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What do you do when you can't?
I have tried to be faithful in tithing and even to the point where I would be down to my last few dollars hoping to make it stretch for a couple more days. Even when it meant doing without basic things like food or gasoline to make it to work.
My question is this: Will God be angry if we miss a tithe or cut back because of financial distress?
We have a family situation that requires the funds to pay for medical expenses.
Will God judge me or be angry with me for not paying a tithe or cutting back?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on
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Michelle,
I do not believe that tithing is a New Covenant command. We are instructed to be cheerful givers and this implies generous. If you have to choose between paying for a medical procedure or giving to the church this month you pay for the medical procedure unless the Holy Spirit convicts you otherwise.
Lord Bless,
LT
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Michelle,
You are welcome and the appreciation goes both way :-)
Lord Bless,
LT
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Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on
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Hello my beautiful sister Mich,
First and foremost I am certain that tithing is an excellent practice by those that do it to establish a good habit/practice of giving and/or by the leading of the Holy Spirit and not manipulations of men who infused fear to the hearers, to move them to practice tithing.
I do not believe we should use Malachi chapter 3 to teach that tithing is for the NT believers.. Israel was a Theocracy. We have dual citizenship and pay taxes to our government and give to the church according to the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We must understand that is better to give than to receive.
The issue of giving is not in question here. There are too many verses calling us to practice giving to enumerate them here, so giving is not in question. The true biblical basis for the New Testament believer to tithe IS what I am addressing here and beloved sister, there is no such basis found for new testament believers to practice tithing as a command.
Malachi 3:8-12.
Is it hermeneutically (according to the laws of interpretation/translation) correct to apply those verses to today's church, in view of the historical context involving those verses? In other words, keeping those verses in context can we apply them to us? Some will immediately say, of course, the whole bible is for our counsel, and yes! It is, but yet we all know, some parts of it are relevant to all, but applicable to Israel as a Nation only. No, it is not correct to appropriate those verses for the new testament believer.
This is a very controversial topic, seldom talked about in a public forum, because the vast majority of members are not against giving, some simply do not believe that tithing is applicable to N.T. Believers. So how do we justify tithing with a fully honest biblical answer to those members?
We need to cultivate giving for its essential for the benefit and prosperity of each member and the church as a whole. For the record “I am not against tithing, but will never teach it as a command for the N.T. church.
No one can question the tithe as a practice under the law. Deuteronomy 14:22-29.
But those that argue that tithing is not for N.T. Believers say:
1. Tithing puts us under the Mosianic/Levitical law, hence getting us into the area of legalism. Paul insisted that we Gentiles are not obligated to keep the Law of Moses, e.g., Gal 2:19;3:10, 24-25;5:18; 6:1-4. Paul was not asking that we do away with the moral law. In the O.T. the tax worked as a tax to maintain a Theocracy (government ruled by God). The Levites had no inheritance and needed to be maintained by the tithe. However we Christians already pay taxes to the earthly government, we are citizens of the heavenly kingdom and the earth.
2. Matthew 23:23 should not be use to backup tithing since it should be taken in context. Christ had not yet abolished the law with his death and resurrection. So the Law was still active.
3. Hebrews 7:8-9 this is not to be taken as an example some say for Christian tithing because the theme is not tithing but the supremacy of Christ.
Some use Jesus' statement: “...give unto Cesar what its Cesar’s and unto God what is Gods...", but this is too disputable as well and one cannot insert into the statement with complete conviction that Jesus is referring to tithing.
Tithing existed before the Law as is clearly seen in Hebrews 7:8-9 and Genesis 28:22 and so it should be still follow today some say. But Abraham was not practicing tithing as the commandment found later through the Mosaic laws. Abraham gave a tenth of his gains from battle, but we find nowhere in scripture that Abraham gave a tenth of his increase or work. Nor do we find that it was a practice of Abraham to tithe. The giving of a tenth of the gains/spoils after a battle to the reigning king was a common practice done by all the nations of the known world at that time in history.
The New Testament church is not commanded by the Law to tithe. Jesus nor the Apostles ever gave clear instructions if the practice should be continuing and follow.All that to say my sister - follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. There is no condemnation for us beloved.
