Over at Being Frugal, Lynnae wrote about tithing. She says it has had a positive impact on her life, even though on many occasions she did not have much money to give. Naturally, this raises a lot of questions about tithing.
What is tithing?
The word “tithe” literally means “tenth.” So a tithe is 10%.
On what should a tithe be collected?
Most people believe a tithe is due on all income, but this is a misinterpretation. A tithe is not owed on all income. It was specifically to be paid from the fruits of the earth, the livestock… basically, anything that God had directly created. The Biblical basis for this is found in Leviticus 27:30-32.
Here is an illustration. Let’s say somebody earns an income from making furniture. This person is not required to pay a tithe. After all, a tithe was already paid when the lumber was harvested. Therefore, the furniture maker is permitted to keep 100% of the proceeds of his labor.
Anything paid over and above a tithe is called a “freewill offering.” It is something you give out of love for God. It is not something mandated or required.
==> Click here to read a study of The Law of the Tithe.
Like Lynnae and many other people, I believe there are many positive benefits to giving. But I believe giving should be done voluntarily and not under compulsion.
So now to answer the question I raised: Should you tithe when you’re broke?
This is a trick question. Technically, the tithe (plus an extra 20% to 30% more) is already being collected by the government God has put in power over us. They are responsible before God for what they’ve collected.
We, on the other hand, can still give as we are lead. If you are lead to give, then give. If you are not lead to give, then don’t give. It’s a personal matter between you and God.
Sometimes you may give out of your lack. The woman in the Bible who gave her last two mites did this. Sometimes you may give out of your abundance. Either way, it is a decision that is entirely up to you. You should not allow a church or any kind of religious organization to guilt you into giving.
So I’ve shared my perspective. What are your thoughts on tithing, giving, and charity?
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Thanks for the mention! I just wrote almost the same thing in the comments on my site. :)
I believe that all Christians should give something, even if it’s not a full tithe. I think that giving needs to be prayerfully considered, and then each person should give as he feels the Lord leading. Sometimes it might not be much, and sometimes it might seem like more than you can afford.
I think more important that the amount you give, is the attitude with which you give. I don’t think God ever meant giving to become some legalistic ritual. I think He’s probably more pleased with someone who joyfully gives 3% than with someone who begrudgingly gives 10%.
I’ve tithed (Biblically speaking, I don’t know now… but 10%, nonetheless) through good times and bad. Like Ryan said, though, it’s hardly “easy.”
30% to Caeasar. 10% to God. 10% to Savings. Your income is cut in half.
Personally, I’d encourage anyone to tithe. But start at 1% or something and go from there.
There’s a slight problem I find with the word and principle of ‘tithing.’ The word tithe is never once found in the New Testament, but rather it is a reference to the tax in the Old Testament for the Jewish people.
The Old Testament was not written for believers in Jesus Christ, it was written for the nation of Israel, all more than 400 years before the birth of Jesus. And while we can learn lessons from it, it was not written to us.
Also, not once is 10% ever proposed or presented in the New Testament for giving for believers.
However, the Lord does give us these instructions:
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38
“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” Mark 12:41-44
“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7
We are called to give according to the way God has blessed us. We are told to give, period. We are told that the more generously we give, the more will be returned to us…
But I cannot find any place in the New Testament where we’re instructed to give 10%. For some of us, 2% is an incredible amount to be giving based on where we are financially. And for some of us, 10% isn’t even close to what we can do.
If it’s all His in the first place, then what amount of giving could be too much?
And what amount is too little? This we are not told, that’s between you and the Lord (and me and the Lord as well).
But I can say this much, when I first started into business, I gave hardly a penny even though I made more than most, rationalizing that if when one day I had much, then I could give much. Giving came last in the list of priorities and so I never had enough left over to give.
But now, even though I make less than I did then, I give first, after praying about how much the Lord is asking me to give (after all, its all His anyway, right?). And now, giving is my first priority, not the last. Since it has been the first priority in my life, I have never been in need. Some months are tighter than others, but the Lord has always provided exactly what I needed.
When I wasn’t giving first, I never had enough, even though I actually earned more. I was greedy and constantly worried about money. It was sad.
