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Desire to be a vessel of honor unto the Lord Jesus Christ?
Join Hidden in Him and For His Glory for discussions on how
https://christianforums.net/threads/become-a-vessel-of-honor-part-2.112306/
Should I Tithe Or Pay My Bills?
- Thread starter iLOVE
- Start date
Corban was a gift to God I reckon much like our tithe, at least in their thinking. We read in Mar 7:11. But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me.
I could have helped my mother and father in their need, but I decided to give a gift unto God instead. Next example might be is that I pray to have my needs met, God supplies that to me, I tithe using that which I might meet my obligations, and I don’t pay the electric bill and the power is turned off.
- Sep 11, 2012
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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.
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.
dianegcook
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- Sep 13, 2012
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:biggrin
Wrg1405
Member
- Jan 4, 2016
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Personally and I say that cause some of what I may say will be from personal experience.
I agree that we should give back to God what is his but also what we feel he is saying to us what to give.
I feel we need to be led by God here and not necessarily what we are taught.
When I joined the church I'm in now I had left a trail of debt behind me, to catalogue companies, credit card company's a dentist and a few friends. I bought a flat that I could not keep up the payments on and had a debt of £40,000. Debt total was about £70,000.
When I sought counselling I was advised by an elder to tithe 10% gross via gift aid on a contract for 3 years, this was honouring to God and he would deal with my finances. That I did. After 3 years I was more in debt. This really hacked me off, I got a downer on God. I did pray about it and I clearly felt God say to me "Call that dentist apologise and offer to pay his bill, call the catalogue company and offer to pay for that piano you bought, ask if you can reach a payment plan, do the same with your friends, call the credit card companies and do the same"
I did that and things started to happen, as I was paying the pittance I could afford God started to provide for me in other areas, I got cheap rent accommodation that released more money, I got gifts of what one would call luxuries like my favourite aftershave or a ticket for a football match. Bonuses at work that contributed to the debts. Soon the piano was paid off, the dentist was paid off, friends were paid off, credit card bills were reducing and therefor the interest.
Now to the biggie, the £40,000 debt. This was as a result of repossession. I was tracked down and agreed a settlement plan, after about 6 months they really tried to ramp up the payments, way beyond what I could afford.
I had just got engaged and was devastated that I had this debt, we would not be able a house. My beautiful wife understood. So we agreed we would rent.
One day God said to me and this is no lie I promise, "Call the mortgage company and ask what they would settle for in terms of full payment" I said "Yeh good idea it will be £40,000" God said "Just do as I ask"
I called and was told we will get back to you. Within a week I got a settlement offer. It was for £4,000 pounds. That is 10% of what I owed can you believe that? Please do cause it's true.
Work lent me the money and then 6 months later wrote it off. When I got married we were living with the inlaws while looking to rent as we knew we could not go for a mortgage due to credit history problems. Long story short we tried for a mortgage in the vain hope and hey presto we were given one. Apparently because we paid off debt that due and was meeting the payments on the credit cards we could have a mortgage.
I think I honoured God by seeking what he said I should do concerning finances and that was to be honourable to those that I owed. If I neglected that as a believer what honour would I bring to him.
That leads me to my next thoughts.
I am an accountant but am the finance director of a company. There were a couple of people who were self employed in my church who needed help. When I looked at their books as well as personal expenditure I noticed that they were tithing to the Church yet not paying their business bills. When I raised my thoughts that this was wrong they refused to listen and said that they must give to the church. Long story short they went bankrupt which I helped them through. Worse for me was that they left a lot of workers in the same situation. They left workers who could not put food on the table cause the employer was busy giving money to God.
Sorry that is not right and not honouring.
Now to finish.
Over the last 7 years or so as our finances have improved despite 4 kids my wife and I set a tithe aside to the church. When we get extra income we ask God what to do with it. He generally give us the same thoughts. Whether we have given money, or bought a washing machine within a week or two we have had it back plus some.
In December we prayed and felt God asked us to give to a migrant outreach in France which someone in our church was setting up. We agreed on £450. So I said ok I'll pay it next week when I get paid. Three days later one of my employees who we gave (and said its a gift) £500 to 3 years earlier came to me with an envelope and said thank you for loving us, we will never forget and we want to give you the £500 back. God is good.
We gave the £450 to the charity and as my wife asked me what should we do with the £50 left I felt God say "Treat your family to a Chinese takeaway" that's a luxury for us.
I have stuff I could tell you but after reading my post I see I have gone on a bit.
Sorry but I hope it makes sense and helps.
Bill
I agree that we should give back to God what is his but also what we feel he is saying to us what to give.
I feel we need to be led by God here and not necessarily what we are taught.
