Comments on: Less Than Ten Percent Tithe http://www.rayfowler.org/2008/04/16/less-than-ten-percent-tithe/ Thoughts on God and life from a Christian perspective Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:51:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ray Fowler http://www.rayfowler.org/2008/04/16/less-than-ten-percent-tithe/#comment-7233 Ray Fowler Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:50:50 +0000 http://www.rayfowler.org/2008/04/16/less-than-ten-percent-tithe/#comment-7233 <b>Victoria</b> - Thank you for visiting and posting your question. These are difficult times financially, and it sounds like you are doing your best to navigate them well. I applaud you for putting your trust in God as your provider, for being thankful and content with what you have, for using a budget to manage expenses, and for giving to the Lord as an act of worship. As far as choosing between paying off debt or giving to God, I firmly believe we should still give to the Lord first, and then take care of our other obligations. The Bible teaches regular, proportional giving in keeping with our income. (1 Corinthians 16:2) I believe this starts with a tithe. But you need to work this out between you and the Lord. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says that "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." Here are a couple of messages I have preached on giving that you may find helpful as you work through these issues. <a href="http://www.rayfowler.org/sermons/christian-finances-in-troubled-times/" rel="nofollow">Christian Finances in Troubled Times</a> <a href="http://www.rayfowler.org/sermons/called/called-to-contribute/" rel="nofollow">Called to Contribute</a> All the best! Ray Fowler Victoria – Thank you for visiting and posting your question. These are difficult times financially, and it sounds like you are doing your best to navigate them well. I applaud you for putting your trust in God as your provider, for being thankful and content with what you have, for using a budget to manage expenses, and for giving to the Lord as an act of worship.

As far as choosing between paying off debt or giving to God, I firmly believe we should still give to the Lord first, and then take care of our other obligations. The Bible teaches regular, proportional giving in keeping with our income. (1 Corinthians 16:2) I believe this starts with a tithe. But you need to work this out between you and the Lord. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says that “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Here are a couple of messages I have preached on giving that you may find helpful as you work through these issues.

Christian Finances in Troubled Times
Called to Contribute

All the best!
Ray Fowler

]]> By: Victoria http://www.rayfowler.org/2008/04/16/less-than-ten-percent-tithe/#comment-7229 Victoria Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:55:10 +0000 http://www.rayfowler.org/2008/04/16/less-than-ten-percent-tithe/#comment-7229 I have been tithing 10% of my income for most of 2008, as I fully understand that God is our sole provider of all things. I should also point out that I am the sole provider of a four person household (two boys under 10). We are doing well with regards of having our NEEDS met, and thank God for my job with benefits and our affordable home; but there is not an abundence of money for lifes little extras. Keep in mind, I am quite content and thankful for all we have. I also am proactive in managing our expenses with a planned personal expense budget. In light of the economic crisis, I have been trying to put all "extras" (which isn't much) into our line of credit (LOC), just in-case we are forced to use the LOC to help us get through this year -- we have no savings. In doing so, I now tithe less than 10% and sometimes don't tithe at all, because I would have to take money out of my LOC. I read/hear mixed messages about paying off debt as it relates to tithing. I have been praying and reading His word for God's direction with this. I would also like to hear other perspectives from a Christ centered viewpoint -- should I reduce the dollar amount I am using to pay off the LOC in order to give God 10% of my income? I have been tithing 10% of my income for most of 2008, as I fully understand that God is our sole provider of all things. I should also point out that I am the sole provider of a four person household (two boys under 10). We are doing well with regards of having our NEEDS met, and thank God for my job with benefits and our affordable home; but there is not an abundence of money for lifes little extras. Keep in mind, I am quite content and thankful for all we have. I also am proactive in managing our expenses with a planned personal expense budget. In light of the economic crisis, I have been trying to put all “extras” (which isn’t much) into our line of credit (LOC), just in-case we are forced to use the LOC to help us get through this year — we have no savings. In doing so, I now tithe less than 10% and sometimes don’t tithe at all, because I would have to take money out of my LOC. I read/hear mixed messages about paying off debt as it relates to tithing. I have been praying and reading His word for God’s direction with this. I would also like to hear other perspectives from a Christ centered viewpoint — should I reduce the dollar amount I am using to pay off the LOC in order to give God 10% of my income?

]]>