Money is funny, my father would say when discussion the issue of tithing. People will talk about sin and lust before they will talk about their money, he said laughing. I’ve seen him wrestle with speaking about giving and tithing from the pulpit because of the stigma that many charlatans and television preachers have monopolized. But as Christians, we need to understand fully the tithing requirement in the Old Testament and the ratification in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).
- Be a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7)
- Give from a willing heart (Exodus 25:2, 35-35:2, Ezra 2:68)
- Motivated by love and generosity (Luke 21:1-4; 1 Corinthians 13:3)
- Give without telling everyone and their momma (Matthew 6:3-4)
- Give freely (Matthew 10:8)
- Give honestly (Matthew 6:2-4)
When we fail to honor God with grace giving we rob from God (Malachi 3) and we forfeit the blessing promised in Malachi 3:10. If you are attending a church and you’re not tithing, you are taking from the resources and the finances of others. In addition to this, when we tithe our faith is tested and our motives are weighed in the light of our finances.
To claim to have experience thte grace of God in forgiveness and yet to be ungracious is a contradiction of the New Testament truth: Freely you have received, freely give (Matthew 10:8).
Grace giving or tithing is not a formula to gain material goods or wealth. We should not be manipulated or coerced by emotional appeals, customs, or rituals. If you have a pastor who is begging for money, his god is not GOD. Where God guides, He provides.
If you have any questions or concerns or comments, feel free to join the dialogue and add your two cents.
just give. give, give, give. give as your heart feels led. then give more. give even when you don't get a tax write off. just because God placed the money in your hands doesn't mean it is for you. give generously because God has generously given His love, forgiveness, mercy, grace, compassion, and Son to us without limit. He is a generous God; may we reflect His generous nature.
Preach!
Preach it!
Preach it again!
a few years ago, I was in a bible study and the topic was tithing. One woman said it just so beautifully, that I've never forgotten what she said. She said, "When you understand that everything comes from God, all our blessings and all our "things" it's NOT hard to give back. Every thing is HIS and he only asks for 10%"
I can understand it's difficult to advise someone on how much to give and I do agree you need to have a relationship with Jesus Christ, so thru him, God can change your heart desires and make you willing and eager to contribute to HIS kingdom.
That's what my Momma says!!! Maybe it was her 😉
I think of tithing as giving "talents" – talents don't necessarily mean money – what if you don't have money to give, but do have time or a physical talent that could be worth far more than the physical "cash" you might give.
Absolutely! I couldn't agree more 🙂
Sometimes I think of it as spending 10% of my time with people who need to hear about Jesus 🙂
This is so what I NEEDED to hear right now!! I have an aunt that totally "misreads" the scriptures and confuses my mom about giving, and this is what I have been trying to tell her for so long! Thank you, thank you, so much for sharing this. I always told her to give whatever your heart tells you to give. And you are so right that we have to have the personal relantionship with Jesus. Why would we want to cheat Him? and Why this is the big one, my aunt struggles with…why would we expect anything back just because we give? Thanks again B! YOU ROCK my friend =)
Awesome! I'm glad it was helpful 🙂
I do have a question. You said "We should not be manipulated or coerced by emotional appeals, customs, or rituals." I realize this could be ridiculous, but I'm just curious as to what you think on the matter.
My church designates one week a year to purely foreign missions. They deck out the classrooms to look like different countries and have people come through and see why this place or that place needs to hear about the Lord. They have some missionary who is also a fabulous and charismatic speaker come in and tell about what they do. And they also have the college group do a HUGE drama for the weekend services to motivate others to give. It seems to me like the drama is purely an emotional appeal to get others to make a faith promise (You've seen these- People say they'll give so much over the next year. The church counts them then burns them.). Is that wrong?
(If you answered this in the vlog post, I'm so sorry! I don't have audio on my computer (ghetto, I know) so I just based my question off what you wrote)
Hahahahah! It's not ghetto 🙂
Okay, I'm not necessary opposed to what your church is doing exactly, but perhaps it's a bit overboard. Some churches place a HEAVY emphasis on missions. If that's the case then they will probably spend more time/money/effort in raising awareness.
What I'm specifically talking about are pastors who lock the doors and get a "feeling" that someone needs to give $1,000. Or worse, they have a "feeling" that they need $6,000 in tithe. It's such a horrible way of MANinpulating God's people. Other things they do is lay guilt trips about giving and tithing. It's so sad.
If you don't feel comfortable with attending the missions night but you love your church, then perhaps miss that night or [if you're brave] talk to your pastors about it. Maybe they can give good reasons for their actions 🙂
Okay, that makes all the sense in the world. I've never been even remotely hesitant about anything that goes on during missions week. No one does any guilt tripping like you described and the pastors definitely NEVER do the whole "I have a (shakes head while saying) feeeeeeling" thing.
Like you said, my pastor places very intense emphasis on foreign missions, so yes, a lot of time and effort (and, of course, money) are placed there.
Thanks for your insight!
Hey, what are your thoughts on giving to the global "church" versus the building you attend each week? I've found this confusing for years and have never really been given a satisfying answer. : )
Glad the vlog is back…me gusta!
