AAA Christian Encouragement and Fellowship Community Group
Anyone can join, you don't have to be "Christian". Belief in God is all you need. We have only 2 rules---1. God is in control 2. When all else fails, refer to rule #1.
Hello...I'm back...still struggling...but I am back...and now I am struggling with something else that I guess God has put on my heart...anyway, i am going to ask a rhetorical question...I think...I've always wondered about that term 'a rhetorical question'...but if I understand it correctly, that is what i am about ask...
first though, i want to remind you of who i am...i'm the person who wrote earlier this week that I am struggling with my faith...and I am...I have been...for a while now...I am struggling with my faith and I am wrestling with God and I am angry with God...I study and I know what the Bible says but I just don't want to listen to it...which is why now, I've come up wiht even another struggle...this rhetorical question...that I've been struggling with for the last 24 hours...ok so let me get to that now...
A few weeks ago, I needed a large amount of money to move my son off to college...and there really was no way for me to get this money without getting it from my mom...and I HATE having to rely on my mother for money to support my son...but i do it anyway...heck...i rely on my mom for money for me...anyway...i was really worried cause time was running out and i hadn't asked my mom...so I did the only thing I knew to do...I prayed....and in my prayer, as I was driving down the freeway, praying...I told God that if He helped me get this money from my mom, that I would give him 10% of the money, the tithe. ...so a few days later, i was thrown another financial stumbling block....my unregistered, un-insured, un-drivable vehicle was booted by the city and on the saturday that i was out of town moving my son, it was towed!....well...needless to say, my mom gave me the money i asked for to help move my son...BUT...I unintentionally had her debit card, the whole weekend I was moving him....and when I returned on that Sunday, to find my vehicle towed, I helped myself to another large amount of money to rescue my truck. I am not proud of this by any means...and I think it is one of the reasons I have been struggling with God so hard...but that aside...here is my pending problem:
I overspent on the first large amount of money that I got from my mom, so now my debit card is over drawn in the amount of the 10% tithe...at the same time, the second amount of money was a little over what I needed...so now I have about that same 10% tithe in cash sitting in my wallet...I also have some dues and membership fees to pay that are a little less than the 10% tithe...which would leave me with just enough to take care of some other expenses that I have...also...I am waiting on my financial aid to come through so that I can get back into school...however I don't know if it's going to come through in time or not...so after all that here is what I've been struggling with: What the heck do I do with that cash that I have sitting in my wallet?
Do I make good on my promise to God with dirty money? Do I pay of my overdrawn debit card? or Do I pay the membership dues and fees and other expenses?
No matter what I do, I feel bad about it....so I don't know what to do...God! why is this life so hard? WHY?
first though, i want to remind you of who i am...i'm the person who wrote earlier this week that I am struggling with my faith...and I am...I have been...for a while now...I am struggling with my faith and I am wrestling with God and I am angry with God...I study and I know what the Bible says but I just don't want to listen to it...which is why now, I've come up wiht even another struggle...this rhetorical question...that I've been struggling with for the last 24 hours...ok so let me get to that now...
A few weeks ago, I needed a large amount of money to move my son off to college...and there really was no way for me to get this money without getting it from my mom...and I HATE having to rely on my mother for money to support my son...but i do it anyway...heck...i rely on my mom for money for me...anyway...i was really worried cause time was running out and i hadn't asked my mom...so I did the only thing I knew to do...I prayed....and in my prayer, as I was driving down the freeway, praying...I told God that if He helped me get this money from my mom, that I would give him 10% of the money, the tithe. ...so a few days later, i was thrown another financial stumbling block....my unregistered, un-insured, un-drivable vehicle was booted by the city and on the saturday that i was out of town moving my son, it was towed!....well...needless to say, my mom gave me the money i asked for to help move my son...BUT...I unintentionally had her debit card, the whole weekend I was moving him....and when I returned on that Sunday, to find my vehicle towed, I helped myself to another large amount of money to rescue my truck. I am not proud of this by any means...and I think it is one of the reasons I have been struggling with God so hard...but that aside...here is my pending problem:
I overspent on the first large amount of money that I got from my mom, so now my debit card is over drawn in the amount of the 10% tithe...at the same time, the second amount of money was a little over what I needed...so now I have about that same 10% tithe in cash sitting in my wallet...I also have some dues and membership fees to pay that are a little less than the 10% tithe...which would leave me with just enough to take care of some other expenses that I have...also...I am waiting on my financial aid to come through so that I can get back into school...however I don't know if it's going to come through in time or not...so after all that here is what I've been struggling with: What the heck do I do with that cash that I have sitting in my wallet?
