If thithes are of the first increases I feel that my income shows no increase. My church does not help me with my finances although I deparate need the help. Calling for finacial outreach help like (Salvation Army) has been a dead end, no funding is all I ever hear. They tell me to call the churches.
I am a very active member of a rather poor church. I do about anything asked of me from cleaning, yard work, setting up for events, request donations from businesess, make contacts for our Pastor, represent the church at function, help with the children's ministry, basicly I am the Pastor's right hand man in many areas.
I am not complaining about the church needing me. But I can't afford the time and gas. I have disconnect notices and back rent and no chance of over time. Now we are so busy and I am so needed I can't find the time to try to find work so I can take care of my survival needs.
I am meeting every need of the church, yet the church keeps over loading my plate. Help!
2006-08-16 04:42:49 · 16 answers · asked by linnitz65 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Hi Lynette,
I think your passion for serving your church is admirable, and you just want to do the right thing.
At the same time, from what you have said, I feel as if the church is taking advantage of your tireless efforts on its behalf. A church is a community of believers who take care of each other, but no one even seems aware of your difficulties nor seems to have qualms about taking advantage of them. In a healthier church, you would have been approached [by the pastor or concerned friends] for over-extending yourself, and people would have tried to support you emotionally and provided resources that you need to survive.
A church is also a "group" -- your meeting every need of the church prevents others from serving as they should. You should give others the opportunity to pick up some of the slack, rather than trying to carry everything on your shoulders.
I wonder why you are working so hard. You seem very driven ... like you are afraid to stop, afraid to let others take over. God has already accepted you, and He just wants your heart/desire to be for him.
You seem very much like "Martha" -- who bustled about in the kitchen while Jesus was visiting and ended up exhausted and frustrated -- while Mary just wanted to be with Jesus and sat at his feet, because she loved him and wanted to be in that space with him. There is work that has to be done, true, but ultimately none of the work matters if you are not giving yourself a breather and letting yourself just "be" with God.
You must feel very tired and disappointed over things right now. Sometimes it's hard to let go too, not just because of fear the work won't get done, but because we enjoy feeling useful and indispensible to others; it hurts a little to step away.
If you have a family of your own, they need you and your resources. Your primary relationships (besides God) is to your husband and children, if you have them, and you should be spending yourself on their behalf.
If I were you, I would figure out what things you can "cut" and just focus on the things you can do without neglecting your own family and your relationship with God. (Some people have to go even "cold turkey" and stop everything until they get back on their emotional feet.)
As far as tithe goes, God wants a cheerful giver. Give what money you feel you can, and give it cheerfully if at all. It's easy for money to "get a hold on us" especially in a capitalist society, so I think money is an important thing to "give" -- but you've certainly tithed far more than many people in terms of your energy and time.
Again, give what time and energy you can give cheerfully, while still honoring your more important relationships first. You don't want your life and faith to crumble due to trying to accomplish more than you feasibly can.
2006-08-16 05:05:53 · answer #1 · answered by Jennywocky 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
once I first became a single woman back after 23 years of marriage, my concerns have been that I was hoping i could meet my own undemanding desires, pay tithing and nevertheless help my daughter with college. I had to truly get interior the techniques-set that the Lord will furnish via fact He pronounced He would. So, by thick and skinny I paid an entire tithing no rely what. This went on for greater or less 3 years of intense meager residing. yet, by this time of meager residing, i'd see little miracles seem that saved reminding me that the Lord became there for me and that i wasn't forgotten. My residing project has improved 3 fold because those first 3 years and that i'm so grateful that I depended on interior the advantages of tithing and that i could say it relatively is in all probability between the foremost Gospel techniques that has made me experience nearer to the Lord and helped me to have self belief that he's there for me and hears my prayers.
