Should I Tithe Or Pay My Bills?

[jasonc]

Some people can barley make it from pay check to pay check !

So they should know , or be told to please pay the bills ! God will wait till they are able ..................

Some suggest those on tanf give.if you are on tanf and visit your food pantry or any food bank.please keep your money. You haven't any to spare as you are paying your own aid.I have seen this personally.

 

[brother Paul]

Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's...and render unto God that which is God's

Who's image is on your dollars?

Those who do not meet the needs of their family are worse than infidels....

Tithing is good but there are many ways to tithe in the New Covenant...its all His....

 

[Corn Pop]

satans church and world cannot run without money, its limited by this world and run by this world, its material, just like you cant run your car without petrol, that is why they all hold donation signs, ask for tithes, and pass around a collection plate.

Jesus Christs Church can and does run without money, through the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said come to me all who thirst, I give freely. Freely give, freely recieve. Jesus said come out of her, her sins have reached the heavens.

Jesus Christ is the Word, not someone teaching you there world view and there personal biblical interpretations on scripture, and knowone needs to pay for fellowship.

 

[brother Paul]

The Mosaic Law required the Levitical tithes (Lev 27:30-32; Num 18:21,24), the annual festival tithes (Dt 14:22-27), and tri-annual poor tithes (Dt 14:28-29). The Levitical tithe required all Israelites to give 10% of their increase (crops, fruit, livestock). Most believe this tithe was probably offered sporadically throughout the year not weekly (crops when harvested, fruits when grown, and livestock occasionally).

The poor tithe was unique in that every third year the poor were to take their tithes and purchase the fatted calf and plenty of drinks (even fermented ones) and have a party of thanks and rejoicing and consume it all.

Now then, let me make this clear,,, there was NO weekly tithe commaded NOR did the Israelites gather weekly at the Tabernacle OR Temple and there was no such thing as Synagogue gatherings for the 7th day Sabbath. It's purpose was given because the Levites (priests) received NO earthly support or inheritance from God (they had NO means of support (no food or clothing allowance, stipend, or paychecks). That tithe was to sustain them, and to help with the needs of the poor or sick.

Most of all our priests, and pastors get paid a check or stipend, are provided with living facilities and often even a vehicle. WE then give to the poor as able, AND a portion of our taxes (Caesar does this because we tell and want Caesar to) goes for housing, feeding, and educating the poor (not enough I agree).

There is NO New Covenant obligation to tithe….each week we set aside as we are able and we give cheerfully, and God gives the increase (like the loaves and the fishes, He takes what we can give and He multiplies it). Trust Him!

If you can tithe that is wonderful but not OBLiGATED. DO NOT tithe out of a sense of obligation. If not being able to give a full 10% do not do so out of GUILT or SHAME. He wants you to support your family and give to others. DO NOT make tithing a fast whereby you go without (meaning lacking essentials like food, housing, and so on as if you are following Matthew 6:33 this is one of the ways He provides by getting you in a position and place to have these things)

Big congregations that are convinced to tithe make millionaires out of their Pastorate while many IN the church suffer. I had friends in one (a church of 500 tithing members) when a time of scarcity came they came and asked the board if the church could help save their home by paying a month’s mortgage (they had tithed their middle income for a decade and then the mom got very sick) and they were told if we do this for you we have to do it for all so no. When they lost it and were on the verge of homelessness they were told trust God if this is what you are going through it is for a reason.

Next they insist you tithe to them from Caesar’s’s money (your gross) as well (remember, the Israelites did not even have MONEY).

Look into your heart and do what you can in hard times but remember there is NO obligation…it is NOT a yoke…you have been set free IN CHRIST who fulfilled the LAW.

 

[Warrior4Jesus]

Speaking from experience it is always the case where you are opening the door for God to bless you when you tithe. And it has been said that what you tithe from is what you want God to bless. If you tithe on your Net income then that is what He will bless, but if you tithe on your Gross He will bless that.

There have been many times in my life where this decision came up and it has generally been answered that I should tithe, because you are then giving God the opportunity to bless you. God will provide.

Incidentally, a tithe is not a gift to God, it is giving back what is His that He entrusted to you. It is demonstrating your trust in Him.

This question has always plagued me. If a person chooses to tithe over paying the bill in hopes they will be blessed with more is that not a wrong attitude?. I was always told that you tithe because it's the right thing to do not because of what you might or might not get.

 

[Knotical]

This question has always plagued me. If a person chooses to tithe over paying the bill in hopes they will be blessed with more is that not a wrong attitude?. I was always told that you tithe because it's the right thing to do not because of what you might or might not get.

Right, as I mentioned by tithing even when faced with this choice is putting your financial problems in God's hands. Something to consider is to share your situation with an elder of your church. They may be able to help, depending on your situation. Most churches have a benevolence fund for this very reason.