When I joined the church I'm in now I had left a trail of debt behind me, to catalogue companies, credit card company's a dentist and a few friends. I bought a flat that I could not keep up the payments on and had a debt of £40,000. Debt total was about £70,000.
When I sought counselling I was advised by an elder to tithe 10% gross via gift aid on a contract for 3 years, this was honouring to God and he would deal with my finances. That I did. After 3 years I was more in debt. This really hacked me off, I got a downer on God. I did pray about it and I clearly felt God say to me "Call that dentist apologise and offer to pay his bill, call the catalogue company and offer to pay for that piano you bought, ask if you can reach a payment plan, do the same with your friends, call the credit card companies and do the same"
I did that and things started to happen, as I was paying the pittance I could afford God started to provide for me in other areas, I got cheap rent accommodation that released more money, I got gifts of what one would call luxuries like my favourite aftershave or a ticket for a football match. Bonuses at work that contributed to the debts. Soon the piano was paid off, the dentist was paid off, friends were paid off, credit card bills were reducing and therefor the interest.
Now to the biggie, the £40,000 debt. This was as a result of repossession. I was tracked down and agreed a settlement plan, after about 6 months they really tried to ramp up the payments, way beyond what I could afford.
I had just got engaged and was devastated that I had this debt, we would not be able a house. My beautiful wife understood. So we agreed we would rent.
One day God said to me and this is no lie I promise, "Call the mortgage company and ask what they would settle for in terms of full payment" I said "Yeh good idea it will be £40,000" God said "Just do as I ask"
I called and was told we will get back to you. Within a week I got a settlement offer. It was for £4,000 pounds. That is 10% of what I owed can you believe that? Please do cause it's true.
Work lent me the money and then 6 months later wrote it off. When I got married we were living with the inlaws while looking to rent as we knew we could not go for a mortgage due to credit history problems. Long story short we tried for a mortgage in the vain hope and hey presto we were given one. Apparently because we paid off debt that due and was meeting the payments on the credit cards we could have a mortgage.
I think I honoured God by seeking what he said I should do concerning finances and that was to be honourable to those that I owed. If I neglected that as a believer what honour would I bring to him.
That leads me to my next thoughts.
I am an accountant but am the finance director of a company. There were a couple of people who were self employed in my church who needed help. When I looked at their books as well as personal expenditure I noticed that they were tithing to the Church yet not paying their business bills. When I raised my thoughts that this was wrong they refused to listen and said that they must give to the church. Long story short they went bankrupt which I helped them through. Worse for me was that they left a lot of workers in the same situation. They left workers who could not put food on the table cause the employer was busy giving money to God.
Sorry that is not right and not honouring.
Now to finish.
Over the last 7 years or so as our finances have improved despite 4 kids my wife and I set a tithe aside to the church. When we get extra income we ask God what to do with it. He generally give us the same thoughts. Whether we have given money, or bought a washing machine within a week or two we have had it back plus some.
In December we prayed and felt God asked us to give to a migrant outreach in France which someone in our church was setting up. We agreed on £450. So I said ok I'll pay it next week when I get paid. Three days later one of my employees who we gave (and said its a gift) £500 to 3 years earlier came to me with an envelope and said thank you for loving us, we will never forget and we want to give you the £500 back. God is good.
We gave the £450 to the charity and as my wife asked me what should we do with the £50 left I felt God say "Treat your family to a Chinese takeaway" that's a luxury for us.
I have stuff I could tell you but after reading my post I see I have gone on a bit.
Sorry but I hope it makes sense and helps.
Bill
Deborah13
Member
- Nov 30, 2012
- 14,684
- 1,936
When we have BILLS and absolute NEEDS we have made a promise to pay them. I do not believe that it is showing Christians to be honest and trustworthy witnesses for God if we don't pay our bills or pay them late. If we don't take care of our own families needs we are as the infidel/pagan.
So it is an individual, prayerful decision as to when we give and how much we give. It should always be with a joyful heart and without compulsion. 2 Corinth. 9
So it is an individual, prayerful decision as to when we give and how much we give. It should always be with a joyful heart and without compulsion. 2 Corinth. 9
iLOVE
Member
- Oct 4, 2012
- 4,708
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- Thread starter
- #7
The composition:Corban was a gift to God I reckon much like our tithe, at least in their thinking. We read in Mar 7:11. But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me.
I could have helped my mother and father in their need, but I decided to give a gift unto God instead. Next example might be is that I pray to have my needs met, God supplies that to me, I tithe using that which I might meet my obligations, and I don’t pay the electric bill and the power is turned off.