2016-11-04 22:44:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
honey, religion will take you for a ride. it's not about how much you can tithe, it's about the heart behind everything. Sometimes you can't give and that's OK, and sometimes finances don't come in. I don't have very much money and it's not possible for me to tithe, but Papa sees my heart and that's all that matters. He sees that I want to feed the hungry and help people who are in trouble, and many times I can't, but it counts for him. A lot of time people have a messed up idea of God and see him as this overworking, asshole who doesn't give a crap and is out to get you on every little sin. He's not like that. God completely understands survival and knows that you need to take care of yourself.
I would reconsider the things that you REALLY need to be volunteering your time for. If you can't possibly do it, then you can't and you don't have to let someone from a church force you into doing something. A lot of times pastors and churches find someone who will do everything for them and use that person for all they're worth. It's not healthy. Sometimes you have to get out of the place that's taking you under. So if you need to, I would find a new church and take care of yourself. It's really OK to leave no matter how much the church tells you you can't.
2006-08-16 05:01:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you remember those instructions you get on an airplane - the ones where they say to put on your own oxygen mask before attempting to help others? There's a reason for that. By taking care of yourself first, you ensure that you will be capable of doing all you can to help others. If you fail (can't breathe, die, etc.) then you can't help other people.
What I'm saying is, you need to take care of yourself first because then you will be more able to help the church, you will not risk failing and thus not being able to help at all. When you are down and out, you have little left to give, so you build yourself up first, then you use what you have gained to start building up others.
I suggest you take the time for yourself as, in the end, that would be in the best interest of the church.
2006-08-16 04:52:34 · answer #4 · answered by Phoenix, Wise Guru 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A tithe is the first 10% of increase.
Are you the only member of this church? What are the rest doing to meet the needs in the church including yours? I'm willing to bet this is not a church in the Biblical sense, but a 501c charted corporation, under the complete control of the government and not holding itself accountable to God first.
It may be time for you to look elsewhere. You need to ask yourself "Why am I staying here".
2006-08-16 05:00:02 · answer #5 · answered by Back Porch Willy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Although it is wonderful that you are doing so much for your church,you have to be able to take care of your own every day needs in order to not end up out on the street.Talk to your pastor and explain the situation to him.Tell him that you will still help out in the church but it can not be as before.Even though the church is poor it seems to me that the congregation could at least try to help you.I know where you are coming from as i am also in financial distress.If your church can not understand ,and or try to help you ,then it may be time to reevaluate the church you attend.Good luck to you.
2006-08-16 04:52:21 · answer #6 · answered by Star L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I recall a time when Christ out of the corner of his eye saw a women drop a Penney in the donation box.
To some of the Pharisees he taught that, that women gave more in tithe that all of them combined.
It is said that Time is Money!
Now it sounds like your in the wrong church, run do not walk to the nearest exit, and shake your shoe off outside.
Go and find a true church, read in rev first 2 chapters you will find 2 of the 7 churches Christ loves, go there.
I believe this is one:
http://www.shepherdschapel.com/
May Christ be with you.
2006-08-16 06:20:20 · answer #7 · answered by Grandreal 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would cut back on donating my time at the church and get a job to catch up on my bills. Depending on your age you can collect social security and make a paycheck without restrictions. Just explain to the Church that you have to cut back on your hours because you need to earn some money before you are in the streets.
2006-08-16 04:50:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
all you have to do is tell them, no church is going to see you "disconnected" or starve. Paul tells everyone to make their living. You can't blame it on the church because you don't work. Get a job and donate your time to the church when you are off work. Do not blame your church for the fact you don't have a job, get a job young man.
2006-08-16 04:56:07 · answer #9 · answered by Grandma Susie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are not a Jewish Farmer there is no reason to tithe.
Please advise me to which TEMPLE the grains and animals are shipped. The REAL TEMPLE was destroyed - that is why no Jewish Synagaogs tithe today.
Read the tithe blurb on the site below for more info.
2006-08-16 04:51:35 · answer #10 · answered by whynotaskdon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