Tithing

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PANDA_IHB

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Do any of you regular church attenders faithfully tithe 10% of your income to your church? I have to admit, this is one area that i do struggle with, especially during recessionary times like this. My wife is very big on tithing and makes sure that she always gives 10% of her gross income to our church, where i am still working on faithfully tithing 10% of my net. We also had a little disagreement when she wanted to give her entire first pay check to the church as an offering.



Question?

Do any of you feel very blessed when you faithfully tithe? Not just in monetary sense, but maybe family or your overall happiness? Sometimes i wonder if it because i am not faithfully tithing that my business sales have remained flat and not growing? I guess i am asking this as my pastor's message really challenged me last Sunday. When guys like Marc Faber, Peter Schiff, and Jim Rogers says we are headed for a serious depression, I don't take it too seriously, but when my pastor says we are headed for some serious hard times in 2009, I get really concerned as I know he is a serious man of God.
 
I find it interesting you take your pastor more seriously regarding the economy than you would peter schiff. Im not religious so i dont give to religious organizations. I do donate to animal and cancer charities. I do feel good that i am making a difference in a dog/cats life knowing that i am helping them get fed or helping them get medical attention.



10% of your net is very generous - keep up the generosity!
 
That is a great topic, Panda. I thank you for posting it. I like to look at 2 Corinthians 9:6-13 to see what the New Testament has to say about it (since we know the 10% guide is in the OT.) Corinthians says "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (NIV) I think it is interesting that it goes on to mention providing seeds to the sower, bread for food, and service that you perform to supply the needs of God's people. I am definitely no expert here but it just seems to me that it is saying you could "tithe" by offering more than just money. It reminds me of the little drummer boy. All he had to give was his music and that is what he gave with a cheerful heart.



Monetarily, we do tithe but not a full 10%. It is something that the human side of us struggles with as well. I like your wife! That reminds me of the Christmas when my husband and I got money. We were just starting out and had hardly anything. I put it all in the collection plate. His heart was not a cheerful as mine! I look at the path our lives have taken. We have been so incredibly blessed since then and so prosperous compared to that day. I have no complaints, only gratefulness. I would like to give more of myself in all ways. Lately our pastor has been referring to the poor economy as you are talking about. He is not asking for anything - just asking what the church can do for its people and offering all kinds of help from basic necessities to financial counseling, etc.



Good luck, Panda!
 
[quote author="SoCal78" date=1228217379]That is a great topic, Panda. I thank you for posting it. I like to look at 2 Corinthians 9:6-13 to see what the New Testament has to say about it (since we know the 10% guide is in the OT.) Corinthians says "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (NIV) I think it is interesting that it goes on to mention providing seeds to the sower, bread for food, and service that you perform to supply the needs of God's people. I am definitely no expert here but it just seems to me that it is saying you could "tithe" by offering more than just money. It reminds me of the little drummer boy. All he had to give was his music and that is what he gave with a cheerful heart.



Monetarily, we do tithe but not a full 10%. It is something that the human side of us struggles with as well. I like your wife! That reminds me of the Christmas when my husband and I got money. We were just starting out and had hardly anything. I put it all in the collection plate. His heart was not a cheerful as mine! I look at the path our lives have taken. We have been so incredibly blessed since then and so prosperous compared to that day. I have no complaints, only gratefulness. I would like to give more of myself in all ways. Lately our pastor has been referring to the poor economy as you are talking about. He is not asking for anything - just asking what the church can do for its people and offering all kinds of help from basic necessities to financial counseling, etc.



Good luck, Panda!</blockquote>


Thanks for the verse Socal.



The message last Sunday was on Malachi 3:8-10



Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, "How do we rob you?" In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse - the whole nation of you - because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, "says the Lord Almighty, "and see if i will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.



One thing that my pastor said that struck me was either you keep 100% yourself and be on your own or give God 10% of the first fruit of your crop and keep the remaining 90% and partner with him during the great depression to come. Before, I've always thought that i can create my own future by controling my own destiny. I certainly don't want to go through the Great Depression II where i am completely on my own.



It is cool to meet another fellow christian on the IHB. I attend Harvest Bible Chapel where James McDonald is our senior pastor. He is the equivalent of Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in the midwest. He is very bold and blunt and speaks the truth.
 
I truly believe we get back more than we give. About six months ago I was driving to a doctor's appointment. I was running late and didn't eat breakfast or lunch. I always try and keep a few snacks in my car for these hectic days, so I figured I could eat one of these snacks. I was close to the doctor's office and already getting a headache from not eating. I stopped at a red light and reached in the glove compartment and grabbed the only snack I had. I was just about to eat it when I saw a homeless man with a sign asking for food. Without questionning it I gave him my snack. He thanked me over and over and immediately started eating the snack.



Now I'm thinking I won't be able to eat anything for at least another hour or so. But, at least it went to someone who needed it more than I did.



As soon as I arrived at the doctor's office, there was a huge breakfast spread provided by a pharmaceutical rep. This is the first time I have ever been to a doctor's office with a full buffet breakfast.



Could have been a coincidence, but I still looked up and said "OK - message received loud and clear." :lol: True story.
 
I've set up small "scholorships", they don't provide much... but they help a student/person/church/father/priest in need. Everytime I've needed help, its been quite a turn around in outpouring. I have my days though that the intolerance gets to me though.



-bix
 
[quote author="qwerty" date=1228216545]I find it interesting you take your pastor more seriously regarding the economy than you would peter schiff. Im not religious so i dont give to religious organizations. I do donate to animal and cancer charities. I do feel good that i am making a difference in a dog/cats life knowing that i am helping them get fed or helping them get medical attention.



10% of your net is very generous - keep up the generosity!</blockquote>


Off the topic- I saw Peter Schiff at a trade show and he backed into a presenters speaker system and knocked down their whole booth. It was pretty funny--talk about "Dr. Doom" ;)
 
[quote author="qwerty" date=1228216545]I find it interesting you take your pastor more seriously regarding the economy than you would peter schiff. Im not religious so i dont give to religious organizations. I do donate to animal and cancer charities. I do feel good that i am making a difference in a dog/cats life knowing that i am helping them get fed or helping them get medical attention.

</blockquote>




C?mon, what about your alma mater?

Didn?t see them on your list of donations.

Cut them a check before the end of the year.

It's Rivalry week.

Be proud!
 
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