how can I tithe 10 percent?

Question

After I pay all the mortgage, all the grocery expenses, all the medical expenses, gasoline, school expenses, clothing for son, household repair expenses, car repair expenses. I can hardly make ends meet as it is. I honestly don't know where the money would come from. I shop at Aldi's for food, don't ever buy myself new clothes or shoes, only buy things on sale for son, cut my own hair, son cuts his own hair. Please advise.

Luvdalz, I did try it that way once. Checks were bouncing like crazy and I was in deep trouble, inspite of praying about it and having faith that God would see me thru.

I have tried to give 10 percent first then pay the rest. I prayed and prayed and prayed for God to help me see a way. Evidently those who are writing this answer either have spouses who contribute half, or have more than enough money for everything. Good for you! I tried it and believed that God would help me find a way, and what I ended up with was a mortgage a month behind, calls from medical vendors threatening to turn me over to collection, a total nightmare.

Meagan, most pastors don't pay their own medical insurance, have a home provided for them, etc. I live in a tiny two bedroom house in a crummy neighborhood, drive a car that barely makes it, live very sparsely with little help from my spouse.

Matt, thank you for being a kind brother in the faith.

Yah, I should neglect paying the clinic and then get turned down for a dr appt until I pay them money I don't have.

Answer 1

Cheat a little. Buy a little less food ($1-$5). Use $1 less gas per week. Save $1-$2 less on sons clothing, where-ever possible. I don't know if this will be of any consolation, but God knows your heart and financial situation. When you give what you can, from your heart, even if there are times when all you can give him is your love, God is pleased with you.
I believe that your heart is good and God knows for sure. You are blessed, and have found favor in The Fathers eyes
My prayers are with you, in Jesus name.

Answer 2

Once upon a time I was a member of a church that had a decent sum of money in the bank and didn't seem interested in using any of it to help anyone. After carefully considering the situation I realized that by continuing to give a tithe to this church I wasn't being a good steward of what God had blessed me with so I began to send part of my tithes to another smaller church that seemed to need the money a lot more. I believe you are on the right track, pray for God to show you how He would have you use this money.

Answer 3

You dont have to tithe
Tithing was an old testament law when the temple was standing
The tithe was to to keep Gods House in order
The Priests used to take a tenth of the tithe to the temple to keep them going
Today there is no temple
The Churches are all man made and not a house for God to dwell in so
If God wants a church building to stay up he will see to it
What God wants is for us to love one another and share with each other as the need arises
Next time you see an old lady scratching for a few pence to pay her grocery bill--Go and pay the bill for her
When you see a blind man whisling to earn a few bob and a little angel on your sholder says "go give him somethin"
do it and give hin £10 or £20 not 10p
If you have no money offer your time somewhere
This is what God wants
Not a multi million dollar real estate business in modern churches
You do not need a church to talk to God--you can do it in your room
And dont let the big churches make you feel guilty or play on your emotions about the subject. If a church or denomination is truly of God He will most certainly provide them with their needs without them having to beg from the less fortunate than themselves

Answer 4

The word tithe means ten percent. If you pay a title of your income, it would be ten percent of your income. If you say you tithe five percent, or any amount other than ten percent then, then it is not a tithe.

It is hard to begin paying tithing. Many people say they pay their tithing first, then pay the rest of the bills, and it all works out.

All I can say is that if you don't try, then you will never know.

If you feel that you can't pay a tithe, then try by making a smaller contribution, and work up to a tithe.

The Bible says,

8 ¶ Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
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.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. ((Malachi 3:8-11)

Answer 5

So glad you asked, honey.

I was in the same position a number of years ago. I saw that there was no way to give a portion back to God, but after hearing sermon after sermon and message after message about trusting in the Lord and His faithfulness to provide I finally took that leap of faith.

God is Jehovah Jireh, the Lord who provides. He not only owns the cattle on a thousand hills but He ALSO owns the thousand hills. EVERYTHING IS HIS.

This walk of following the Lord as our SAviour is a walk of faith. We are called to trust in Him. Believe me, God is not here to let us down.

So, I just decided to trust God and give to Him the 10% the bible speaks about. Its His anyway.

So I did that. I would set aside my tithe for Sun. church. I did that for a few years now. Come tax time the first year I saw how much I gave compared to my total income.

It was 10%, give or take a few dollars. And I have ALWAYS had enough for my responsibilites. ALWAYS !!!

Listen, Daisey, God is faithful. One last thing, tithing is a way that we can extend ourselves in trusting in the Lord. Believe you me, He doesn't need our money.

God recieves the glory in our trusting in Him.

God bless you.

Answer 6

My pastor preached a sermon about this a couple weeks ago and he was in the same shoes as you were. He said that he was talking to God about his problem and God spoke back to him and told him to forget about all his expenses, (still pay them) but really focus on still giving your tithe. If you give your tithe and/or offering, God will bless you, and who knows what that blessing will be, maybe with a better pay? Give it a try =]

Answer 7

No one else can tell you what God is saying to you aside from those things stated as black and white in the Word of God. God is the Author of peace not of confusion. There are many godly, biblical ministries that address the realm of the financial. Jesus spoke much about money while on earth.

One of my pet peeves is the misquote that money is the root of all evil. Money in and of itself is neutral but the LOVE of money results in all kinds of evil. I believe this applies to those with too little as well as those with too much. Sometimes when we have little we forget that He is capable of meeting all of our needs and when we have an abundance our faith is in our own resources.

I would encourage you to take a step back, ask God to direct you and work through you. Then I would search the Word of God as well as some godly people who are knowledgeable about finances. I would recommend any book by Larry Burkett, Dave Ramsey or material from Crown Financial Ministries. Crown even has counsellors who will meet with you for free. I know because this is a ministry that my husband does. He is passionate about it.

God wants our giving to be out of a cheerful heart of gratitude not out of compulsion or merely guilt. In this matter as any other in life I direct you to the words of Proverbs 3:5 - 6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not relay on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path."

Bless you!

Answer 8

How about volunteering at a soup kitchen or for a worthwhile cause or donating your old clothes to charity? Last year my husband and I bought all our Christmas gifts from charities that gave the proceeds to a needy cause such as Saint Judes, Save Darfur or (Red) products.
Do you think God would want you to give 10% to your church if that meant you were on the street?

Answer 9

There is no law in the new testament, given to believers, which says you must do this.

Giving a tenth of what you have is an act of faith, which I have found to be fruitful.
IF you can't (or don't feel you can) give ten percent, give seven or five or one.
Watch and see if it doesn't bare fruit. It is a spiritual law recognized by probably every religion.
If you drop a rock it falls.
If you plant corn corn grows.

If you plant a seed of faith, it will grow.

Are you actually borne again?
If not, you might want to consider this first.

Gypsy Priest

Answer 10

Why would you want to? Why would ANYONE want to give 10% of their hard-earned money to a church so they can squander it on bad toupes, advertising & fancy buildings?

Look after you family first. Save money for "later", and when you find you have more than you need (which always happens if you budget properly), make your charitable gifts directly to those in need or to organizations whose accounts are public, so you can see where you money is going and what good it is doing.

I am not a Christian, but I do know the bible fairly well: I recall multiple instances of Jesus giving directly to those in need (and beseeching others to do the same), but have so far found no bible verses explaining a time when Jesus gave money to a third party to "administer" it on His behalf!

It was over 700 years after Christ's death that the Catholic Church began to promote the idea of giving a "tithe" (or tenth) of your worth to the men-in-skirts, and another 800 years before Protestantism was invented...