The Pharisees made it a practice of claiming they were giving their material possessions to the Temple, which absolved them of responsibility toward their parents, with a crooked Priest then giving it back to them for a small percentage. This is what Jesus was addressing. They were teaching and twisting the Word of God for their own pecuniary gain. By claiming their material possessions had been given to God and, therefore, could not be used for support of their parents, they made God a part of their lie. Consequently, their sin was compounded. They were making "profit" by the recitation of God's Word, hence, the phrase, "Profited by Me."
Yes I believe you're right, and hopefully I didn't give the idea I thought the Tithe and Corban were the same.
Wrg1405
Member
- Jan 4, 2016
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I think one of the problems we have today is buy now pay later. Put it on the card or take a loan. Problem is that the interest charged just adds more problem to the borrower which compounds the debt. I'm sure somewhere in the Old Testament lending was not an issue as such but leading and its repayment was to be done with a fair rate of return (please correct me if I am wrong)
The thing today is that all, whether Christians or non Christians can fall foul of this culture of buy now pay later.
Truth is that as Christians we should know better, God will meet all our needs but he never promised to meet all our wants. When we go against that he does not say "Tough your own your own" I think he says "Ok you got it wrong we can deal with it, will you trust me?
If we say yes he will work in the circumstances we are in, and bring honour to him.
The thing today is that all, whether Christians or non Christians can fall foul of this culture of buy now pay later.
Truth is that as Christians we should know better, God will meet all our needs but he never promised to meet all our wants. When we go against that he does not say "Tough your own your own" I think he says "Ok you got it wrong we can deal with it, will you trust me?
If we say yes he will work in the circumstances we are in, and bring honour to him.
- Apr 22, 2011
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Paul in Galatians 2:19 did not say the law was dead; he said he was dead to the law. In other words the law had no authority over him because he was under grace and law and grace cannot mix, Galatians 2:21. The law is not dead as some teach. You can live under the Law if you choose, but Galatians 3:10-13 states the law is very much alive, so alive that it carries a curse with it if violated trying to live by it.
Paul never taught tithing, in truth he taught against it. Tithing is not for the born-again believer today. Tithing was incorporated into the law given to Moses, Leviticus 27:26-34. The same law where circumcision was incorporated into, Lev. 12:1-8. We do not circumcise or sacrifice animals according to the law, so why do we tithe. Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes. Galatians 3:10-13 for as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse and man is not justified by the law in the sight of God, but Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law.
When you tithe, if you do not tithe correctly according to the law you will be cursed with a curse, Malachi 3:8, 9. If you tithe correctly you will get blessings poured out upon you, Malachi 3:10. The blessings are not just all about money for there are many different types of blessings. In truth, if you tithe correctly the blessings of God would be overflowing in your life. Some of you, like myself, have been tithing and tithing and nothing has changed in your life. If the way tithing has been taught by man than all the ministries that have been teaching tithing for years should have so much money they would not have enough room to store it all and the banks would be overflowing with all the money you should be receiving by the way man has taught us for years.
Tithing has never been taught to be money in the scriptures. Tithing has put people under bondage and a lot of people need to be set free from the bondage law of 10%. Most people cannot afford to give 10% of their paycheck. They would not have time to count out 10% of all their perishable and nonperishable food items and bring them into Gods storehouse. The laws given to Moses in Leviticus 27 required all this. The storehouses that God was talking about was storing up food to feed the priest and scribes in the temple so they could be about those things of the Lord and not have to worry about what they should eat or how to provide food for themselves.
You can give 10% when you know the truth. When you do not know the truth and you are tithing because you are told to tithe this is called tithing under the Old Testament law. God does not honor this today. Just because we do not know the truth, this does not change God's word. We have all tithed. To this day has anybody ever showed you in the Bible where tithing is money? You have just taken mans word for it all these years.
Paul never taught tithing, in truth he taught against it. Tithing is not for the born-again believer today. Tithing was incorporated into the law given to Moses, Leviticus 27:26-34. The same law where circumcision was incorporated into, Lev. 12:1-8. We do not circumcise or sacrifice animals according to the law, so why do we tithe. Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes. Galatians 3:10-13 for as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse and man is not justified by the law in the sight of God, but Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law.
When you tithe, if you do not tithe correctly according to the law you will be cursed with a curse, Malachi 3:8, 9. If you tithe correctly you will get blessings poured out upon you, Malachi 3:10. The blessings are not just all about money for there are many different types of blessings. In truth, if you tithe correctly the blessings of God would be overflowing in your life. Some of you, like myself, have been tithing and tithing and nothing has changed in your life. If the way tithing has been taught by man than all the ministries that have been teaching tithing for years should have so much money they would not have enough room to store it all and the banks would be overflowing with all the money you should be receiving by the way man has taught us for years.
