Bringing a living Jesus to a dying world
To Tithe or not to Tithe.....that is the Question.
A few months ago I had given a friend of mine a lift to church and since I'm in a wheelchair he had to reassemble my chair and bring it to my driver’s door. As he was assembling my wheelchair I was getting my tithing’s out of my bum bag and I was putting into the tithing envelope when my friend saw how much I was putting in.
His 1st response was ~ Why are you giving that much in your tithing?
My response was ~ Well because as Christian we are meant to give 10% of your earnings to God and his House.
His 2nd response was~ Well I don't tithe anymore, I need the money more and it’s not like Hillsong needs it. Look how big they are now.
I was somewhat dumb founded by his remark and in these financial times to a non believer it would make sense to have that kind of thought to keep all your money to yourself but as Christians who go to church we need to tithe to keep our Churches alive and growing.
What people don't seem to understand that no matter how big or how small your church is your weekly tithe is so vital to the growth of your church? So many people are under some strange idea that all the money goes directly to the Senior Pastor.....Well it doesn't....there are bills to be paid like the Church Mortgage, there are water bills, electricity bills, council rates and land taxes to be paid. Depending on your church activities in the community some money will be given from the tithing to help the local community. Some money will also go to help youth programs and other church groups, missions abroad and the constant maintance of the church building. And after all that then your Pastor will be paid.
When you tithe you are giving to God and his house and the reference to Gods house is your church building is Gods house.
If you want to see your Church stop growing and have the bank move in, foreclose and kick you out, all you have to do is to stop tithing. Once the money dries up your church is no more it’s that simple.
BUT……if you want to see your church grow and expand then you need to be tithing. And not from the bottom of your wage or profits, not after you have removed all your other expenses but rather from the top of your wage or profits. As soon as your wage or profit comes in you need to get out your calculator and work out what 10% of your wage or profits is and then what ever the amount is, that is what you give to God & his House. Don’t give grudgingly but rather cheerfully for YOU are investing in the future of a mighty great church.
My friend and I are in the same business together, which is Network Marketing with the same company. As both our companies grew so did our profits. The problem with my friend was he started to get greedy and instead of giving from the top he started giving what he had left over and in the end he just stopped giving all together. He blamed his financial problems on the Church and on God.
The difference here is that as I continued to give during the good and bad times my company kept growing while my friends company started to struggle.
I then pulled out my bible and showed him :
Malachi 3:7-9 (New International Version)
7 Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty.
"But you ask, 'How are we to return?'
8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
"But you ask, 'How do we rob you?'
"In tithes and offerings.
9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me.
I went on to explain to him that the same thing will continue happen to him as it is happening to the church once you stop tithing. As the Church starts to suffer so will you…..Though as you bless God with your Tithing and offering so will God in return Bless you with Prosperity and Wealth.
Malachi 3:10 (New International Version)
10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
When we tithe we are investing in the future of our church. Not in the here and now but for all the years to come. We are investing in the future lives of our youth, in the expansion of the church not only through-out the community but also through-out the nation and in the world.
Well I saw my mate last night after not seeing him for a while and he was beaming from ear to ear…….he thanked me for opening his eyes and not only is he tithing again but his company is starting to prosper again.
So the Question is do you tithe and invest in your Churches future or do you hold all your money for yourself.
His 1st response was ~ Why are you giving that much in your tithing?
My response was ~ Well because as Christian we are meant to give 10% of your earnings to God and his House.
His 2nd response was~ Well I don't tithe anymore, I need the money more and it’s not like Hillsong needs it. Look how big they are now.
I was somewhat dumb founded by his remark and in these financial times to a non believer it would make sense to have that kind of thought to keep all your money to yourself but as Christians who go to church we need to tithe to keep our Churches alive and growing.
What people don't seem to understand that no matter how big or how small your church is your weekly tithe is so vital to the growth of your church? So many people are under some strange idea that all the money goes directly to the Senior Pastor.....Well it doesn't....there are bills to be paid like the Church Mortgage, there are water bills, electricity bills, council rates and land taxes to be paid. Depending on your church activities in the community some money will be given from the tithing to help the local community. Some money will also go to help youth programs and other church groups, missions abroad and the constant maintance of the church building. And after all that then your Pastor will be paid.
When you tithe you are giving to God and his house and the reference to Gods house is your church building is Gods house.
If you want to see your Church stop growing and have the bank move in, foreclose and kick you out, all you have to do is to stop tithing. Once the money dries up your church is no more it’s that simple.
BUT……if you want to see your church grow and expand then you need to be tithing. And not from the bottom of your wage or profits, not after you have removed all your other expenses but rather from the top of your wage or profits. As soon as your wage or profit comes in you need to get out your calculator and work out what 10% of your wage or profits is and then what ever the amount is, that is what you give to God & his House. Don’t give grudgingly but rather cheerfully for YOU are investing in the future of a mighty great church.
My friend and I are in the same business together, which is Network Marketing with the same company. As both our companies grew so did our profits. The problem with my friend was he started to get greedy and instead of giving from the top he started giving what he had left over and in the end he just stopped giving all together. He blamed his financial problems on the Church and on God.
The difference here is that as I continued to give during the good and bad times my company kept growing while my friends company started to struggle.