I'm glad you like the vlogs. Sometimes I think I'm lame for even doing them, but I thought it would be fun. Well–at least there's two of us 🙂
GREAT question! Ok, let's get dirrrrrty (yes, I added a lot of r's because Christina Aguilera does it too):
Global church is in a great need. They need resources we have. Why not tithe there?
Well, that padded seat you sit on, the a/c you enjoy in the summer, the heater you enjoy in the winter, the faith adventures and small group coordinators you have access to all are paid by your local church.
Here is my solve-all:
10% of my paycheck goes to my home church. Any additional money I make through writing or speaking, I give to those in need or the global church. I will say, however, sometimes there is a need that arises that I can assist in and I will forgo my home church to meet a need of someone in the church body. I stole that from the book of Acts.
Bottom line:
God's people, God's church, God's money. I try to balance my resources evenly. Does that make sense? Does that help?
Hmmmm, not sure. I guess I hear what you're saying but I wish I could find the Biblical Cliff Note for this. I give to Mariners, Estado 29 (through Mariners), faith adventures for people like you, but mostly the HSers, and also to missionaries with Campus Crusade. I understand that the church itself deserves the commitment from me, but I also feel like we place such a strong emphasis on going out into the world, too. Maybe I need to email God about this one. ; )
Thanks for your attempt to answer me, though!!!
XO
I am a single mom.I barely make enough for me and my son.I dont get child support.I work full time and I home-school full time. I am in debt and I live paycheck to paycheck that it’s been such a long time that I’ve ever bought something nice for me.
I have every “excuse” in the book to not give. YET I still find it in my heart to be able to give. And the more I need, the more I will give.
WHY? it’s because He’s given me freely… How can I not give back? I give because I believe it blesses His heart. I give because it requires faith to give and faith to trust that He will be able to provide for all my needs and my wants.
So far, I’ve received a laptop, an ipod, a blackberry AND 4 free cars – YES FOUR! (and I’ve gotten so much more “needs & wants”.) Again it’s not about getting these things back…. But I share this to show that He is true to His name when He says He is Jehovah Jireh and He WILL provide 🙂
We just gotta trust that He will and give Him what is due Him…after all 10% is all He asks. 🙂
I'm praying fervently for you and your son 🙂
thank you my friend =] i met sarah and alece this weekend. was hoping you were gonna be there….maybe next time! let's grab some portos if you find yourself at this side of LA. =]
I am humbled my friend…just humbled. (Notice how I am now on a one on one friend term…ha!)
To a more serious note…I love that you remind us that "we give because God gives" and this is truly why it's important to walk the walk.
I also appreciated the reminder of the widow who gave what she had. Thank you.
I work for the state so my check comes in at the end of the month…yeap…I stretch it…well, rather the Lord helps me through this. 🙂 I have had months where I am counting the days for the month to end…but God provides. He blesses me in ways that are not always with monetary but with other peoples' kindness. I've adopted my way of seeing things as "let my blessing be your blessing" and it makes me happy. Aside this, my little girl is watching and asking me why I give or why I helped this person….seeing me in "action" teaches her to serve, to give, to love. What better blessing than to see it unfold in my child's life?
On another note, I used to attend a church where the pastor always…and I mean always talked about giving the 10% because if we didn't we were stealing from God. It got to the point where one could be led to feel like we didn't belong their if we weren't giving the 10% plus more. Every time a guest person would come they asked for "help". Every birthday of his they asked for cooperation for a gift. And even for his wife. I always felt a little weird about this. It just didn't sit well. I received a letter not so long ago from them (I was still in their system) where I was being asked to make a commitment of a minimum monthly amount to go towards building the new sanctuary.
Gracias Bianca….for the reminders of God's love and grace in ALL the areas of our lives.
Dios te bendiga…feliz fin de semana!
Keep doing what you're doing!!! God is blessed 🙂
Loved this! Loved your thoughts and advice on tithing! Thank you! You are a blessing to me every single day, Bianca!
Thank you for your comments and thoughts 🙂 You're an encouragement to me daily!
Love the Vlog…no it's not lame…i think they r fun too:) Thanks for the great topic! Very helpful:)
I grew up in a very old school church. Our pastor Rev. Kemple always said God supplies the needs of his Sheppard. He did not have a salary by his choice. He received what was place in the offering plate on the third Sunday of the month only. He often said, "Some of you may be thinking that I did not like his comments about my sin so I will not give on the third Sunday. Follow you conscious but know that God is going to provide for me and my wife if no one puts money in the collection plate because I trust Him and know him." He was there for over 30 years and never changed this. He said tithing and obedience were the vehicle that brought blessings to us. When you hold back the vehicle (tithing), you leave your delivery system non-operational. God did not cancel your blessings you did. He stressed giving the tithe before anything then sharing what is left over after you meet you family’s needs. That has stayed with me all my life
Cassandra, this was brilliant!!! Great words and thoughts from your pastor. What a step of faith!!!
Love you and praying for your schooling!
Give, give, and then give some more. But tithing? No way. Tithing ended at the cross not to mention the fact that The Lord's Tithe was NEVER commanded on anyone's income.
