You're not blessed because you don't tithe.

[YosefHayim]

Technically I do tithe. But I hate it, and think it's unscriptural.

In fact the only blessing I want is a girlfriend.

EDITED reba

 

[Mike]

You probably could have worded that OP with a little less intensity and left out the bit about the prostitute, but I'm pretty conservative like that.

To your first point, is giving back what's already His and hating it scriptural? Maybe that's not what you meant.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

You probably could have worded that OP with a little less intensity and left out the bit about the prostitute, but I'm pretty conservative like that.

To your first point, is giving back what's already His and hating it scriptural? Maybe that's not what you meant.

Giving 10% of your income to the local church has no scriptural backing.

 

[Not_Now.Soon]

Honestly I think the reason to be against tithing is the same reasons presented to not give to those on the street corners holding up signs for charity. The reasons being attached to the greed of the person asking for money, greed from the person not wanting to give out their resources, possibly also throw in some economic protection perspectives in there, a work ethic to say that the other person shouldn't ask for hand outs, and a few more demeaning perspectives as well used in the reasoning of why they don't give to those on the street, or tithe in church.

But that is not what we are called to do. We are to be generous, and to serve God not money, not wealth. In my opinion if a person holds a perspective that keeps them from being charitable that should be considered very carefully and be suspicious that is is also a poison in our thoughts to lead us away from following God, or the very least lead us to some very judgmental views.

Sorry for the critism. They're my thoughts though.

 

[Not_Now.Soon]

Giving 10% of your income to the local church has no scriptural backing.

If you go to church, aren't you appriaciate of the fellowship, the messages, and the services in general provided? For the pastor to be able to do these things, and for the church building to be in working order, we should support it. A pastor who is noble in his cause will also work outside of the church, to make ends meet and to support the place church is met at. But it will be easier to do his ministering if he can study on the Word, constrained on the people in the church, and on the needs of the community around them, instead of having to do that and find another job on top of it all.

 

[Sparkey]

I'm selfish. Was born that way (so were you).
Many children will say their first word, "Mommy" or "Maaa-maaa-mmmaah".

How sweet. ​

As for ME?
My first word was "GIMME".

What? You expect me to be thankful? To give generously as if I meant it from my brokenhearted thankfulness?

Ha! Don't hold yer breath.
I'm in the maturation process --so what do ya expect? Huh?
Maturity?!? That's not gonna happen. And if it does? It ain't my fault.

SPARROW THOUGHT BUBBLE: . . o O ((Except... except just maybe, there could be ONE way...))
It could happen.
It's a long shot, but possible, remotely possible; maybe.
b/c with God? Nothing is impossible. Not even me, thank God. ​

So there's that.

Being selfish, I needs to takes care of me first.
I needs to guard myself. Me. That's what's important.
So, the other day I was reading the dictionary and I saw a word that I wanted to know a more literal meaning of. The word was "bitterness" and it was defined as 'a sharpness affecting the taste, the feelings, or the mind'. It comes from an old English word that meant 'sharpness to the taste'.
View attachment 7400
Then i remembered reading something about how I was supposed to guard myself. And that does fit with my selfishness quite well. Me, taking care of me. So putting 2 and 2 together meant that I need to WATCH OUT(!) Because if I even think that somebody is doing me wrong? Or if I even think they are thinking about me also? They must be thinking bad, because just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean that I have to be wrong all the time, now does it? but I could become bitter. Not gallingly so, but bitter, none the less.

Resentment could creep in, like a creepy vine and it could creep in underground, unseen and then? UT-OH! Heb 12:15

You know the cure for that poisonous root already. Grace. Treat others with the long-suffering of God. That's how He treats you, now isn't it? Weed out that poison root. Tithe isn't about force giving.

That's like giving your granny a 'duty kiss'. Not even Granny wants that. Yech!

 

[Mike]

Giving 10% of your income to the local church has no scriptural backing.

That wasn't my point. Whatever we give should be given freely; not angrily.

 

[WalterandDebbie]

I'm selfish. Was born that way (so were you).
Many children will say their first word, "Mommy" or "Maaa-maaa-mmmaah".

How sweet. ​

As for ME?
My first word was "GIMME".

