Should I Tithe Or Pay My Bills?

[Knotical]

The thing about tithing is that it does not always have to be about whatever currency your country is using. If you look back into the Old Testament the Hebrews/Isrealites were not tithing with currency, but with the things they produced. Livestock, produce, etc...

Yes, eventually when coinage was instituted as a currency it was also used for tithing, but God wants us to tithe out of the provision He gives us. Most often now-a-days we think of it as money, but that is not what God is wanting us to focus on. It is giving something back (usually a 10th) so that we learn not to live beyond our means.

 

[Pizza]

The thing about tithing ............ so that we learn not to live beyond our means.

Hmmmmm. That is not what most of us are taught, Hmmmmmmmmm.

 

[th1b.taylor]

Hmmmmm. That is not what most of us are taught, Hmmmmmmmmm.

It's not what the Spirit has shown me from the scriptures and it is not the way I have lived these past twenty-six years, either Pizza.

 

[Knotical]

So, you all are not taught to be good stewards with what God has entrusted you with?

 

[th1b.taylor]

So, you all are not taught to be good stewards with what God has entrusted you with?

You didn't quote nor did you tag me but I'm going to assume since it folows my post. That is a far. far. stretch to get your conclusion, it is almost but not quite insulting to a man that has never paid less than the, so called for, tithe. And the Spirit leads me and I'll bet He leads Pizza on what and where to place is funds.

 

[iLOVE]

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.

And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. Hebrews 7:8 NKJV

 

[iLOVE]

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 >>>

The People Don’t Respect God
6 The Lord All-Powerful said, “Children honor their fathers. Servants honor their masters. I am your Father, so why don’t you honor me? I am your master, so why don’t you respect me? You priests don’t respect my name.
“But you say, ‘What have we done that shows we don’t respect your name?’

7 “You bring unclean bread to my altar.
“But you ask, ‘What makes that bread unclean?’
“It is unclean because you show no respect for the altar of the Lord. 8 You bring blind animals as sacrifices, and that is wrong. You bring sick and crippled animals for sacrifices, and that is wrong. Try giving those sick animals as a gift to your governor. Would he accept those sick animals? No, he would not accept them.” This is what the Lord All-Powerful said.

9 “Now try asking God to be good to you. But he will not listen to you, and it is all your fault.” This is what the Lord All-Powerful said.
10 “I wish one of you would close the Temple doors to stop the lighting of useless fires on my altar. I am not pleased with you. I will not accept your gifts.” This is what the Lord All-Powerful said.
11 “People all around the world respect my name. All around the world they bring good gifts to me and burn good incense as a gift to me, because my name is important to all of them.” This is what the Lord All-Powerful said.

12 “But you people show that you don’t respect my name. You say that the Lord’s altar is unclean. And you don’t like the food from that altar. 13 You smell the food and refuse to eat it. You say it is bad. Then you bring sick, crippled, and hurt animals to me. You try to give sick animals to me as sacrifices, but I will not accept them.” This is what the Lord All-Powerful said. 14 “Some people have good, male animals that they could give as sacrifices, but don’t. Some people bring good animals and promise to give those healthy animals to me. But then they secretly exchange those good animals and give me sick animals instead. Bad things will happen to those people. I am the Great King and people all around the world respect me!” This is what the Lord All-Powerful said. Malachi 1 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

Giving God your leftovers and not making Him FIRST will disconnect you from the Cross. Followers of Jesus Christ can not have one foot in the kingdom and one foot in the world. What is the greatest commandment?

As you have read in Malachi 1 God has said give your Governor your junk and your leftovers. I am a great King!

 

[Wrg1405]

We are generally taught to give a 10th as people take this percentage from the Old Testament.
I read some work by Jewish Historian & Biblical Historian Alfred Edersheim concerning the tithe. If you look at all the tithes/offerings that were to be given then this would have amounted to 25% off what they had.

Not everyone gave, the poor didn't. In fact they received from what was given.

I think the 10% we have today is taken from the command to give off the first fruit offerings of the land.

The concept of tithing was not even part of the early New Testament Church. This concept of started to be introduced into the Church when Constantine was emperor.