Galatians 3
Faith or Works of the Law
1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?[a] 4 Have you experienced[b] so much in vain—if it really was in vain? 5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? 6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Just a last observation here: Churches that do not practice tithing, but teach the congregation to give often prosper much more than the ones that push tithing.
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Permalink Reply by David Abel on
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Hi David V.
It's been a while since I posted, and many things seem to have changed here. So you're married now? Congrats, and God bless you and your wife in your marriage abundantly.
For interest sake, I just wanted to share something concerning your statements:
"But Abraham was not practicing tithing as the commandment found later through the Mosaic laws. Abraham gave a tenth of his gains from battle, but we find nowhere in scripture that Abraham gave a tenth of his increase or work. Nor do we find that it was a practice of Abraham to tithe. The giving of a tenth of the gains/spoils after a battle to the reigning king was a common practice done by all the nations of the known world at that time in history."
What I want to share is that Jacob also tithed and continuously so at that, also before the law, and under completely different circumstances compared to Abraham's (once-off) tithe. Jacob made this commitment (vow) in a place he called Bethel (House of God, perhaps a reference to the Church today) and to a stone (perhaps a reference to Jesus Christ) which he also called God's House, as seen in Gen 28:18-22.
(These scriptures have made me think deeply that maybe God has ordained the tithe to be common practice today anyway, despite it's absence from the NT. I think of it as how we now have Church on Sundays. Nowhere is this ordained or practiced in the NT, yet we as Christians today practice this faithfully, even though Sunday worship/Church services was instituted by the Roman Catholic church. Many things not mentioned in the NT have become common practice for Christians today, and God is okay with that, I would think tithing included. Just my thoughts, and especially based on the scriptures below.)
Gen 28:18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.
Gen 28:19 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.
Gen 28:20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
Gen 28:21 So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:
Gen 28:22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
God Bless,
David A.
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David A.
How does one go from Jacob wilfully choosing to give to God to it becoming a command for all believers to follow as law because Jacob chose to do something?
In fact, when we read the text Jacob was making a bargain with God. His act of tithing was conditional, not submissive.
LT
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Hi LT. I didn't say as law, but as common practice. Church on Sundays is not law, but has become common practice. The same with tithing for many Christians.
Besides, much is known about Abraham's tithe, but not much is known or mentioned of Jacob's tithing, which is also pre-law, so has it's own merit for study and meditation, apart from Abraham's tithe, and that is the main reason I mentioned it. As I said above, for interest sake, nothing more.
Also, you and I are known to disagree on certain OT scriptures (that I take as) having NT applications, so I will leave it at that.
God Bless,
David
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Permalink Reply by Larry M. on
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I believe God does not need our tithes and offering because He has everyhting but why do we give? Not that we feel obligated but It is as a sign of true and matured christian because we love God and we care for His ministry. Not that we are commanded by OT and NT. We can give without loving but we cannot love without giving. Yes, apostle paul work for his own needs but are the workers not worthy to eat from the harvest of the fields? Is the soldiers fight for His own expenses? If all of the professing new testament christian will not be responsible to bring back what is propotrionate to the blessings we received, may the God Lord have mercy on the Gospel people. Thats the problem with NT believers, they become the attorney of their borrowed possesions and life...
I believe the past is written to remind us of the goodness of God not a cross reference for our selfish human interpretations... much to write but errors will multiply also... just my thought... God bless you michelle for your thankfulness through tithes and offerings...
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A good and faithful servant. Faithful on little things will be in charge of great things.
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Permalink Reply by Matthew John Woken on
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I don't think giving to ministries that teach eternal security or license or once saved always saved or perseverance of the saints or Calvinism is a good idea because you are supporting ministries that teach the wrong doctrines. I may be wrong but I don't think I am.
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Matthew,
Do you believe that people who believe in eternal security and teach Calvinism love and serve Jesus?
LT
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Hey you Bev,
We should always be led by our Lord in this and all other matters of our walk, our home church should be the primary recipient of our giving, but there are opportunities all around us to give. If and when we can, we should also support radio or TV ministries that share sound doctrine.
Love you
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