The Conservative Cave
Interests => Religious Discussions => Topic started by: jendf on June 18, 2008, 11:19:17 AM
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Do you do tithe?
Do you give 10 percent of your income? Less or more?
Do you think giving anything less than 10 percent means your faith is weak?
Have you ever chosen between tithing and paying a bill?
I'm struggling right now. I don't make a lot of money as it is. I've dug myself a hole with some debts but I've been working to pay them off as quickly as possible. As I focus on paying my debts, I have been lax with my tithe. Part of me says God understands. Another part says I should be tithing even if that means not paying off my debts as soon as I would have hoped.
I'm really struggling here.
I'm curious what your thoughts on this are...
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I dunno.
My own varies.
But what's intriguing about it is that not only do I not miss the money, but the more I give away (to the church specifically), it actually seems the more income I have.
This might be only an illusion, or it might in fact be the truth.
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But what's intriguing about it is that not only do I not miss the money, but the more I give away (to the church specifically), it actually seems the more income I have.
Amen.
But that seems to apply to other things then just money.
Jen,
If you have any spare time, you could give some of that to the church to help them out with a function...I think you would be great with the youth in the church....maybe take a troubled young teenager out jogging with you? Or do some big sister stuff....it's not just about money!
Just some ideas....don't beat yourself up about it....the ultimate tithe is to give all of ourselves to God...every day.
I do not always give money...but will give my time and labor instead...and that is not limited to within the walls of a church...just being nice to someone or helping them out is also part of the Lord's plan for our lives....
I know people that do odd jobs around the church in lieu of tithes as well....ask your pastor or lay leader for options, let him/her know about the burden God has placed on your heart....and continue to pray about it.
Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV
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Do you do tithe?
Do you give 10 percent of your income? Less or more?
Do you think giving anything less than 10 percent means your faith is weak?
Have you ever chosen between tithing and paying a bill?
I'm struggling right now. I don't make a lot of money as it is. I've dug myself a hole with some debts but I've been working to pay them off as quickly as possible. As I focus on paying my debts, I have been lax with my tithe. Part of me says God understands. Another part says I should be tithing even if that means not paying off my debts as soon as I would have hoped.
I'm really struggling here.
I'm curious what your thoughts on this are...
That is an issue to be resolved between God, your heart & your wallet.
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I don't tithe, per se, but I work in a Catholic school and my wife works in a Catholic hospital. We both could go elsewhere for more money, but we like where we are.
I finally found the verse from the Bible that I was looking for. Maybe it'll help.
Hosea 6:6
For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
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I find that tithing decimates me.
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I'm pretty sure God will understand.
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I find I save money by not going to church.
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Seriously (although I am waiting for a response to my response), I give to causes I find to be honorable AND effective: CCF (we are sponsoring 2 kids), St. Jude's Children's Hospital, the local Midnight Mission (a hand, not a handout -- arguably the most effective investment I can make in my community), ASPCA and The Humane Society and a few others.
I do this because I know I am blessed and want to share God's blessings. I also do it to improve the world we are in.
For the moment I get to decide. If the dimocrats win, this type of largess will be at the point of a gun.
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I find that tithing decimates me.
:banghead:
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Seriously, we have more after we give at least some. I don't know how that works, but if we want money left at the end of the month, we give at the beginning. On the other hand, and probably just in our case, if I write the check from my account, it only works so-so. If Mr Smith writes a check for the same amount from his account, we are way farther ahead in the end.
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Seriously, we have more after we give at least some. I don't know how that works, but if we want money left at the end of the month, we give at the beginning. On the other hand, and probably just in our case, if I write the check from my account, it only works so-so. If Mr Smith writes a check for the same amount from his account, we are way farther ahead in the end.
I'm never sure why things work out the way they do.
In early 2007, I got a statement from my church, itemizing my cash donations.
I didn't pay much attention to it, but some days later opened the envelope.
Forgive my French, but I saw the total, and thought, "What the fu--?"
I had no idea this was going on; it turned out I had given 21% of the gross income to the church.....and that didn't include donations (admittedly much lesser) to charitable causes.
And to be bluntly honest, I never missed the money.
The usual and standard caveat here, however; being single with no spouse, no dependents, and no roots, I am free to live a sort of casual, careless, devil-may-care life. If I had responsibilities, I'd be an asshole, living like this. Living this way suits me fine, but I would NOT recommend it for most other people.
And it doesn't make me any more virtuous than other people.
The donations go up-and-down, dependent upon whether or not I need a pick-up truckload of Friskie's cat food, or there's veterinary bills. I suspect God wants me to take care of that first.
But after taking care of that, well, easy come, easy go. It's a light sort of life.
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render unto ceasar...etc
I throw my money into the air on payday..what God wants he can grab, what he wants me to have will float back down to me...its an interesting arrangement I have with God but it appears to be working.
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render unto ceasar...etc
I throw my money into the air on payday..what God wants he can grab, what he wants me to have will float back down to me...its an interesting arrangement I have with God but it appears to be working.
Exactly.
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Thanks for your input everyone. I really appreciate it.
I'm ashamed to admit that part of me wrote this in an attempt to assuage my guilt over not giving. I'm pretty sure He can see through that though. :shucks: :innocent:
But you have all giving me some things to think about. And I thank you.
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Thanks for your input everyone. I really appreciate it.
I'm ashamed to admit that part of me wrote this in an attempt to assuage my guilt over not giving. I'm pretty sure He can see through that though. :shucks: :innocent:
But you have all giving me some things to think about. And I thank you.
I give what I can when I can.
I honestly don't think there should be a set amount...you know...a minimum level that decides wheter you are a good Christian or not.
Think about the story of the old poor woman who was being chastised by the tax collectors at the Temple for not "giving" enough even though she was giving all she had.
Jesus admonished the collectors for that.
If all you can give is a dollar...give a dollar...if you can give a hundred times that...then do so.
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render unto ceasar...etc
I throw my money into the air on payday..what God wants he can grab, what he wants me to have will float back down to me...its an interesting arrangement I have with God but it appears to be working.
Try throwing it into a fire. Anything that God thinks you should keep will not burn...He will protect it and return it to you.
:innocent:
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Thanks for your input everyone. I really appreciate it.
I'm ashamed to admit that part of me wrote this in an attempt to assuage my guilt over not giving. I'm pretty sure He can see through that though. :shucks: :innocent:
But you have all giving me some things to think about. And I thank you.
I give what I can when I can.
I honestly don't think there should be a set amount...you know...a minimum level that decides wheter you are a good Christian or not.
Think about the story of the old poor woman who was being chastised by the tax collectors at the Temple for not "giving" enough even though she was giving all she had.
Jesus admonished the collectors for that.
If all you can give is a dollar...give a dollar...if you can give a hundred times that...then do so.
"Tithing" was invented by Joseph Smith to make sure that The People not only render to him their female children but also a set amount of their income. Give the man points -- he knew how to fleece the herd.
Until . Ron Hubbard, Smith was the second best con man ever (muhammed, may he burn in hell forever between pigs was the first).