The early Church did not do away with giving but encouraged giving according to what one had, with the right motives and what was on their heart.

2 Corinthians 9:6-9
The Cheerful GiverBut this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written:
“He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever.”

We are to give what ever God has asked us to give, both financially, time, possessions.

Anyway that's my 2 pence worth. I wonder what percentage that is off my income :0

 

[iLOVE]

We are generally taught to give a 10th as people take this percentage from the Old Testament.
I read some work by Jewish Historian & Biblical Historian Alfred Edersheim concerning the tithe. If you look at all the tithes/offerings that were to be given then this would have amounted to 25% off what they had.

Not everyone gave, the poor didn't. In fact they received from what was given.

I think the 10% we have today is taken from the command to give off the first fruit offerings of the land.

The concept of tithing was not even part of the early New Testament Church. This concept of started to be introduced into the Church when Constantine was emperor.

The early Church did not do away with giving but encouraged giving according to what one had, with the right motives and what was on their heart.

2 Corinthians 9:6-9
The Cheerful GiverBut this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written:
“He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever.”

We are to give what ever God has asked us to give, both financially, time, possessions.

Anyway that's my 2 pence worth. I wonder what percentage that is off my income :0

Read Hebrews 7

 

[Wrg1405]

Read Hebrews 7

Your point being?

 

[iLOVE]

Your point being?

Hebrews 7 states that Lord Jesus Christ is our High Priest who lives forever. He receives your tithes in heaven. Tithe means 10% gross. If you give 10% net, it is considered leftovers and He will not accept...see post #47.

 

[iLOVE]

Hebrews 7 states that Lord Jesus Christ is our High Priest who lives forever. He receives your tithes in heaven. Tithe means 10% gross. If you give 10% net, it is considered leftovers and He will not accept...see post #47.

The word of God always say bring the tithe. It never says give because you can't give what does not belong to you. Give means offering. According to the bible there is only two things you can do with a tithe - You can bring it to Gods house or you can steal it.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21 NIV

 

[iLOVE]

While the tithe is mandatory, the offering is voluntary. We determine the amount of the offering, and it is from the heart. But an offering is never an offering until we have given the full tithe. We must first give what God expects, and then we can give over and above that expectation to reflect a heart of love, gratitude, and rejoicing. If we don't give to God out of obedience and gratitude, it shows that something is wrong with our hearts.

 

[Wrg1405]

Hebrews 7 states that Lord Jesus Christ is our High Priest who lives forever. He receives your tithes in heaven. Tithe means 10% gross. If you give 10% net, it is considered leftovers and He will not accept...see post #47.

Sorry but I'm not getting that. Yes Abraham gave 10% but of what? Only the spoils of war.

The book of Hebrews is comparing the Old Covenant and the New, demonstrating that we have a totally different and better relation to God than men under the Law of Moses. The discussion of tithing in Hebrews chapter 7 was only included to prove that the priesthood of Melchizedek was superior to the Levitical priesthood. By proving that point the writer would also prove that Jesus is superior to the priests of the Old Covenant because Psalm 110:4 had prophesied that he would be a priest forever, “after the order of Melchizedek.” That was the ultimate purpose of the argument, to prove that Jesus was greater than the Old Covenant priests.

Tithing is part of the comparison and the argument because the tribe of Levi was symbolically in the loins of their great-grandfather Abraham when he met Melchiz-edek and gave him a tithe. Therefore it can be said that Levi paid a tithe to Melchizedek and received a blessing from him. Paying the tithe to Melchizedek and receiving the blessing from him are both considered by the writer of Hebrews to be proof that Melchizedek was greater than Levi and all the Old Covenant priests, which came from the tribe of Levi. (Heb. 7:1–17)

Hebrews 7 is part of a theological argument that Jesus is a greater high priest than the high priest of the Old Covenant and that we are living in a completely different spiritual system in the New Covenant. Tithing was only included as part of the comparison between Melchizedek and the Old Covenant priests. Hebrews 7 is not a description of tithing or giving by Christians in the early days of the church. It cannot be used to support the statement that tithing was “after the Law.” It is not an instruction to tithe. It is not a suggestion to tithe. It is not even a comment on tithing in the New Covenant.

