Is giving generously to Goodwill a form of tithing?

Question

While I feel that I don't always have the funds to provide the Lord with 10% of my income, I will give very generously to Goodwill. I have donated a perfectly good carseat, unused baby cloths, a buisness suit worth several hundred, lightly used clothing from high end department stores, etc . (These items were given to me as gifts, and I either had no need for them because they were surplus or I had "grown" out of them).

Am I serving the Lord with my materialistic donations that I joyfully give to Goodwill? Do my donations compare at all to giving $ to my church?

Thank you!

Goodwill is a Christian organization. I remember seeing a picture of Jesus in one of their dressing rooms.

The items go for a minimal price. A large portion of the profit is used to pay the employees who need the money. It's a cycle of giving to the needy; the catalyst of this cycle are all the donations, and Christ, of course. In a way, I AM giving to the needy in the form of goods and $.

Answer 1

Tithes is 10% off the top to your church. Donating to Goodwill is wonderful and an extra way of giving. But remember this, God just ask that we do what we can. Sort of like the widow in the Bible.

Answer 2

OK, first off - I am a pastor. Your giving pays my paycheck.

Tithing is a rule of thumb, minimum practice for Christians who have money or other assets to spare. The idea was that the first 10% was God's not the last 10%... this was what ran the Temple and the priestly system under the old Temple cult.

You might have noticed that Christians no longer have a temple in Jerusalem (ok, they never did) and so that "tithe" is more about a good rule of thumb for minimal giving rather than a rule of life. A lot of pastors will stretch this one during stewardship week, but I don't.

You might read Robert L. Johnson's book called "The Lie of the Tithe." It isn't pretty and it is poorly editted and frankly a little offensive, but it tells the truth.

Christians commit 100% to Jesus, not just the last 10% or even just the first 10%. If you haven't given up family or home or love for Jesus, you haven't yet begun.

I hope you find what you're searching for, and I hope you give of yourself FIRST and carefully inspect any ministry before you give a single nickel. Jesus commanded generosity to the poor, the widow, and the orphan... but never said to send in a nickel to help the disciples. :-)

Grace & Peace!

Answer 3

The Lord wants to be first in your life. That means He wants you to give back to Him the first fruits of your labor. Before you pay anyone else, including the taxman and yourself, you're to give to God. And do it with joy. If you can't do it with joy, then don't give, but don't use other priorities as an excuse to not give. You can always have the funds, and the blessings God promises, if you put your heart to it.

Donating clothes is cool, but why not donate them to a Christian organization like the Salvation Army. At least they're doing God's work and the secular work they do is done more efficiently than any other charitable organization.

PS: I just visited the Goodwill site. Not one mention of God or Jesus. At the salvation Army, their faith is very public.

Answer 4

No...a "tithe" is a portion of income and given to The Church for the work of The Church...donations of goods to The Salvation Army would not be a "tithe" either...but cash would be as a large percentage of those in The Salvation Army are also of The Church and they do the work of The Great Commission in The Name of God

Answer 5

no giving to goodwill would be your offering.. the bible clearly states to give one tenth of your FIRST CROPS or your first money.. that is where the word tithe comes frome a tenth .. then it clearly speaks of offerings in which your donations will fall. Pray about it god will always give you 10 fold what you give to him so though it may seem as though you cant afford it, trust the lord and let him show you how HE can provide for you! I hoped i could help you ... You seem to have an open heart pray and let God show you all he can do!

Answer 6

Yes, it is, but it doesn't really take the place of tithing. Then again in the New Testament we are not told to tithe. What we are told to do is give. There is no distinction on how much. There is, however, a promise that the more we give, the more will be given back to us.

Luk 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Answer 7

You should donate FOR the sake of being a generous, giving person, not because your Church thinks you are serving the Lord for doing so.

Acts of kindness, generosity and goodwill, should be done out of the sake of doing so, not because someone tells you to.

Answer 8

We are to give of our best to the Lord. Giving used things
to Goodwill isn't tithing. It is a good thing to give to Goodwill and other organizations. Tithing is given to the church, for the upkeep of the church.

Answer 9

in Gen 4 God Only Accepts certian gifts....It is good to give to the goodwill...But all you are doing is giving away your leftovers...If you donated your brand new 65" plasma TV it would be something else....Remember God gave you everything you have.....Is 10% so much to give back...Give it to the goodwill or perhapts a down on his luck neighbor that needs help pay his electric bill or maybe his mortgage.

Answer 10

To give of your surplus is somewhat a form of tithing. though I heard some faiths (not Catholic) adhere you give from your gross income 10% to the church, which to me is really a hardship on families nowadays. I don't think that is a good thing. It's all about giving with a 'good heart".