Who gets the tithe?

Question

I know you are supposed to give tithe to the lord in the form of money to your church. I have never understood why, because the church is supposed to be without materialism. So why give it to the church when we can use it for something usefull like feeding homeless or something?
I have always felt guilty at church for not giving anything in the collection plate, but I always saw like five and ten dollar bills in there while that was pretty much all I had to last the week.
Can you imagine in a church with sermons three times a week if 100 people all gave 5 dollars, they would be getting 1500/week...
I am sorry, but my family only makes about 1500/month. Why does a church, *or God* need all of that?

Answer 1

I really don't know, but I prefer to put this money in the education of my kids.

Answer 2

You don't need give tithe.

If you read Leviticus 27:30-33, you will find that only food products were tithable. If you read Deuteronomy 14:22-29, you will find that the tithes were supposed to be shared with the poor and be eaten up by you, your family members, the poor and the Levite before the Lord's place. That is the great love of the God under the Law of Tithing.

After Jesus died for us on the cross, we are freed from the Law of Moses, and also the Law of Tithing.

The Lord won't curse you because you are not wealthy and can not afford giving a penny. Instead, the God still loves you and blesses you since the Lord came to help the poor as shown even in the Law of Tithing.

What the Lord wants is not 10% of your income, but 100% of you. So just follow his words, spread his love, help others whenever you can, and donate whenever you can afford. The God will always bless you.

Some churches forces Christians to pay tithes of all their income. This rule doesn't come out from the Law or the Lord, but from their own greedy. They are the one who rob the God, the love of the God.

Answer 3

Tithing is setting apart 10% of your income and using it for the use of the Lord's work here on earth. Usually this 'Lord's work' is done through the church. But that is NOT the only place it is done. There are so many voluntary organisations that are freely doing it. You can support those organisations through your tithe. The church does need money to pay the pastors salary, maintenance of the building and various activities of the church which need finances. But you should be aware of what's going on in the church. These days, there is large scale misuse of church funds. Some unscrupulous elements even use those for stock market games. As the Bible says, don't put your pearls before the swine.....In other words you should make correct judgements and support the real work of the Lord. Give to the church, but not the entire 10%. It can be distributed to other organisations too, as you feel the need. Bottom line is, know where your money is going. Then you can have the satisfaction that it is being used correctly. Not going to fuel swank mercs and huge buildings.

Answer 4

The tithe is not about giving "money to the church" but giving back the "first fruits" to God.
Before most people worked in cities and received "money" to buy what they needed the families grew their own or worked a job and received a portion of whatever was created which they either ate(if food) or bartered. The tithe would be the first tenth (and best) of this. It was given in thanks. At that time this fed the priests so they were free to do God's work.
In this day and age we give it to God by way of the church. It is used to pay the minister, and upkeep on the building... but it also goes for missions both in and out of the US. Some goes to feed the hungry, to clothe people, to buy meds for the sick, etc. If you are not sure what your church does with it you should ask. If you disagree with how it is being spent then you are probably in the wrong church to begin with. Look around and ask questions. After all it is a gift to God, but that doesn't mean it should go to just any one calling themselves a church. Knowledgeable giving is what God calls stewardship.

Answer 5

The Lord said "Pay an honest Tithe (it means ten percent) and see if I will not open the windows of Heaven. Because of this law, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints is able to send out tons of material and supply many man hours to stricken areas like New Orleans after Katrina. There is no paid ministry in the church so it all goes to buildings, schools, welfare, etc. His church is a church of service. You could be a Bishop (Pastor) for awhile and then be a sunday school teacher or Boy Scout leader. Boys go out on missions for two years at their own expense.

Answer 6

Tithing is different for different churches. Sometimes the pastor gets paid more if people give more. Other times the pastor gets paid the same and the money goes to various expenses. My church practices the latter. Certain percentages go different places. Some stay at the church to pay for water and electricity and some goes to the conference to pay the pastors, and then there is the offering which you can designate the funds where ever. Worthy student fund, or world mission. Whatever. It's true what you said. God doesn't NEED our money. He asks for it. It is a show of our faith and also a show of thanks for all of the blessings he has given us. We are supposed to give cheerfully and not begrudgingly.

Answer 7

It's in the bible although I don't know the in's and out's of it. I know that you should give with a joyful heart because you want to. You should never be forced into it.

If I had to guess, I would say that it is because money is what makes the world go around and nobody likes to give it up. By doing so, you are really showing your belief, because if you didn't believe. Why bother to give up your money.

I am not your best tither in the world, but when I do give it away I don't think too much about how it's being spent.. I know that it is what was in my heart at the time of giving that counts.

If you don't have a lot of money, there are so many other ways to give. God is not going to punish you for not doing certain things.

Answer 8

First the Bible commands a 10% tithe of your income. So if you get $5.00 a month that is 50¢. Surely you can afford that.

The Tithe goes to paying utility bills for the church. Office expenses like paper and pens and paper clips just like any office. It pays for the Pastor's salary. If you church has an assistant pastor then his salary as well. Is there a church secretary? Then her salary as well. Then there is upkeep on the church building. Most churches give to missionary funds and probably help with homeless as well.

Answer 9

The ten percent of my income that the Lord has commanded me to give is not my money...it is His. And because I am a member of a chruch that does not have paid clergy, all tithes are used for the building up of the Kingdom of God. Monies are used to buy houses of worship, scriptures, funds for missionary work etc. The only paid people in the church are those on a administrative level..there is no paid clergy. My church uses a lot of funds to feed the poor and sends a lot of money for aid during crisis around the world. It is not my job to decide if it is convenient or not to pay tithing. It's the Lord's money...he gives me all that I have. When I was on a mission for my church and I explained the principle of tithing I would always compare it in this simple way: Let's say I am your friend and I buy you this huge pizza with ten lucious slices of your favorite pizza. I bring the pizza to you, happy to give it to you. You open up the pizza and begin to eat. I sit there and watch and ask you if I might have one piece of that pizza. You say no! ---Well, that's what we are saying to the Lord when we do not tithe. Read the final part of Ezekiel wherein the Lord promises us that the windows of Heaven will open upon us and to TRY Him by paying our tithes and offerings. He wants us to TEST Him. I have been greatly blessed by following this commandment.

Answer 10

tithe is just giving God back 10% of what He has given you out of your earnings. the church, just like everything else in the world needs money to keep them running, so that is why you give it to the church, so they can keep ministering to the community. also sometimes if they have enough to take care of the church, it does go to other people in other countries or charities. there is also nothing wrong with giving it directly to charities. whatever the Lord puts on your heart. as far as other people putting 10 dollars or more, it just means that they have more to give....if you made $1, you give 10 cents, $10, give $1, etc. the more you give, the more you get, so i don't mind giving, that's just me.

Answer 11

Tithing is not a commandment. Tithing comes from a giving heart if not given in that way it is not acceptable to God. If you think about it the church does feed with the "bread of life"!.