Tithing has never been taught to be money in the scriptures. Tithing has put people under bondage and a lot of people need to be set free from the bondage law of 10%. Most people cannot afford to give 10% of their paycheck. They would not have time to count out 10% of all their perishable and nonperishable food items and bring them into Gods storehouse. The laws given to Moses in Leviticus 27 required all this. The storehouses that God was talking about was storing up food to feed the priest and scribes in the temple so they could be about those things of the Lord and not have to worry about what they should eat or how to provide food for themselves.
You can give 10% when you know the truth. When you do not know the truth and you are tithing because you are told to tithe this is called tithing under the Old Testament law. God does not honor this today. Just because we do not know the truth, this does not change God's word. We have all tithed. To this day has anybody ever showed you in the Bible where tithing is money? You have just taken mans word for it all these years.
- Dec 11, 2010
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Just to clear it up for me, what exactly is a tithe? And please don't just say it is giving to the Lord for that is what I'm trying to understand. Is it giving to the collection plate during the Sunday service? Is it giving to the beggar on the street? Is it giving to one's favorite charitable cause or specific types of charitable causes? Is it donating used clothing to the poor or less fortunate? Is it giving one's time to a soup kitchen or similar? Is it giving money or time or other resources toward spreading the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
- Apr 22, 2011
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Tithing is taught by man to be 10% of your gross net profit given to the church, but never taught in scripture to be money. We are instructed in Matthew 25:34-40 to give from the heart. Yes, it takes money to operate a building (church) as everyone knows and we are to give our best gifts from the heart. Offerings we give need to be allotted for the main functioning of the building as in upkeep and utilities, help support the Pastors financial needs (not wants) and to help others that need our help whether they attend your church or not.
Wrg1405
Member
- Jan 4, 2016
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I have a standing order to the church which I give to the church for the purposes that for_his_glory mentions.
My wife and I also give financially above this but not to the church but to those that we feel God had asked us to give to. It may be someone in the church or not, in fact I have given to someone that I didn't want to but God asked me to so I have done.
We also give to charities Christian & non Christian.
Above that we give our time, I act as deputy manager (ensuring smooth running of the service of the service concerning security, health and safety and so on) my wife runs the youth work. We lead a midweek group. So we give off our time.
I don't like the word tithe, in today's church I think it has been distorted to mean finances and nothing more.
The church forgets the likes of me and my wife who both work, have four kids yet give of our time over and above. The same for those of you who do the same. Please note I'm not looking for recognition and I'm sure your not. We do it because we love God, want to bless his church and others.
So to me everything we give is the whole package, money, time, effort, prayer, spending time with others, texting a friend in need, checking in.
Everything we have is from God and is God's. He has given it to us to use for his purpose and glory.
We should seek him on how he wants us to use it.
My wife and I also give financially above this but not to the church but to those that we feel God had asked us to give to. It may be someone in the church or not, in fact I have given to someone that I didn't want to but God asked me to so I have done.
We also give to charities Christian & non Christian.
Above that we give our time, I act as deputy manager (ensuring smooth running of the service of the service concerning security, health and safety and so on) my wife runs the youth work. We lead a midweek group. So we give off our time.
I don't like the word tithe, in today's church I think it has been distorted to mean finances and nothing more.
The church forgets the likes of me and my wife who both work, have four kids yet give of our time over and above. The same for those of you who do the same. Please note I'm not looking for recognition and I'm sure your not. We do it because we love God, want to bless his church and others.
So to me everything we give is the whole package, money, time, effort, prayer, spending time with others, texting a friend in need, checking in.
Everything we have is from God and is God's. He has given it to us to use for his purpose and glory.
We should seek him on how he wants us to use it.
Wrg1405
Member
- Jan 4, 2016
- 1,970
- 1,641
Short answer:
A Christian who does not pay their bills is not a Christian, are they?
Long Answer:
Read post 5.
Just wanted to check, do you think I have said that a Christian who does not pay their bills are not a Christian?
If so I'm sorry as that is something I have not meant to convey.
iLOVE
Member
- Oct 4, 2012
- 4,708
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- Thread starter
- #20
It takes faith to tithe (gross). Every time you get paid are you going to believe that God’s Word works...that 90 percent with God’s blessing goes further than 100 percent without?
1. Faith without works is dead. James 2:14-26 NKJV
2. Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test? 2 Corinthians 13:5 NIV
What test is used in the bible to see if you are in faith?
Answer...Luke 16:9-13 Christians are tested with the least in the Kingdom of God which is money.
1. Faith without works is dead. James 2:14-26 NKJV
2. Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test? 2 Corinthians 13:5 NIV
What test is used in the bible to see if you are in faith?
Answer...Luke 16:9-13 Christians are tested with the least in the Kingdom of God which is money.
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