What did Pastor mean by????

Question

I know I am to Tithe 10% of all gross earnings, but my pastor once said if you are not tithing for the right reasons you might as well not tithe. I know I tithe because its not mine to begain with and would not be posible with out The Lord, but what are the right reasons??

Pastor john
It was said when I was a teen & has just stayed with me

Answer 1

Read 2Corinthians 9:6-7. God does not want us to give because we "have to" and "it's required of us". No. The right way to give to God is with a cheerful, glad heart. Thanking Him for the opportunity to be able to give back to Him a portion of what He has blessed you with, so that His work can be done. If you always give with that attitude, you are giving for the right reasons.

Answer 2

I tithe because of the commandment with a promise that God gives in Malachi 3:10. Interesting tidbit about that verse - it's the ONLY place in the Bible where God says to test him, and boy have I tested him! He says he will open the windows of heaven and give you blessings that you don't have room to receive. I can honestly say that I've given my tithe regularly even when I didn't know how I was going to pay my other bills, but I have never been late with a bill and we've always had way more of everything than we've needed. I still think back to some of the times we had and how God pulled us thru them financially and if they hadn't happened to me I don't think I would have believed them. It has truly been a supernatural experience for us.

I've heard what your pastor said before and here's what I think about it... I think it means that if you give because you want something in return then that's a bad reason. If you give because you are being obedient, then that's a good reason. I don't know of a place where it says to tithe only if you have a right mind, however, but maybe I've just missed it. I've also heard pastors say that if you tithe, even for the wrong reasons, that this financial law (in Malachi) still works - that even if a non-believer tithes, that the law still works.

We started tithing about 8 years ago, and our net worth has increased almost 900% during that time frame! Also during that same time period, I lost a job paying well into the 6-figure range, my husband wasn't working, and I didn't know how we'd make it. I never went back to work in the corporate world because I think I lost my job for a reason. I am now self-employed and I make more than I ever did before, in a totally different line of work! It's unbelievable what God has done for us financially and I KNOW it's because we've faithfully followed this commandment.

Here's another thing I heard a few weeks ago - an acronym for DEBT:
Doing
Everything
But
Tithing

Kinda cool, ain't it? God is faithful.

Answer 3

Having been Pastor of a Church I know there are people that tithe strictly trying to purchase a position. They then hold their tithe as ransom if they don't get what they want.
There are also those that tithe strictly to obtain the blessing of God.
Tithing should be done out of Love and Obedience for God and His Son Jesus Christ.

Answer 4

just for the reasons you said you tithe...but maybe the question you are looking for is what are the wrong reasons...

some people tithe:
for popularity at that church
beliveing they will get in "God's good graces" if they tithe and do everything else wrong
for show (putting big dollars in the collection plate)

im sure if you think of some of the members at your church, you can come up with some reasons as well...

Answer 5

You are supposed to give your offering from the heart Tithing doesnt necessarily mean money. You can tithe your time to helping others in need, tithe clothing or good to those in need. There are all sorts of ways to offer yourself to the church

Answer 6

Jesus spoke of where "our hearts" were. In other words, it isn't enough to give unless the money is given freely out of our love and commitment to God. As Paul said, "the Lord loves a cheerful giver". So I suspect that your pastor was saying that if you tithe because you have to and begrudge the money or give it with resentment, you are not giving with a right heart. If you give out of the joy of what the Lord has given to you, the gift is a worthy one. But why don't you ask your pastor what he/she meant? :)

Pastor John

Addendum: That explains it. It is also good to know that something I tell my teens may stick with them. :)

Answer 7

I dont tithe, I give my money to where I know it will be of good use. If I see starving family, I buy food for them, ect. That way I know it is going to help those in need as God would want it to.
I see many pastors and those family who are living a very good life on the money given to the church. and have a lot more than they need. God doesnt want you to have more than you need.

Answer 8

Tithes were dreamed up by church leaders for the benefit of church leaders. Just think how much ten percent of the entire earnings of a whole town comes to. The Lord ends up with zero. Every penny goes into the pocket of the " Lords representative ", who lives like a "lord".

Answer 9

10% tithing was a directive given to the Isrealites, not the Christians of modern day. God promised them - as well - that they could test Him in this area, and he would show them that He would reward them.

Tithing has often been misapplied to Christian churches. Sure... we can follow this mode as an example, but it is not a requirement. In fact, in Acts...when the first Christian churches began... tithing was not the mode used to help with costs. Scriptures state that all the believers were together and unified... and, they gave to each other as they had need.

Do not get me wrong... I provide monies to my church for operating costs and benevolent programs and missions. But, I do what is reasonable for my budget, being a good steward of my finances. Because I do not party...drink, and gamble and what not... I can afford to do so.

Having the right reasons...is referring to the attitude with which you give. Take a look at the attitudes of Cain and Abel... Abel gave of the best of his flocks, Cain gave of the worst of his crops. The approach of one compared to the other was very different. God accepted Abel's offering, but He did not accept Cain's offering. Cain became so jealous... he murdered his brother.

You can also examine the story of Ananias and Sapphira, in the book of Acts. The approach to which people give is very important. You need to want to be generous to God and God's people... if you sin in the giving process (boast, be arrogant, lie, or cheat) - God does not respect this kind of approach. He wants you to give cheerfully, and responsibly - or not at all.

Answer 10

You don't tithe to impress your fellow parishoners, or the pastor or to gain recognition here on earth. Your left hand should know know what your right hand is doing.. thusly you give with a good heart and give back to the community from your personal wealth to please God.