What? You expect me to be thankful? To give generously as if I meant it from my brokenhearted thankfulness?

Ha! Don't hold yer breath.
I'm in the maturation process --so what do ya expect? Huh?
Maturity?!? That's not gonna happen. And if it does? It ain't my fault.

SPARROW THOUGHT BUBBLE: . . o O ((Except... except just maybe, there could be ONE way...))
It could happen.
It's a long shot, but possible, remotely possible; maybe.
b/c with God? Nothing is impossible. Not even me, thank God. ​

So there's that.

Being selfish, I needs to takes care of me first.
I needs to guard myself. Me. That's what's important.
So, the other day I was reading the dictionary and I saw a word that I wanted to know a more literal meaning of. The word was "bitterness" and it was defined as 'a sharpness affecting the taste, the feelings, or the mind'. It comes from an old English word that meant 'sharpness to the taste'.
View attachment 7400
Then i remembered reading something about how I was supposed to guard myself. And that does fit with my selfishness quite well. Me, taking care of me. So putting 2 and 2 together meant that I need to WATCH OUT(!) Because if I even think that somebody is doing me wrong? Or if I even think they are thinking about me also? They must be thinking bad, because just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean that I have to be wrong all the time, now does it? but I could become bitter. Not gallingly so, but bitter, none the less.

Resentment could creep in, like a creepy vine and it could creep in underground, unseen and then? UT-OH! Heb 12:15

You know the cure for that poisonous root already. Grace. Treat others with the long-suffering of God. That's how He treats you, now isn't it? Weed out that poison root. Tithe isn't about force giving.

That's like giving your granny a 'duty kiss'. Not even Granny wants that. Yech!

The above statement sounds like you are: I'm selfish, but you also hate the fact that you hate to tithe:
WE do tithe, and we do love it, In giving to God what belongs to him of the 10% of what he has given to us gratefully. Malachi 3:6-18.

But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your. Deut. 8:18

The Cheerful Giver:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+9:6&version=ESV

 

[YosefHayim]

bit about the prostitute

I didn't think my wording would be that offensive, but I'm not sure if you get what I'm feeling.

The typical thought is if you're not tithing, you're not gonna be blessed. My church played a video for a sermon completely about finances. Basically the guy didn't let his daughter date a guy who didn't tithe because he "didn't want his daughter to marry a theif".

Turning it around, if you're putting a price on a person, you might as well make them a prostitute. Because that's what prostitutes are. People that you buy.

As for the giving back to God part, that's not necessarily what I meant.

I guess I could say technically I'm giving myself credit if I think I'm "giving back to God". The birds don't reap or sow, and he hooks them up. We have this illusory system of commerce, and we think we're benefiting God with our abstract concepts applied to material crap that will burn with the rest of the world. For "The flowers fade, but the word of God lives for ever". and "We are not our own". All that I am: it belongs to God. All that I have: it belongs to God. The early Church shared everything as if it was not their own.

It's cool if you're proud of that 10 percent you toss in the bucket. Like Christ said "They have their reward". But don't let your left hand see what your right hand is doing. Your heart, in Christ, should be concerned about giving as much as you can to the glory of God; more than a superficial 10 percent. Like the lady that gave out of her poverty.

 

[YosefHayim]

Honestly I think the reason to be against tithing is the same reasons presented to not give to those on the street corners holding up signs for charity

The thing is,

one is asking for help to stay alive.

The other is asking for mere better cash flow so that they can get some finer coffee and a bigger building.

I don't think the church 501c3 institutional building made with human hands is concerned with staying alive.

 

[Mike]

YosefHayim I think we're probably just misunderstanding each other, and I'll take the blame for that since I misunderstood you first. I remember sitting in a voters meeting at our former church just feeling myself get upset because the president of the congregation was endlessly ranting about out "obligation" to tithe 10%. I called him the next day and more calmly gave him the biblical view of offering freely, openly, and without any expectation of something in return as I understand it.

From my personal experience, giving any amount back is a gift from the Lord, because it has the effect on me of devaluating the importance of money. It's honestly a way of freeing me of any feeling of bandage to money. That may not be clear, but it's the best way I can think to explain it.