I then pulled out my bible and showed him :
Malachi 3:7-9 (New International Version)
7 Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty.
"But you ask, 'How are we to return?'
8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
"But you ask, 'How do we rob you?'
"In tithes and offerings.
9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me.
I went on to explain to him that the same thing will continue happen to him as it is happening to the church once you stop tithing. As the Church starts to suffer so will you…..Though as you bless God with your Tithing and offering so will God in return Bless you with Prosperity and Wealth.
Malachi 3:10 (New International Version)
10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
When we tithe we are investing in the future of our church. Not in the here and now but for all the years to come. We are investing in the future lives of our youth, in the expansion of the church not only through-out the community but also through-out the nation and in the world.
Well I saw my mate last night after not seeing him for a while and he was beaming from ear to ear…….he thanked me for opening his eyes and not only is he tithing again but his company is starting to prosper again.
So the Question is do you tithe and invest in your Churches future or do you hold all your money for yourself.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Joe Graham on -
For some reason the church as a whole has lost sight of its true purpose. If you have a Christ center world you will give your tithe and offering because you believe in establishing his kingdom. Seek first the kingdom of God and all will be added to you. The key is establishing his kingdom not your own. The Seeker church does not bring people to the cross to repent but to get. So they have a hard time understand that in order to recive you have to first Give. Just like Jesus when he came and died on the cross. He gave so that he could get. Enduring the cross for the joy set before him. We as the church have to have a passion to Love God and Love people. I agree many people I know justify not giving for what ever reason. In truth they are just being selfish or having a self center world instead of a Christ center world. Good post
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Permalink Reply by Mel on -
Strangely, I tithed before my husband and I were even believers--because my grandpa was a preacher and when he married us, he said if we would always tithe we would always have enough money.
I had no understanding of the Word, or God, even, but I believed my grandpa, and I knew that he knew God, and I knew that he had always had enough money to pay for his stuff and help other people.
So I did it. And we've always had what we needed, with some left over to help others. Even when we made stupid mistakes financially, God has been gracious and faithful to us.
It's so simple, yet we try to make it complicated.
Great post.
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Permalink Reply by John Clinton on -
Joe, good post! Your comment about "establishing His kingdom" really rang true to me, reminded me of a favorite verse on where my wealth comes from...and where it should go.
"And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day." - Deut. 8:18
Here's what I hear when I read this: HE gives us the power to get wealth IN ORDER TO establish His covenant. Not JUST to reward those who serve Him faithfully (though He DOES want to do that) but also so we will USE those resources to establish His covenant on earth, to build His kingdom.
So, I remember the Lord my God with my tithes, acknowledging that He gave me the ability to earn the money that I'm tithing on, and I give that to my local church, where He has put me to help in establishing His covenant.
Joe Graham said:For some reason the church as a whole has lost sight of its true purpose. If you have a Christ center world you will give your tithe and offering because you believe in establishing his kingdom. Seek first the kingdom of God and all will be added to you. The key is establishing his kingdom not your own. The Seeker church does not bring people to the cross to repent but to get. So they have a hard time understand that in order to recive you have to first Give. Just like Jesus when he came and died on the cross. He gave so that he could get. Enduring the cross for the joy set before him. We as the church have to have a passion to Love God and Love people. I agree many people I know justify not giving for what ever reason. In truth they are just being selfish or having a self center world instead of a Christ center world. Good post
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Permalink Reply by Joe Graham on
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I agree totally ,I think that is the part that many in the church miss. that you are empowered to get weath to estiblish his plan in the earth. Thats why In James 4 it talks about not getting your prayers answered because you want them for your own lust. Gods a good God but hes not just going to give you what you want to hoard up for yourself. You have to give to get. Plant to reap. And you have to have the right heart additude. Seek frist the kingdom of God and all these things are added to you. Because you are estblishing his kingdom not your own. Pastor John talked about this alot in having a Christ centered life or a Self Centered life.
John Clinton said:Joe, good post! Your comment about "establishing His kingdom" really rang true to me, reminded me of a favorite verse on where my wealth comes from...and where it should go.
"And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day." - Deut. 8:18
Here's what I hear when I read this: HE gives us the power to get wealth IN ORDER TO establish His covenant. Not JUST to reward those who serve Him faithfully (though He DOES want to do that) but also so we will USE those resources to establish His covenant on earth, to build His kingdom.
So, I remember the Lord my God with my tithes, acknowledging that He gave me the ability to earn the money that I'm tithing on, and I give that to my local church, where He has put me to help in establishing His covenant.
Joe Graham said:For some reason the church as a whole has lost sight of its true purpose. If you have a Christ center world you will give your tithe and offering because you believe in establishing his kingdom. Seek first the kingdom of God and all will be added to you. The key is establishing his kingdom not your own. The Seeker church does not bring people to the cross to repent but to get. So they have a hard time understand that in order to recive you have to first Give. Just like Jesus when he came and died on the cross. He gave so that he could get. Enduring the cross for the joy set before him. We as the church have to have a passion to Love God and Love people. I agree many people I know justify not giving for what ever reason. In truth they are just being selfish or having a self center world instead of a Christ center world. Good post
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