Do I make good on my promise to God with dirty money? Do I pay of my overdrawn debit card? or Do I pay the membership dues and fees and other expenses?
No matter what I do, I feel bad about it....so I don't know what to do...God! why is this life so hard? WHY?
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Good Thursday to you!I've been watching a really long trial on Youtube these last couple of nights and will finish tomorrowHopefully I'll be in the land of nod soon and I hope my peeps are having sweet dreams followed by a great daySending hugs...xo
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One day runs into the next I can't seem to keep them straightBut i do know it's Tuesday and I start to clean my landord's place again so it'll keep me going although I take breaks more often nowHe doesn't mind and I gwt it doneI hope that you have a good day and can get done what you need toBig hugz sent..Xo
SHE TOLD ME THAT SOME 30 YEARS EARLIER THAT SHE HAD AN X-RAY THAT SHOWED SOME UNUSUAL SPOTS IN HER LUNG. SHE PROMISED GOD THAT IF IT WAS NOT CANCER THAT SHE WOULD QUIT SMOKING. WELL, THE TEST CAME BACK AND IT WAS NOT CANCER. BUT SHE DID NOT QUIT SMOKING. SHE ASKED ME IF GOD WAS NOW PUNISHING HER WITH TERMINAL CANCER AT THE EARLY AGE OF 59 FOR NOT KEEPING HER PROMISE TO GOD BECAUSE SHE WAS NOW DYING OF SPINE CANCER.
WHOA! THAT CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD. I HAD BEEN TO BIBLE COLLEGE AND SERVED IN FULL-TIME MINISTRY FOR MANY YEARS. SHE KNEW ME AND TRUSTED MY ADVICE. WHAT TO SAY TO HER?
I FIRST GAVE HER A RATIONAL ANSWER. I SAID THAT EVERY CHRISTIAN WHO HAD PROMISED GOD SOMETHING IN RETURN FOR GOD'S INTERVENTION; THAT THERE WOULD BE A WHOLE LOT OF SUFFERING OR DEAD CHRISTIANS NOW.
THEN I GAVE HER A BIBLICAL ANSWER. FIRST THIS VERSE:
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
I TOLD HER SHE IS NOT UNDER ANY CONDEMNATION BECAUSE SHE HAD BEEN SAVED AND ALL HER SINS HAD BEEN FORGIVEN WHEN JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS. I ALSO SAID THAT THIS IS NOT A LICENSE TO SIN. HER PROMISE TO GOD WAS TRULY BROKEN. BUT GOD FORGIVES ALL SINS.
IT IS BASICALLY THE SAME WHEN TWO PEOPLE TAKE THEIR VOWS BEFORE GOD WHEN THEY ARE MARRIED AND LATER GET A DIVORCE. BUT REMEMBER THAT GOD EVEN FORGIVES DIVORCE.
THESE PEOPLE, EVEN CHRISTIANS, WHO HAD BROKEN THEIR VOW OR PROMISE TO GOD BY GETTING A DIVORCE; I TOLD HER THAT THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF DEAD DIVORCED CHRISTIANS.
BECAUSE IT GIVES A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING ON TITHING.
To answer the question directly, yes, tithing is biblical. The Old Testament Law commanded the Israelites to tithe (Leviticus 27:30-32; Numbers 18:21-28; Deuteronomy 12:6-17; 14:22-28; 26:12-14). However, the question “does the Bible mention tithing?” is not what people usually mean when they ask “is tithing biblical?” What they are really asking is “Does God require, me, a Christian, to give 10% of my income to the church?”
