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Intro
When we, as Christians, study and talk about “Godly Giving” lots and lots of questions come into play. How you choose to answer these questions will go a long way to determine how you will respond to God’s call to give. So, let’s spend some time taking a look at some “common giving questions” and suggest some possible answers based on God’s Word.
What percentage is the tithe?
This is the most often asked question about giving. The best answer may at first seem like a “cop-out.” I suggest the best answer is, “it depends.”
According to the Bible, the word “tithe” literally means one tenth. This “tenth” is the minimum amount God expects from you as a believer as a testimony that you have surrendered to Him the whole. The tithe is the minimum amount God expects but you should not feel limited by this amount. God’s Word teaches that you should give whatever the Holy Spirit convicts you to give. If for you the tithe is 15%, give it. If it is 25%, give it. If for you the tithe is 50% then PTL and give it!
But what if you want to start tithing and can’t see a way to reach the tenth. What do you do? I suggest you start wherever you can and build from there. God knows the attitude of your heart. If you have the heart to tithe, but can’t, ask God to give you the means to tithe. If you have the means, but don’t tithe, ask God to give you the heart. God is the center of the tithe. He can give you both the heart and the means…just ask Him.
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But a word or warning about the tithe. Don’t become legalistic and blindly follow “religious” rules and regulations, including gritting your teeth and scratching to tithe down to the last cent. Remember, rules and regulations are signs of religions designed to please men. Christianity is not a religion. Christianity is a relationship that brings glory to God. We tithe as a testimony to God not man.
A short and true story.
The pastor of a large church did a survey and found out that his church’s giving patterns were pretty much average: twenty percent gave eighty percent of the money. Less than three percent of them tithed. One Sunday morning, he took the offering plate through the church himself. He opened every envelope and looked at every check and counted every dollar bill. Needless to say, this caused quite a commotion.
For the entire week after that service the church was abuzz. Some people were irritated, and everybody wondered what he was up to.
The following Sunday he gave a message entitled, “Are you more concerned about what men know than what God knows?” The point was, why be concerned about your pastor knowing how much you give? Why aren’t you concerned what God knows?
How much the tithe? It depends. It depends on your relationship with God.
Do I tithe on the net or the gross?
In Proverbs 3:9 you find that you are to honor God from the first fruits of your harvest (of the increase that you realize). Then in Leviticus 27:30 you find, “A tithe of everything belongs to the Lord.” I interpret these verses to mean you are to tithe from the gross.
You also learned that when you tithe you gain God’s wisdom and God’s blessing. So, do you tithe on the net or the gross? I guess it depends upon whether you want God to bless the net or the gross.
I encourage you and your family to stretch you faith in this area. Whatever you think you can give, give a little more, and see if God will bless you as a result. One practical way to stretch is to combine your minimum testimony with a test. Remember you saw in Malachi you could test the Lord in this area.
A related question.
While working with noted Christian financial author Larry Burkett, I came across this question: “Do you think it’s proper for us to use part of our tithe to keep our children in a Christian school?” Larry responded this way: “The tithe belongs to God. It’s our material testimony that God owns everything in our lives. When you take a portion of your tithe and divert it to keep your children in a Christian school, it’s really a gift in self-interest. Educational costs are a normal responsibility of a family. I believe that if you will commit the tithe to God and not use it for your children’s school, He will provide a way for them to attend a Christian school, if it’s His will.” Again, all questions about the tithe come down to the quality of your relationship with God.
Next time, more common questions about giving.
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Bob Louder is the Founder and President of Christian Financial Ministries (www.good-steward.org). Bob is also the author of the new best selling book, “Debt Free Living God’s Way,” available only on the Internet (www.debtfreelivinggodsway.org). Since 1987 Bob has helped people in hundreds of churches all across the country and in the European military community learn, understand, apply and pass on “Debt Free Living God’s Way” principles and practical applications. He has represented some of the top Christian financial authors and ministries to include Larry Burkett, Dave Ramsey, Christian Financial Concepts, and Crown Ministries.
Copyright 2006 Christian Financial Ministries, Inc., All Rights Reserved. You may reprint this “Special Report” in whole or in part without permission from Christian Financial Ministries, Inc. Please credit material used to Christian Financial Ministries, Inc.
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