The first time tithe is mentioned in the Bible is Abraham's tithe of pagan spoils of war, and Abraham kept NOTHING for himself. This was NOT an act of worship. Biblical historians agree that it was custom in Abraham's day to give the king a tenth of the war spoils. Furthermore, Abraham made a vow that he would keep none of it. Genesis 14:8-24
The next mention of a tithe is Jacob's VOW to tithe. Jacob set the conditions, not God. Nowhere in The Word does it tell us that Jacob actually tithed. Genesis 28:10-22
Next is The Lord's Tithe. God gave His definition as a tenth of crops and animals which came from God's hand, not man's income. God NEVER commanded anyone to tithe on anything that man made or earned. Leviticus 27:30-33.
The ordinances (instructions, or laws) for The Lord's Tithe are in Numbers 18. God gave strict orders to take His tithe to the Levites. God NEVER changed that command. Anyone who takes God's tithe to anyone other than the Levites is being disobedient to God's Word.
There are others tithes in the Bible such as the Festival Tithe and the Tithe for the Poor. It is The Lord's Tithe that churches pattern their teaching after.
Church leaders ignore God's definition of His tithe, and ignore God's ordinances for His tithe. They change the words to fit their pocket book. This is nothing but manipulation of God's Word. They are false teachers.
The Bible CLEARLY SHOWS that the tithe ENDED at the cross in the Book of Hebrews. In the first nine verses of Hebrews 7 the words tenth or tithes appears SEVEN TIMES. The ONLY place in the Bible, after Calvary, that tithing appears is in Hebrews 7.
In Hebrews 7:5 we are told that Levi (the Levites) took the tithes under the law. In Hebrews 7:12 we are told that when the priesthood changes, the law will change. Hebrews 7:18 is telling us that Numbers 18 was disannulled. Numbers 18 established the Levitical priesthood, and part of that establishing included tithing. When the Levitical priesthood ended (at Calvary, or at least in the year 70AD when the temple was destroyed), all laws that established that priesthood were canceled. If Numbers 18 wasn't canceled, we would still be under the Levitical priesthood.
Those who argue they didn't have money or income then really need to study the scriptures. They had money and wages, even in Genesis. The farmers had income from barter exchanges, and they had markets to buy and sell as proven in Deuteronomy 14:24-26.
Those who argue Malachi 3:8, robbing God, need to start with verse 7. God is talking about His ordinances in Numbers 18 which we learned were disannulled according to Hebrews 7:18. Also, if you start with Malachi 1, you will see that God is speaking to the priests, not the people. The priests robbed God of the tithe (Nehemiah 13) and the priests robbed God of the offerings (Malachi 1).
So I guess the money to support our church's around the world grows on tree's, because if we dont tithe to our church then where does the money come from to pay bills, or to buy those chairs you sit on, our the nice building that blocks the sun from burning you up. Also we need to be careful when twisting the scriptures for our own benefit.
The money comes from free-will giving. There are many churches that do not teach tithing. In fact, not all denominations teach tithing. Tithing on one's income didn't even start in the churches until the second half of the 1800s. No need for pastor to continue the tithing lie.
Loved your video! I love giving- in every sense of the word 🙂 Not just money, but time, my heart, my life, my talents, etc !
Amen amen! Keep it up, Charissa 🙂 We need more people in the church who feel like you!
Gary please note: Luke 18:12 (New International Version)
12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
Hebrews 7:5-8 (New International Version)
5Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, their brothers—even though their brothers are descended from Abraham. 6This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater. 8In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living.
Please note the priests were collecting a tenth or tithe from the people. Giving is what we do above the tithe. Tithing is being obedient to God. He does not need our money. He does ask for our praise and obedience. If we never tithe, God's work would still get done. We do it out of obedience. When in doubt just go straight to God's word.
Ooooooh preach it! This is a great theological discussion and your answers are lovely 🙂
Hebrews 7:5-8 – we must remember that the Book of Hebrews was written after Calvary of course, but BEFORE the Temple was destroyed. Paul had a big problem. The Jewish converts couldn’t understand that they were no longer under the law and they kept taking the tithe to the Levitical priesthood. That is why it says NOW.
You are taking Luke out of context. Let’s look at the verse in its proper context:
Luke 18:10-14 (NIV)
10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Notice the Pharisee is bragging about doing MORE THAN required of the law. The law said to fast ONE a week, not twice a week. The law said to tithe on crops and animals, not of everything. In fact, ONLY crops and animals would have been accepted as a tithe.
Now, who went home justified before God? The Pharisee who bragged about doing more than the law required, or the tax collector?
Great timing for this post, Bianca. Sweet Papa is planning his very first sermon on tithing. Yikes! The church that called my husband to pastor them (9 months ago) is not paying us enough to live on the island with Papa. Our family is separated because of the lack of giving in the church. Many members of the church keep telling me, “We are praying for a miracle.” However, I believe that THEY are supposed to be the miracle … they are supposed to give sacrificially to the needs of the church (and to provide for the pastor which they called to pastor them).
I passed this along to Papa. He says, “Thanks.”
Mama D.
Very awesome article. Truely.
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