Do you think people should tithe if they're in debt?

Question

I think that the answer probably differs, depending on the individual's situation, type of debt, amount they're in debt...

What do you think?

Sorry for being unclear in my question - titheing is a Christian practice of giving 10% of your income to God - usually by giving it to the church, or Christian organisations or individuals.

Thank you for all your answers, especially the testimonies - very inspiring.

Answer 1

Yes, most of America is in debt because they choose to be.

I can only tell you from experience.

My wife and I had been living in poverty and debt for many years. But when we got paid we always took 1/10 off the top and gave to the Lord. Sometimes we had to let bills go to do this but we held to this because that is what the Bible said to do.

Read Malachi 3:8-12

But now in just a few years of being obedient to the scriptures. We have a new home paid for in full. Two vehicles. A spread of land that I had always wanted. We are out of debt. The money always seemed to stretch just enough.

Through obedience God made the way for us. Looking back I really can't say how it happened, other than it was the hand of God. I am still very young and have never have had a lot of money. Somehow God met the need. I am no longer in bondage to the dollar.

Another thing that has just happened to us. And it is about giving an offering. There was this thing we have been wanting since we moved in or new home in the fall. We have been saving money for it. Literally nickel and dimeing to get it. I mean collecting pocket change and we few dollar bills we had left over after paying tithes and the bills.

This thing is very expensive and is something we really wanted. One night will laying in bed think about an evangelist friend of mine. I told the Lord if you bless me with money I would help send him out (mostly over seas) preaching the gospel. I don't know how to desribe it but the Lord spoke to me. He said why don't you give of what you got. I thought I don't have nothing, then I remembered the money we saved to purchase that item we were wanting.

This stayed on my heart for days. Debating about giving all I had saved. But I knew it was God who laid this upon me. So we decided to give what we had to the ministry. Not knowing how we would ever buy the thing we wanted.

Just a few weeks later my wife boss called her in the office. He told her more or less he liked her job she done above evrybody else, she didn't understand why because she just come in and do it and go home, nothing special. He decided to create a new possition at work for her and give her a promotion. The difference of the raise alone for one year is 10 times what we gave to the preacher. And enough to buy what we had planned.

We can never out give God. Just have faith and believe in him.

Answer 2

We definitely should. How else will we obtain blessings - both spiritual and physical? I would never give up the blessings of paying tithing because of debt... and most people' these days DO have debt until they're seniors (including me).

Mal. 3: 10
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

My husband and I have always been "poor" (low income job, single income, kids) but we've always paid out tithing first, before anything else. We've never lacked for the things we need. People at church, who are more affluent than us, often pass on their second-hand clothes to us., or we find some very good bargains in the op shop.

We pay attention to our budget... and paying tithing helps us to do this, because we have to know exactly what our income is in order to pay an honest and accurate tithe. Being aware of the finances makes it much easier to get by on a low income.

Answer 3

on the one hand tradition has dictated that people who dont tithe are like unto thieves that steal from God. However, if a person reads Malachi ch. 3 or 4, ( i forget the quote) there is enough to say ALSO that anyone who collects tithes in the name of God are also thieves. thats under the conditions of using tithing for personal use and not for widows and the fatherless and other similar things.

in reality, God owns us, even our very bodies are not owned by us, but Jesus has bought us with a price and God has given us to him. So, technically we should give to God 100% but since it was proven that mankind are too selfish and cannot live the United Order tithing became the default.

There are some people who split hairs and define tithing as giving of ones "increase" and not of ones personal income.
i personally find it hard to give to any church because i dont see the kingdom of God among the church(es). I see babylon controlling all forms of money and most churches wouldn't exist without babylon.

Answer 4

Yes, if they have faith they should tithe. Everything we have comes from God, and he has asked that we give back only 10%, And in Malachi the principle of tithing comes with a promise that God will pour out blessings so much that there is not even room to receive them.

We should not be in debt in the first place - that shows bad stewardship - but even if we are we need to trust God first and pray that we will use well what he has given us.

Answer 5

No. They should recieve the tithe if they are in debt, up to the amount they are in debt for. Once that is cleared, then they should tithe. This is, of course, assuming the debtee is beign honest about his/her debts and tells the truth about how much they owe. Everything is, hypothetically, relational. However, churches often claim they cannot give that money back to the ones who need it most, because the church is also in debt... :o

My solution??? Go back to the barter system. Be rid of "money"... Yes, it *could* mean we'll all have to go back to hunting and fishing and growing our own food, but not necessarily... it *could* also just mean that the conglomerate corporations supplying the world with plastic food will actually have to give up their gadzillion-dollar lifestyles...

Answer 6

Yes, that puts God's hedge of protection around you, if you are living a Holy life
One tenth of our money belongs to God it is such a very small amount so if we don't we are stealing from God
When you do that the blessings start to follow, after I started tithing when I was and still am in debt, my husband got a job and now we have more and have been able to pay down some of the other bills

God is Good all the time

Answer 7

Some time ago, I heard a radio show about Christian credit counseling. The people using the service were all in excess of $20,000 in debt. They said they were STILL told to tithe.

If people aren't making enough to live, why should they still be asked to give money to the church?? "Hmm, Johnny needs new shoes. Should I buy them, or give the cash to the church?" I assure you, the church will still stand and go on if you don't tithe.

Answer 8

I think that tithing should be up to the person. If someone is in a lot of debt, they could contribute to the church community in some other way. If they are wealthy, perhaps they should give more than ten percent to the church. But I think this is up to the individual and should not be mandated by a church.

The Ol' Hippie Jesus Freak
Grace, Peace and Love in Christ
Peg

Answer 9

My husband and I are deeply in debt and have been living on a shoestring for a very long time. We tithe however, and we do so faithfully. We believe that God will bless us for our sacrifice and many times it's made the difference between eating and not. Skeptics may disagree, but I know that there is a Power in obedience to God's laws which cannot be explained away by science. And I know that the law of tithing is a good and a righteous thing.

Answer 10

I believe that is up to the individual not for someone else to judge. As for me I have difficulty tithing when I have credit card debt. However if I am going to spend extra money on fast food/starbucks or other unnecessary items I tithe off that money. I make sure my bills are paid first. Again I don't think that is necessarily right I think it is between you and the Lord. Sorry if that was confusing