 

[brother Paul]

Yes

This question has always plagued me. If a person chooses to tithe over paying the bill in hopes they will be blessed with more is that not a wrong attitude?. I was always told that you tithe because it's the right thing to do not because of what you might or might not get.

You do not tithe "to get", nor "get" to tithe...Tithing is great but if and when you cannot God already knew...thats why its called grace....He does not hold our inability to keep the whole of the law against us, nor does He place us under a curse when we fail...its about the heart

 

[Willie T]

I don't live in ancient Israel, so I have taxes already levied by my government agencies (which is, basically, what the "tithe" was). So I don't do an obligatory "tithe."

 

[Knotical]

I don't live in ancient Israel, so I have taxes already levied by my government agencies (which is, basically, what the "tithe" was). So I don't do an obligatory "tithe."

That is not what a tithe was or is. Do you recall the passage where Jesus says "Render unto Ceaser what is Ceaser's." He is not talking about tithe here, he is talking about taxes. Two totally different things. The tithe is what you give back to God's church (not a tax).

 

[brother Paul]

Yes but money is Caesar's...

 

[Knotical]

Yes but money is Caesar's...

No, the Romans may have identified what their empire would use as currency, but the money did not actually belong to Ceasar. He did, however, require everyone pay a tax that would help pay for infrastructure, soldiers' wages, etc...

 

[brother Paul]

Did God create currency and coinage? Was it God's plan to make money the dependent basis of exchange or was His idea goods and work? No! These were devised by fallen man. They are made by man and man uses them to exploit and control other people.

 

[Chopper]

Over the years, I have seen successful tithing. Those people gave a tithe thinking they were being obedient, plus they gave with a joyful heart and God blessed because He saw their heart....I have seen the opposite. These people thought that their financial woes were due to the fact that they did not tithe. Their Pastor counseled them to begin to tithe. They did for quite some time and fell into deep debt. Obviously they stopped tithing before bankruptcy happened.

The only time I tithed was when I was a Pastor of a Church. I did so because my salary was from the Church and the people. I felt so grateful for the funds that I gave back to the Lord according to the tithe....Since then, about 26 years, my Wife and I have not tithed. We pay our monthly obligations, we give to the Church whats in our happy heart to give. We feel that to give out of pressure or obligation is wrong because it's not with a joyful heart that motivates us to give.

There is a particular homeless man who sits outside the Pharmacy I frequent. Sometimes he is outside waiting for a generous person to give him some change. I usually give him at least $10.00. One cold Winter day in November, he was outside. I asked him if he was hurting. He replied that he hadn't eaten in a while. Across the street, there is a main st grill that makes super hamburgers. I gave him $20.00 and sent him to the Grill for some food.

This gentleman was so grateful, I thought he was going to kiss me. That's what giving is all about. I give to Evangelists, Missionaries, and anyone that the Spirit of God lays on my heart. Now, our Lord has met all our needs. There are times when I'm amazed at how the Lord changes our circumstances so that our financial obligations are met. We live in a modest home. We are always "re-modeling" and since we believe that we should not owe man anything but love, we try and maintain this principle.

Tithe? NO. Personally I believe that is Old Covenant obedience to the Law set down for Israel. New Covenant obedience is to the heart of each individual as he/she is led by and walking in the Holy Spirit of God Almighty. Each time we give to the Church and other area's, we are so grateful to our Lord that we have something to give. My Wife and I are so spiritually blessed, that we just keep on the way our hearts guide us.

 

[reba]

the more we learn about you Chopper the more there is to like

 

[th1b.taylor]

Over the years, I have seen successful tithing. Those people gave a tithe thinking they were being obedient, plus they gave with a joyful heart and God blessed because He saw their heart....I have seen the opposite. These people thought that their financial woes were due to the fact that they did not tithe. Their Pastor counseled them to begin to tithe. They did for quite some time and fell into deep debt. Obviously they stopped tithing before bankruptcy happened.

The only time I tithed was when I was a Pastor of a Church. I did so because my salary was from the Church and the people. I felt so grateful for the funds that I gave back to the Lord according to the tithe....Since then, about 26 years, my Wife and I have not tithed. We pay our monthly obligations, we give to the Church whats in our happy heart to give. We feel that to give out of pressure or obligation is wrong because it's not with a joyful heart that motivates us to give.

There is a particular homeless man who sits outside the Pharmacy I frequent. Sometimes he is outside waiting for a generous person to give him some change. I usually give him at least $10.00. One cold Winter day in November, he was outside. I asked him if he was hurting. He replied that he hadn't eaten in a while. Across the street, there is a main st grill that makes super hamburgers. I gave him $20.00 and sent him to the Grill for some food.