But God moved in my life and convicted my heart about the direction my life was going, especially my attitude toward money. This also changed in part when I committed these two verses to heart:
“…for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2Corinthians 9:7
“A generous man will himself be blessed…” Proverbs 22:9
I wanted that blessing, and convinced, I set out to give first, before taking tally of any of my other bills or responsibilities or ambitious plans. I want that blessing, plain and simple. Plus, its a real joy to give – and I haven’t found many things to compare to this joy. Just something to think about. =)
-john
Tithing, in the present scenario can be interpretd as tax or levy which you already pay. I am not a christian and doesn’t know much about it so please forgive any mistake in the comment that I am putting here.
Nowadays, if I am not wrong. it is considered as a tip or volutary (donation). I think it should be done not for the sake of others but for ourselves. It gives you an internal satisfaction.
I hope I have not misinterpreted the meaning.
I disagree that taxes are in any way connected with the tithe. The tithe is 10% and it was given before taxes (firstfruits). There’s nothing tricky about this in my mind. I also disagree that tithes are not owed unless one is growing something. That’s a cop-out.
It is a personal matter between the giver and God, but in that case the giver had best be sure that God is pleased with his offering.
I’ve known people who have tithed through lean times, 10% off the top, and God has provided for them.
I’ve also blogged about tithing recently. My thoughts are here. http://www.collectingmycash.com/2007/10/remember-to-tithe.html
We may not be able to give 10-15%. But I believe we should always give something. What goes around comes around.
I think that it’s good discipline to donate money, and being able to do so whilst still paying down your debts would probably make you feel better about yourself.
Lynnae – Like you, I believe it’s more about the heart condition than the amount given.
John M. – One percent is a good place to start for someone who is not accustomed to giving. Or how about just something? There are always places to donate your loose change.
John R. – If the Old Testament was not written for believers in Jesus Christ, as you say, why do you quote Proverbs?
Chef – You are correct. The tithe is a tax to support the Kingdom of God. It was paid to the priests in the Old Testament. But for much of modern history, we’ve been put under the world system, which demands much more than 10%.
Technically, we already pay the tithe, plus a lot more, to our government. A freewill offering is something given over and above the tithe.
MBHunter – That’s okay to disagree. If you haven’t read the study I linked to, I encourage you to do so.
Wealthy1 – I agree that giving is an important principle.
Plonkee – The psychological benefit of giving is huge. Mostly, it gets you to focus on people other than yourself, which is critical for a healthy emotional life.
Editor’s Note: Of the 608 readers who’ve viewed this page so far, only three of them have bothered to click through to the study I mentioned. It is not that long, and it will clarify some of what I’ve written here. Here’s the link again…
http://www.gods-kingdom-ministries.org/coldfusion/Article.cfm?PID=4
I had a thought about this and came back to post.
For us in the developed world we are buying everything at artifically DEflated prices. We get tons of consumer goods and more at low prices because of third-world labour.
Without others getting the short end we’d probably be paying far more than 10% for the stuff we enjoy.
So is it really tithing at all to give 10%? Or is it just paying off some unrecorded debt we have to underdeveloped countries and minimum wage staff that work for nothing so we can have everything?
Actually, if you have unpaid bills, the money isn’t yours to give.
There are people who have been faithful tithers all their lives and are still poor – but of course, what church is going to tell those stories?
Frankly, it doesn’t make sense to give the “church” 10% when you must go back to them for help before the end of the month.
The truth is the body of believers in the book of Acts took up a collection of those who had extra; they didn’t take from the poor, they distributed it to the poor as they had need.
The Old Testament was written for Christians as well as Jews. Tithing was not a part of the law, it was present before the law. Genesis 14:20 is the first mention of tithe and it says a “tithe of all”. This was given to Melchizedek who, if you read Hebrews is a type for or is Jesus.
There was no taxes at this point and God does not charge us tax, he can take what he wishes. I have been through some financially devastating times, but never been without and I have always tithed based upon gross income. This is biblical and true. It has nothing to do with growing fruit or trees. A tenth of all means all, everything the lord gives.
Whether you will see a monetary blessing or some other type of blessing is determined by the lord, Malachi 3:8-10 makes it clear. I encourage you, if you are a Christian to take this seriously. The lord says to test him in this. The one place in scripture where God says you can test him.
What if you miss out on a blessing from the lord, what if that blessing is to understand the bible more deeply or to see your children have a deeper relationship with him. Maybe it will be monetary.
The decision is do you really believe what the bible says is true. As Del Tacket said “Do you really believe, what you really believe is real?”
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