about tithing

i am new to this board also...i just gave my heart to Jesus lately but still dont feel like a christian any advice.. but any ways here is what my aunt says about tithe for me.... how does she figure $5.00??? ~~~~~ my letter to her..... got my social security letter today and my ssi is going to be for jan. $303.42 and my social security will be for jan is $295.00 so the total is $598.42. how much is 10 % of that money? richard is sure i cant tithe since we will be broke but like dad says Jesus knows my heart and what i get. thanks. anita ~~~ her letter......... Anita, it is still around 5.00 a month not any more. As I told you, can give a 1.00 per week. Don't let anyone pressure you to give more. If you give that amount, God will meet your needs. OK Aunt Martha Maybe next year you can mail email cards to everyone who has a computer. That way you can save money too on postage and cards. Love, Aunt Martha ~~~

Anita, here is a different viewpoint on giving than Aunt Martha's. Tithing is actually OldTestament Law in the New Testament which Christians live by we are to give as we prosper which means if we prosper alot we give alot, if little we give little, if nothing then nothing. Here is a lesson that has the scriptures to go with it. Hope this helps. The way we give is an indication of our love for God. All things belong to God. God says in Psalms 50:10, "For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills." Everything we have received has come from God. God has only loaned them to us. John 3:27 says, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from above." We can never out-give God. In Luke 6:38 we read, "Give and it shall be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." We give so the Lord's church can better carry out its mission here on earth. The world must be evangelized, and the church must be edified, and the needy must be helped. Giving is a command of God. In 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 we read, "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also. On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper that there be no collections when I come." We see the giving here was to help the poor saints in Jerusalem. Notice also they were to make a regular collection every first day of the week. Because of everything God has given us, including His Son to die for us, we should be anxious to give back to Him. In 2 Corinthians 8:12 we read, "For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have." God expects us to give what we are able to give. How can our love for God be real unless it is expressed in our obedience and our giving? Our giving is an expression of love, and act of praise, and sacrifice to God. How we give is an indication of where our priorities are. Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-21, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth and rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Where is your heart? Since we can't out-give God, we should at least be liberal in our giving. As we read in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." Our giving is to be planned. We should not give because we feel we have to give. Nor should we resent that we need to give to please God. We should be glad that we can give to the Lord. We should never try to impress other people with our giving. If we do we already have our reward. Giving needs to be a private matter. We should not seek recognition for the things we do. Jesus says in Matthew 6:1-4, "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen of them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly." We should seek the approval of God and not the glory of men. Our giving should not only include material possessions but we must first give ourselves to God. We are told in Romans 12:1, "I beseech you therefore, brethern, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." If we will first give ourselves to the Lord, we will have no problem in being liberal in our giving. Our liberal giving is part of worshipping God "in spirit and in truth." Congratulations on turning your life over to serving God. The New Testament is the guide book for how a Christian should live. Study it and let it guide you. In love, Sandyd

Anita - well, I was all set to give a huge lesson on tithing - referring back to Melchizedek in the old testiment and how He was Jesus - etc. But, I decided to simplify. The Lord loves a cheerful giver. I give 10% tithe to my church. Above that, there are certain times where I give offerings - things above the 10%. Here's what I have found. When I give 10% out of faith - the Lord replenishes that much and more in my life. For instance, when I first became a Christian, I gave 10% and bit my nails about how to make that work. Within 2 days, I received a 20% raise at my job. When I give and it hurts - things happen - like my electric/gas bill will be 1/2 of what I'm expecting. Or I get some weird refund in the mail from the government. Or my car seems to run for twice as long on a tank of gas. This is not always, but usually. It's the Lords way of saying - thank you for your obedience. So, you're right. $5 would be 1%. $59.84 would be 10%. You know, this is a decision that only you can make. You also need to KNOW that there is nothing you can do that will separate you from the Love of our Lord! Romans 8:1 says "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." Further in Romans 8, it says: For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. That's a great promise! When you have time, read Romans - as Paul wrote it to the gentiles (non-jews). It's a great book! Take care! - Carolyn

Anita, Welcome into the family of God!!! How wonderful that you are seeking to be obedient to the Lord in all manners! Sandy and Carolyn gave such wonderful words of wisdom on tithing, I won't even try to add anything. I just wanted to take the opportunity to encourage you to continue seeking the truth, and you will soon be face to face with your Lord and Savior! God bless, Your sister in Christ, -R

The earlier posts really seem on target. Welcome to the family. Kim M.

Hi and Welcome to the Family, What has been said is all great guidance on the Lord's Word on this issue. The most important thing to remember is to give from your heart not from a calculator. Hugs, Trish