This gentleman was so grateful, I thought he was going to kiss me. That's what giving is all about. I give to Evangelists, Missionaries, and anyone that the Spirit of God lays on my heart. Now, our Lord has met all our needs. There are times when I'm amazed at how the Lord changes our circumstances so that our financial obligations are met. We live in a modest home. We are always "re-modeling" and since we believe that we should not owe man anything but love, we try and maintain this principle.

Tithe? NO. Personally I believe that is Old Covenant obedience to the Law set down for Israel. New Covenant obedience is to the heart of each individual as he/she is led by and walking in the Holy Spirit of God Almighty. Each time we give to the Church and other area's, we are so grateful to our Lord that we have something to give. My Wife and I are so spiritually blessed, that we just keep on the way our hearts guide us.

I would not give if I felt obligated. Neither I nor my honey know the percentage and we do not care what we give. We give what we are led to give and when both of us were laid off for or health, we gave as the spirit led and it is amazing but we never come up short. All because God loves the Cheerful Giver. Great post Chopper.

 

[lifeszero]

What should a Christian do?

Is tithing still required? They're other ways you can give to your church, when you don't have money.

Mr OT God accepted, wine, grain, oil, bread, meat (Look in the OT) Why not make a stew that can feed people at the church.

Forward Thinking >>>

 

[Corn Pop]

What should a Christian do?

1 Timothy 5:8

Giving is good, but one must look after there own responsibilities first. How can someone look after another if they cannot look after themselves and there own house.

 

[Corn Pop]

Did God create currency and coinage? Was it God's plan to make money the dependent basis of exchange or was His idea goods and work? No! These were devised by fallen man. They are made by man and man uses them to exploit and control other people.

The evidence is clear money, now called currency, is a way to control the masses and the world. Man has placed a false value on all objects and all human beings to gain power and control, and the sad thing is, people are blind to it. Its the most evil, demonic, beast system ever created from the dawn of time. The whole world has taken its mark.

 

[WIP]

I have given out of a feeling of obligation and I'm glad for it.

One time as I was entering the parking lot of a large department store I saw a fellow sitting on the curb asking for money for food. We don't often see people doing this around here. As I drove past I got this feeling within me that I should help this person but admittedly I tried to shrug it off and tell myself that he was probably a scam. I finished my business and as I came out of the store I got that "feeling" again so I decided that if he was still there I would give him something. He was and just as I opened my wallet I got another "feeling" that I should not look but just give him everything I had in my wallet. The push was so strong I couldn't resist.

On another occasion not that long ago, I was talking to someone about helping the homeless and in course of that conversation it was brought up that there aren't too many around these parts. I made the comment, "How do we find people like that? It's not like they have a sign hanging on their body telling us they are homeless." Two days later my wife and I were entering that same department store I mentioned above and wouldn't you know it, there is a couple sitting along the curb with a sign that they are homeless and needed help! When we came out of the store I felt this need or push to help them so I made a decision that if they were still there I would help them. Just before we went to the store we stopped at my bank so I could get some cash as we were going to another function in a town about 50 miles away. Sure enough they were still there so I gave them half of the cash I got from my bank. My wife commented something about how they might be a scam to which I replied, "We just never know."

 

[Corn Pop]

I have given out of a feeling of obligation and I'm glad for it.

One time as I was entering the parking lot of a large department store I saw a fellow sitting on the curb asking for money for food. We don't often see people doing this around here. As I drove past I got this feeling within me that I should help this person but admittedly I tried to shrug it off and tell myself that he was probably a scam. I finished my business and as I came out of the store I got that "feeling" again so I decided that if he was still there I would give him something. He was and just as I opened my wallet I got another "feeling" that I should not look but just give him everything I had in my wallet. The push was so strong I couldn't resist.

On another occasion not that long ago, I was talking to someone about helping the homeless and in course of that conversation it was brought up that there aren't too many around these parts. I made the comment, "How do we find people like that? It's not like they have a sign hanging on their body telling us they are homeless." Two days later my wife and I were entering that same department store I mentioned above and wouldn't you know it, there is a couple sitting along the curb with a sign that they are homeless and needed help! When we came out of the store I felt this need or push to help them so I made a decision that if they were still there I would help them. Just before we went to the store we stopped at my bank so I could get some cash as we were going to another function in a town about 50 miles away. Sure enough they were still there so I gave them half of the cash I got from my bank. My wife commented something about how they might be a scam to which I replied, "We just never know."

Im not sure what its like where you live so I can only talk about what I know, and, as filthy and disgusting as my nations leadership is, knowone is with excuse because every unemployed citizen has a right to, and can get welfare payments. It might not be much, but its enough to buy food and rent a house shared room.

There is no excuse for anyone to be on the streets begging or without food and a roof over there head. There has always been and is help if they willing to help themselves, yet sadly there are many homeless.

You have to test the spirits. Did Jesus heal bludgers?, or did Jesus heal people in real need, the lame, the blind, the sick who were outcasts on the streets.