I assure you, I am the last person to say that God blesses us and doesn't bless us based on what we give. To me, that heads right down the trail of Word of Faith "name it, claim it" theology. I don't consider anything in this world a blessing except the inner-peace He gives us whether we have little or much. Paul said he'd learn the secret of life, to be content in all circumstances, whether he was with or without. That's what I strive for.

Be blessed.

 

[King Dan of Great the 1st]

Its funny how the church wants 10% of money but not the first 10% of anything else.

Give God the first 10% of everything, but they only accept cold hard cash.

It would be hilarious and i think someone should it, a farmer should take to church 10% of his herd. Take 50 cows to church and let them loose inside , when the pastor asks what on earth they are doing, just say im giving God my first 10% of flock.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

The above statement sounds like you are: I'm selfish, but you also hate the fact that you hate to tithe:
WE do tithe, and we do love it, In giving to God what belongs to him of the 10% of what he has given to us gratefully. Malachi 3:6-18.

But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your. Deut. 8:18

The Cheerful Giver:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2 Corinthians 9:6&version=ESV

Malachi 3:9a;
"You are under a curse-...".
Therefore you are saying that if we don't tithe, then we are under a curse.
And of course, Malachi is talking about an actual tithe according to the Law of Moses.
He's not talking about giving 10% of your income to the local church.

First of all, you tell us that you tithe, which is just what the Pharisees did.
Then you tell us we are under a curse if we don't.
Shame on you.

 

[YosefHayim]

And of course, Malachi is talking about an actual tithe according to the Law of Moses.

I put an envelope in the offering bucket recently. I filled with basil, and wrote the Malachi verse, emphasizing "That there may be food in the storehouse."

 

[Jethro Bodine]

In fact the only blessing I want is a girlfriend.

And you think a tenth of your income is financially burdensome....

So I'm told.
My wife actually costs almost nothing. And she's worth every dime!
(Kidding, of course. )

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I put an envelope in the offering bucket recently. I filled with basil, and wrote the Malachi verse, emphasizing "That there may be food in the storehouse."

And the priest opened it up and said, "you cheap..."

 

[Jethro Bodine]

It would be hilarious and i think someone should it, a farmer should take to church 10% of his herd. Take 50 cows to church and let them loose inside , when the pastor asks what on earth they are doing, just say im giving God my first 10% of flock.

In some churches the pastor won't even notice the extra BS lying around.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

The above statement sounds like you are: I'm selfish, but you also hate the fact that you hate to tithe:
WE do tithe, and we do love it, In giving to God what belongs to him of the 10% of what he has given to us gratefully. Malachi 3:6-18.

But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your. Deut. 8:18

The Cheerful Giver:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2 Corinthians 9:6&version=ESV

When I did tithe I LOVED IT!
It was a joy to give sacrificially.
Hope to work my way back up to that again.
Not because we have to, but because it's a good benchmark for giving.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Care about people and you'll give your money to help them.

A couple of months ago a young man was checking out in front of me at Aldi's Market. He looked like he was probably a student (I live in a college town). He only had a handful of things and he had to put a couple of things back because he didn't have enough money. I asked the cashier how much he needed. She said 3 bucks. I got my wallet out and gave her the ten I had and I said to cover it with this. I was unloading my basket onto the counter expecting to receive some change back when she finished the transaction. I almost said something when she gave him the change, but something seemed to stop me. He left the store and I was happy knowing he probably needed the change too. Maybe somewhere down the road he will remember the measure of grace extended to him and he will thank God for it, and extend that same grace to someone else.

Don't tell my wife I did this.

Oh, by the way. When I got out to the van I realized I had exactly 3 dollars in my pants pocket. I'm glad I forgot it was there.

 

[Blake]

By all means, put some money in the collection plate, if you like to see the lights stay on and the water running. But fulfill your spiritual "tithe" by following Jethro's example. There are always opportunities that present themselves -- if not, pray that they do. God has always been faithful, ALWAYS, to lead someone my way who needs some help. You can really blow their minds sometimes when you know in faith that God is sending them, you see them coming, and you bless them before they ask and let them know God has His eye on them and loves them.