My mom got a life insurance payout and wants to tithe A LOT of money. Should she?

Question

I told her no, because it is not "income", it is a one-time payout.

we are talking THOUSANDS of dollars in one tithe check.

she is only 58 and this is the only source of income for the rest of her life!

This is a serious question and Im willing to accept emails on this subject to help either me or my mom see what is right. [e-mail]

What is the best answer to this question? I am putting this to a vote.

Answer 1

She's not required to scripturally, but if she wants to, I don't see the harm unless a pastor/preacher type is PRESSURING her to do so. If it's from her heart, I think God will bless it.

If she doesn't, it's not sin to her. But try not to worry either way.

Answer 2

I am not sure exactly what you are asking, but I will give you a few things to think about that might be helpful.

First, a tithe would amount to 10% of the insurance settlement. Tithes were a part of the Old Covenant law in the Bible.

Under Old Testament law, your mother is not obligated to pay a tithe on this money. Tithes were due on agricultural profit --livestock and produce. At the beginning, what was encouraged was not cash payment of the tithe, but rather actual livestock and produce which was brought to the temple. If the tithe had to be presented as money, a penalty was attached to it. Later, as cash became more convenient, it became acceptable as a tithe.

There was no tithe of fish from those whose work was fishing, no tithe of fabric from weavers, etc. Tithing was confined only to the agricultural increase (profit).

So, the insurance money is not considered tithable. However, as tithing became no longer required under the old covenant, churches needed to find ways to come up with money to operate and pay for leadership. So donations and temple taxes became the custom.

Bottom line is that it is your mother's money to do with as she pleases. She should not feel that she has to tithe on it, but she can if she wishes make a contribution to a church of any amount, or keep it all for herself, if she feels that is what is best.

Answer 3

Malachi 3:8-10
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. 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.

So from that- whether it is a one time pay-out or a continuous income- it is viewed as the same. It may not be what you want to hear, and I apologize- but it is what is written.

Answer 4

Tithing for most people is a for of repentance.....Your mom should ask herself Why she feels the need to tithe so much. Many churches (Catholic primarily) request 10% of any income be tithed to the church. If she's tithing more than 10% is there a moral reason behind it? Is she feeling guilty about having the money at all? Maybe a good alternative to tithing so much would be donating a portion to a worthwhile charity, just a suggestion.

Answer 5

According to the Bible, she should tithe 10%, that still leaves you with 90%. People are supposed to give it with a happy heart. And don't worry, what you give to God willingly, with a happy heart, he gives back to you 10 fold, or 100 fold, I don't remember which. So why are you standing in your Mom's way again? (But right, tell her to use her head, and don't give it all away! Just 10 percent, or maybe a little more if she really wants to. ) -Oh, and I'm sorry for your loss.

Sorry, I just HAD to edit this.To the person who said that people win the lottery, and tithe, I don't know what church they attend, because I won $1,000 dollars at Bingo a couple times, and wanted to tithe it and the church wouldn't accept it because I got it "gambling"....go figure.

Answer 6

nO sHE sHOULD NOT!

“Woe to you, blind guides,” Jesus says. He condemns the Pharisees’ lack of spiritual values, evidenced by the arbitrary distinctions they make. For example, they say, ‘It is nothing if anyone swears by the temple, but one is under obligation if he swears by the gold of the temple.’ By their putting more emphasis on the gold of the temple than on the spiritual value of that place of worship, they reveal their moral blindness.

Then, as he did earlier, Jesus condemns the Pharisees for neglecting “the weightier matters of the Law, namely, justice and mercy and faithfulness” while giving great attention to paying a tithe, or tenth part, of insignificant herbs.

Jesus calls the Pharisees “blind guides, who strain out the gnat but gulp down the camel!” They strain a gnat from their wine not simply because it is an insect but because it is ceremonially unclean. Yet, their disregarding the weightier matters of the Law is comparable to swallowing a camel, also a ceremonially unclean animal. Matthew 22:41–23:24; Mark 12:35-40; Luke 20:41-47; Leviticus 11:4, 21-24.

Answer 7

If she feels like it I think it is a good idea. However, I think God would be more pleased if she donated the money to charity that helped the less fortunate rather than giving it to a religious society.

I know that most religious institutions help the poor, but they also spend a lot of money on the upkeep of buildings, buying decorations and other such non-essentials. If she wants to give some of her money away she should place it where it will do the most good.

Answer 8

It sounds like your mother is trying to buy her way into heaven. The minister will tell her all sorts of nice things if he thinks he can get his hands on that $$$. She might just as well kiss the money goodbye. Nobody is going to think she is wonderful even if she gives it all away -- regardless of how nicely they smile at your mother. They will simply take advantage of her generosity and she will wonder later why she did it.

Answer 9

Like the above person said, it's her money. However, she might want to consider investing it, and paying her tithe out of earnings.

Answer 10

You cannot outgive God. If the Lord is leading her in this direction then who can question it? Let's not be legalistic. If you come into money and you feel led to tithe then do so. If she didn't feel led to and didn't---I wouldn't think anything of it. However, if she is led in this direction I say go for it.

Answer 11

Maybe now would be a good time for everybody to study the bible about tithing.