I don't think you will find the words tithe in any other book in the NT after the Gospels.

 

[iLOVE]

I don't think you will find the words tithe in any other book in the NT after the Gospels.

Hebrews 7:8 NKJV
8 Here mortal men receive tithes, but there He receives them, of whom it is witnessed that He lives.

In other words...I put my tithe in the box, mortal men take it out. But there He receives my tithe. Jesus Himself!

 

[Knotical]

You didn't quote nor did you tag me but I'm going to assume since it folows my post. That is a far. far. stretch to get your conclusion, it is almost but not quite insulting to a man that has never paid less than the, so called for, tithe. And the Spirit leads me and I'll bet He leads Pizza on what and where to place is funds.

Does God not call us to be good stewards? Tithing is just part of it. Another part is to not live beyond our means. Basically, be wise with what He has entrusted to us. We are not to squander what we are given. Though, if we look at the example of the Prodigal son we see that He will welcome us back with open arms should we happen to get into a mess, yet turn around, admit we were wrong and ask His forgiveness.

Isn't it interesting how everything Jesus spoke about leads back to the very same thing? Salvation.

 

[Chopper]

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

Thank you. I could definitely say the same kind words right back to you, Dear Reba....Here's a Valentine hug for you

 

[Chopper]

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.

Thanks Bill. Your reply reminded me of when I was the Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Turners Falls, MA. The parsonage was just down the Street from the church building. That situation was a magnet for honest folk that needed a little financial help, and free-loaders looking for a hand out. There were times that I gave out of my wallet more than I gave to the Church.

 

[th1b.taylor]

Does God not call us to be good stewards? Tithing is just part of it. Another part is to not live beyond our means. Basically, be wise with what He has entrusted to us. We are not to squander what we are given. Though, if we look at the example of the Prodigal son we see that He will welcome us back with open arms should we happen to get into a mess, yet turn around, admit we were wrong and ask His forgiveness.

Isn't it interesting how everything Jesus spoke about leads back to the very same thing? Salvation.

Oh boy, you can begin such a war on words with that last sentence. Personally, I pray it does not start and derail this string but I will not go there at all. Tithing is not a salvation issue. Other than Abraham tithing a tenth of the spoils i don't recall the ten percent being a requirement.

And then as Chopper has pointed out here and in a few other strings, give because you feel the obligation and nothing goes into your Heavenly Treasure Box. God, the owner of everything does not need me or my money, setting a great precedent for we, who are to daily be conformed to Him.

The Father has awarded to me that I, likewise, can give to others, money, salvation, skills... everything. My wife, the Baptist Deacon's daughter has lived her entire life this way and I have lived this way, long before I was converted and just as I see the Ever Faithful Hand of God throughout my past I find Him right here every time I need Him. Over and over He saved my life at war and over and over we have had the money to pay our bills though we gave when it was needed elsewhere for the work our God has laid out.

What you are suggesting here is works based salvation and I will never try to cast Jesus into File Thirteen this way. Salvation and the maintenance thereof is entirely up to Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Now, when we come to God, He requires very little of us, confession with the mouth and repentance, that's all. AS for the record, ten percent has never covered what I have written on my check to the church and since My wife and I submit to our LORD we give, joyfully, whatever the Holy Spirit leads us to give and that ain't never been no paltry ten percent. WE open the pocket book and He takes what we need to give because when we give to Him there is no obligation... there is love and joy. And that is good stewardship. Giving because it is obligated is duty and duty is work and work is one of those four letter words when it is not performed with a joyful heart.

I pray God blesses your life with the joy He has blessed this family with.

 

[th1b.taylor]

Thanks Bill. Your reply reminded me of when I was the Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Turners Falls, MA. The parsonage was just down the Street from the church building. That situation was a magnet for honest folk that needed a little financial help, and free-loaders looking for a hand out. There were times that I gave out of my wallet more than I gave to the Church.

Ditto Chopper, it must be a veteran thing to love the God that once saved our bacon on a daily basis.