Giving Archives - Page 5 of 7

Tithing Is No Quick Fix

August 4, 2009 by EnnisP 2 Comments

Lifestyle And Consistency
Are Key

Often tithing proponents promise all kinds of blessings to anyone who gives a tithe: prosperity, health, happiness, success and who knows what else. They also make a scene when anyone receives an unexpected monetary increase after giving their first tithe payment.

They sound more like traveling salesmen offering cure-all elixirs.

When someone suggests they may not be right, they adopt a threatening tone, pronouncing curses on those who fail to give. These extreme methods provide a lot of fuel to those who oppose tithing.

There is some truth to the tithing-equals-blessing concept but the way it is presented is usually distasteful. It smacks more of opportunism than a sincere effort to work with and relate to God.

Seems more like a pill you take for a headache or an injection for the flu, things you do occasionally, following which you expect an immediate result.

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The thought is “if I give a tithe for so many days, I will get ten times more for the rest of my life, beginning tomorrow.” That isn’t an accurate representation of tithing.

Tithing – Neither Sacrifice Nor Charity

July 28, 2009 by EnnisP 1 Comment

Offerings Become Charity
After They Become Tithes

For some people tithing appears, at least on paper, to be a great sacrifice. They think they will not be able to survive financially without that money. But tithing is never said to represent a sacrifice or even a loss. This is one area in which God promises to bless us abundantly. In fact, we are told to test God to see if He won’t multiply our blessings in return.

Malachi 3:10 says,
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me (test or try me) now herewith, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

In no other way are we allowed to test or try God. Jesus referred to this as “tempting” God and said it was not to be done, generally speaking. Only in the matter of the tithe are we allowed to test God and even expected to do so.

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You have no reason, however, to claim God’s material blessing on your life if you don’t commit to this offering. Put Him to the test and see what happens but remember, tithing is obedient giving not sacrificial giving and the Bible teaches that God’s special blessing will be on those who obey.

There is such a thing as sacrificial giving but you can never qualify as a sacrificial giver if you are not consistently tithing first. The tithe is not a sacrifice. It belongs to God. [Read more…] about Tithing – Neither Sacrifice Nor Charity

Tithing Develops Life Skills

July 27, 2009 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

Tithing encourages us to develop skills for managing financial resources but only if we don’t try to mange the tithe.

We often say that everything we have really belongs to God and I agree with that statement but the tithe belongs to God in a way the other 90% does not. The tithe is not mine to manage. The only thing I can do with the tithe is turn it over to God at the very first opportunity. [Read more…] about Tithing Develops Life Skills

Tithing Catalyzes Solidarity

July 22, 2009 by EnnisP 27 Comments

No Financial Commitment
No Unity

Solidarity does not exist only with the commitment of one person. It is a thing of beauty demonstrated when a group of people move in unison. It is not an easy thing to achieve. If it were, they wouldn’t award Olympic metals for synchronized swimming.

It requires a lot of discipline to develop and much courage to execute. The military attempts to instill solidarity in basic training so fewer people die in battle and it also multiplies the total effect. Small groups of soldiers have been known to effectively retard the advance of forces several times their size because they fought in unison courageously. The WW II Battle of Lanzerath Ridge is a case in point. There is great power generated when a group of people, large or small, act in unison. [Read more…] about Tithing Catalyzes Solidarity

One Way To Put God First

July 20, 2009 by EnnisP 8 Comments

It Wasn’t The Intention Of Jesus
To Reteach Well Established Old Testament Truths
In The New Testament

God will have no place in your life other than first. If He isn’t first He isn’t on the list. Jesus was focusing on this very matter in the Sermon on the Mount and He said,

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these (material) things shall be added unto you. (Matt. 6:33)

The one thing Jesus said would compete with God for first place is money (Matt. 6:19-34). He referred to our material resources, or money, as mammon and in His words, either God or mammon comes first. If God is first, money will be our servant. If money is first God is pushed out.

The truth is, money is either the catalyst or the barrier to God having His rightful place in your life. How you manage each paycheck will reflect, not whom you love but whom you love most.

Money management, of course, is a complete subject on its own.

Even if God has His rightful place in your budget, skills for managing the rest of your money must be learned. But, for the purposes of this study, learning to pay your tithe first on every payday is the first step in managing money and the only rational option. Paying more is acceptable. Paying less misallocates funds. Paying nothing excludes God completely.

The important question to ask is this: Is God in the “must pay” category of your budget?

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The first check you write every time you get paid should be your tithe check. If you wait till everything else is paid first there very likely won’t be enough left over to give. When that happens you are placing Him in the category of “expendable income” not first place.