I gotta tell you ~ that's beyond rewarding.  We sponser 2, and it's an indescribable feeling.

We figured out, that through donations, sponsering, tithing to the church (and not  counting time volunteering), we tithed 17% last year.  This is not to boast whatsoever.  It's just testimony that God has always provided, even when times were thin.  We gotta trust Him to provide :)

~BF

[waterwizard]

I can tell you from experience that God has blessed me and my family since we really started tithing -- not just throwing a couple of dollars in the plate.  At least 10% of our gross earnings go into the plate each week. 

Before, we struggled a lot just keeping the bills only one month behind...always something coming up to drain our bank account.  Some weeks we would have to decide between buying groceries and paying an overdue bill.  Had to run my car on fumes many times the day before payday.

We decided to let God handle it.  We started putting in that 10%, which to us was enough to buy almost a weeks worth of groceries (feeding at least 5 people).  The first few weeks we were under a tremendous struggle, but soon we discovered that we could pay our bills on time, and keep food in the house, and have enough gas in the cars to last the week.  God started providing our NEEDS, and we found out that a lot of our WANTS were put on the back burner, and not missed.  We also were able to help others in need, both with money and other necessities.  And the more we gave, the more our needs were met.

Once we decided to skimp on the tithes.  Not even a week later, our van conked out on us.  Needed a new motor.  I am convinced that if we had tithed correctly, that would not have happened.  God will let you know when you mess up.  And usually it will cost you more than the money you would have put into the plate.

Tithing works. 

[Bruno]

It is not required to tithe, but it is good. Also the money doesn't have to go straight to church. It would be just as good in the eyes of God if you spend 10% of your sallary on food and clothing and gave it to those that need it. I like to buy Bibles and give them to people who don't have them. I also keep a store of unperishable food in my car for those times when I see a beggar on the side of the road. I don't like to give them money in fear that they will only spend it on cigarettes, drugs, or alcohol.
Basically tithing is spending money in the name of God. It has to be done selflessly and with good intentions.

[wolfling03]

Great answers folks. Its just sometimes hard to give when you're barely getting by. But the treasure in heaven is a sure thing and it does all come down to trusting God. Also Bruno great idea about the dry food.

[HesMyAll]

When you are barely getting by is a great time to tithe and let God move for you.  At Christmastime we didn't have alot of money.  We tithed it anyway and 2 days before Christmas a delivery person showed up at my door with a ham.  Someone had sent us a ham and nobody really knew how bad things were for us financially.

Also, tithing is mentioned in the New Testament.  In Matthew 23:23 it reads:  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith:  these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.  What Jesus was saying is that they should have tithed but that their responsibility was not limited to tithing alone.                                                                                               

[sbbqb7n16]

I would say that tithing was basically an understood responsibility so Jesus and the writers of the Gospels didn't really need to touch on it.

Except in Matthew 23 like Hesmyall pointed out and the "in secret" discourse... other than that... it's a good idea though :)

We generally give to the church so that the church can give to the community. If you choose to bypass the church and go directly there yourself, doesn't really matter :) Whatever you have done to the least of these you have done to God right? He knows your intentions...:D

For me... I began to feel bad because I didn't have a job and couldn't tithe at all. It really does make you feel good knowing that you have given to God. Like in the song "Thank you for giving to the Lord! I have a life that was changed!" It's great!! lol

[Outspoken]

My pragmatic breakdown of tithing.

1. people working for the church deserved to get paid. Paul touches on this in chapter 9 of 1 corinthians.

2. other monies go towards upkeep of facilities, events planned, etc...These are all approved by the church, thus should also be paid. You give your word and should always keep it. The 10% in the OT is a specific amount that usually covers this, thus its a good estimate. The point is you should give until these things are taken care of in addition to missions and helping others in the church with finicial needs.

[hugoguttman]

For me, tithing has something very deep to understand.
First. The action to give for others to follow their ministry.
Malachi 3:10 says we must give our tithings for there will be food on His house. We can say Spiritual food for us. Then as our Father says, He will open the heaven´s windows to give us blessings. What are those blessings? Of course, blessings from our Father through the words of our pastors. What happen if a pastor does not get too much for living? Sure he will look for a job... and what about God´s job? Who will teach us?
The second one, tithing is a matter of faith. Do you remember when Israel was on desert and God gave them Mana? He said take as much as you want, but only for today. What happened when Israel took more for that day than what they really needed? Mana got putrid. What can we see on all this? We must depend on Him and not on those 10% of our salary. He will provide us. Just having... Faith.
Pax.
Hugo.

[ZiSunka]

I find the more I give to Him, the more he gives back to me. I am not rich, but I have never been left to wanting since I started to give faithfully to Him.

[Lynn]

WHen we started tithing, we also saw great blessings occur.

We didn't have more money, we didn't have fewer car breakdown, we didn't have fewer disagreement. But we did have a greater awareness of what God has blessed us with.

Sitting down and writing that tithing check has made us more aware of actually how much money we have. We budget better, we pay our bills more promptly. We had problems with late payments and, in fact, once almost lost our house. We still have the same amount of money coming in, but we are much more cognizant of our responsibilities to our debtors.

It has been a wonderful experience to share our monetary blessings with our church and our brothers and sisters around the world

lynn

[4sightsounds]

Very interesting-

If we want to be technical (after all, we live by EVERY WORD that proceeds out of the mouth of God, right?), the concept of tithing as it is taught in most churches is waaay off in left field.

This is too long to go into at the moment, but did you know that chapters 2 and 3 of Malachi were addressing the levites, not the assembly? Chapter 1 was written to the general assembly.... I'll go into detail tomorrow... I love this forum.