It is a sad state of affairs that most pastors also must serve as the primary fund-raisers for their churches. The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, has a lot to say about giving. So, pastors should not avoid the topic of tithing. But, the pressure put on pastors to encourage giving has resulted in many abuses and misinterpretations of biblical text. Some churches have walls that annually picture the previous year’s top givers. Some churches require members to provide the church with a copy of tax returns so the church can make sure 10% giving was achieved. Some preachers emphasize tithing to the extent that it becomes a legalistic requirement for salvation. Some pastors are quick to pronounce any financial difficulties as evidence of a lack of tithing. These are just some of the examples of the abuses against the biblical message on tithing.
While pastors/preachers should never allow a need to impact biblical interpretation, it is understandable when it happens. When a man’s ability to provide for himself and his family relies on his ability to bring in funds, it is a tremendous temptation to go with the interpretation that would conceivably encourage more people to give, and to give more generously. Sadly, though, many pastors who know that Jesus fulfilled the Law and understand that the New Testament does not teach tithing still preach tithing as if it was a biblical command on Christians. This should not be. We should preach the Word accurately and rightly (2 Timothy 2:15; 4:2), and allow the Holy Spirit to do the convicting.
Most churches/denominations at least encouraging tithing in some sense. 10% seems to have been adopted by the Christian church as the standard for giving. Most who propose tithing do so based on the Old Testament Law. However, if the Old Testament Law is the standard, 10% is not the correct amount for biblical tithing. The Old Testament Law required multiple tithes out of the Israelites. If all of them are combined, the Israelites were required to give approximately 25% of their income. (Wait, maybe I shouldn’t say that. The last thing I want is for churches to start requiring 25% giving.)
But, ultimately, the Old Testament Law is not relevant on the issue of Christians tithing. Jesus fulfilled the Law (Romans 10:4; Galatians 3:23-25; Ephesians 2:15), and that includes the laws on tithing. The New Testament teaches Christians to give (1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:7), but the New Testament nowhere even mentions tithing. There is no set amount of recommended (or required) giving in the New Testament. Christians are to give generously, sacrificially, and joyfully. But, in the freedom we have in Christ, there is no biblical tithing requirement for Christians.
So, what is the biblical message on tithing for Christians? If God is leading you to tithe, by all means, tithe. But, tithing should never be viewed as a legalistic command. Giving is an aspect of the Christian life, and all Christians should give. But, again, there is no set amount. Having a set amount would be easier, for sure. That’s what makes legalism so attractive. The Christian life is easier if we just have a checklist of things we have to do. God calls us to live a life of faith, and part of faith is sacrificial giving. While it is not a biblical statement, I think the following is a good summary of what the Bible teaches about Christian giving: “Give until it hurts, and then give a little more.”
While in Bible College I dated a young lady whose father was very rich. He owned the largest construction company in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was worth millions. He could have afforded to build for his family a million dollar mansion. He could afford to buy the most expense car. He could afford to buy the best clothing. In other words he could buy or do whatever he wanted for himself and for his family.
But instead, he gave 90% of his income to the church and lived on 10%. He lived in a modest home and drove an average car. The point I want to make is that Christians today get the idea if they give their 10%; God would be pleased. I do not think so.
There are many Christians who can afford to give more than 10%. They could even give 20% or even 30%. But they do not. Are they sinning by not giving more? I do not know.
There are only two verses in the New Testament that talks about the tithe.
Matthew 23:23 "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
Luke 11:42 "What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
There are 5 verses in Hebrews Chapter 7 that mention the word tithes. But these verses are talking about the Old Testament requirement for the Levites.
Now what does the New Testament say about giving.
1 Corinthians 16:1 Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God's people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia.
1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don't wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.
2 Corinthians 9:7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully."
1 Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
I will let each of you decide for yourself how you should give.