God bless,
4~

[Andrew]

We decided to let God handle it.Ê We started putting in that 10%, which to us wasÊenough to buy almost a weeks worth of groceries (feeding at least 5 people).Ê The first few weeks we were under a tremendous struggle, but soon we discovered that we could pay our bills on time, and keep food in the house, and have enough gas in the cars to last the week.Ê God started providing our NEEDS, and we found out that a lot of our WANTS were put on the back burner, and not missed.Ê We also were able to help others in need, both with money and other necessities.Ê And the more we gave, the more our needs were met.


when you tithe, you help take care of the running of God's house. ie you help the church pay its electricity bills, water bills, food for the pastor, etc. So the return is that God takes care of the running of your house, so you can pay your bills on time etc.

but then you will still be in debt, in the sense of financing loans (eg home/car loans). to break out of that cycle comes the offerings part. sowing money seed into the kingdom to reap 100-fold returns. basically, God's system is this: if you want more, give more. You can never out-give God.

[sracer]

Tithing is about your heart...

I don't tithe because I expect God to give me a return on my "investment". (I know some who tithe for that reason :sigh: ) I do it because I want to show (Him) how much I appreciate what He has given me. I don't expect anything... it's just one expression of my thankfulness. As if giving His only Son for eternal life in His kingdom wasn't enough, He just keeps on giving! It's true, you can't "out-give" God. :)

The "attitude of gratitude" basically sums it up. 

[4sightsounds]

^^^ very interesting.... Did you know that Malachi 3 was addressing the Levites and not the general assembly?

I think 2nd Cor. 9:7 sums it up best. Any other motive behind giving is self-serving, be it obligation, to hope for gain, etc....

[sbbqb7n16]

--Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7--

Tithing's not mentioned in there, but I'm sure it falls under the give all I have to the poor section... If you give even 100% of your funds to the church and have not love... it doesn't matter. Simply put...

Sracer... your attitude is awesome about tithing :D

[kat37]

i think tithing is very important. i've learned to think of the 1st 10% as "god's money"-he provided/blessed you w/ that avenue of income, and that 10% in a sense "belongs" to him in that it needs to used for the church, etc. i agree that it is totally out of faith-there's a difference between tithing so that you will get 10 times what you tithed and tithing in faith for the good of the church knowing that you will get it back tenfold. i'm in college and have been on my own for a few years, and i can honestly tell you that there have been months where the $$ i brought home was way less than the amount of my bills but i somehow managed, and i strongly believe it is b/c i "invested" that 1st 10% that god took care of me. i can look back on my bills and paystubs and make no mathmatical sense of it.
also, (not trying to spark a debate on money being good/evil) but our pastor also teaches that in a way, when you give the 1st 10% of your financial blessings, you are releasing a curse or hold that $$ can have on you in the sense that some people let $$ become their god. if you keep that 1st 10%, it is kind of like saying that $$ is better spent on me and that i don't trust that god can do something better with it. also, the key is that it should be the FIRST 10%-that you set that money aside immediately, and it is not an afterthought-that you're not figuring out what 10% of your paycheck was after you pay the bills , and then see if you still have enough left.
i highly recommend the "When God is First" by Mike Hayes-he is the pastor of our church and goes in depth on the spiritual importance of tithing, and i would back up some of the points i made here w/ scripture and from the book except i don't have it handy.

[Rafael]

Matthew 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

[Beckijhn]

100% of everything I have is Gods. He only wants the first part. Like sacrificing the spotless lamb, giving him the best portion, putting God first...

I give 10% to church because I want to support my minister and support what they do for me and others. We like to give to missions too. We sponsor a child in Mexico and we give to another ministry we love!

But you wanted an example - I could give a thousand, but I'll tell you my last tithing miracle... Last month I billed for about $400 worth of work and I was able to pay all my bills (more than double what I made) money just kept coming in from here and there. It doesn't really work mathematically though.

That's pretty cut and dried, but we're still feeling the presence of God. Another one - can't resist - we ran out of oil on Tuesday evening (thereby shutting down the furnace - duh what was I thinking) and someone delivered oil on Wed. It wasn't a desperate need, but appreciated since my boys birthday was the following Tuesday - yesterday.

[Dewjunkie]

We are continually amazed by tithing. When we first began tithing, we had a 10 month old and a second on the way. We had a very large amount of bills, and were struggling just to make the ends meet. It was a large step of faith to start tithing, but in a matter of weeks we began to see a difference. I can't explain it, nor do I try. I just know that life has been better since we started tithing. It feels good to give back to God, and horrible when we miss a week. Prior to our accident last June, we had actually paid off all of our debt (Praise God!). We have a lot of medical bills from our accident, and my wife lost a lot of income because of her disability. For a while things got tight again, and we missed a few weeks of tithing. We felt horrible, and once we began to give faithfully again, the bills were taken care of again. God truly is amazing.

A lot of good points have been made about the motivation for your tithing. If it is simply to see how much more you can get, or to show off how much you get paid, then you should just go ahead and keep the 10%, because it's done in vain. The Lord loves a cheerful giver, so grumbling about how much could be bought with the tithe money negates any value of the tithing.

I love tithing, because I know I am returning only a small portion of what God has given me. I thank him for the opportunity to tithe.

[Outspoken]

"I can't explain it, nor do I try. "

Hehehe...For as much as I love to talk about theology and God this pretty much sums up my stance on God all together ;)

Like the song goes.., "there's a bigger picture you can't see. You don't have to change the world to trust in me. I'm your creator and I'm working out my plan, and though you I will show then, I AM."