vstar

Hi,

I would like to ask regarding how is the right biblical financial life.

I am a devoted Christian, I always try to do things that is right before God.
I have a fixed salary every month, however I feel that I lose out financially.

Besides tithe, I always try to give out my best to God.
For example, if there is some event in the church, I always want to help out financially.
I would give happily. However, I feel that I am losing financially, which means no savings.
I always want to save, however everytime I have few savings, there are things come up that triggers me to give out for God's works.

However I am not sure if I am doing the correct thing, please advise me here.

How is the correct way of Christian financial life?

Is this right if I always give financially, however I do not feel I am going prosperous?
Is there anything wrong? Because God said that He will make us prosper.
But how come I do not feel so?

violet

Pastor Gary

When we tithe, it should be ONLY to God and only for the teachers that He has provided to 'feed' us the Truth of His word. "We tithe Where We Are Fed." If a 'church' does not teach God's Word with understanding, then they do not deserve your tithing.

Also, anyone who is on Social Security, disability or pension does NOT need to tithe. This will make other Pastors absolutely unhappy with me for saying so, but so be it. Your fixed income is yours as something that you earned throughout your working life. 10 percent ( what the word 'tithe' means in the original language ) is way too much to give to a church once you are on a fixed income. God wants you to use your fixed income for food, clothing, housing, utility bills and medication. If there is anything left over and you wish to make a love offering that you can afford, that is all that you should do.

The statement "We Tithe Where We Are Fed" applies to everyone. If your church does not 'feed' you the Word of God chapter by chapter and verse by verse with understanding, you are not being 'fed'. Many churches give salvation sermons each week and never teach God's Word. "We Tithe Where We Are Fed..." - No teaching, no tithing - as the saying goes...

When you are 'fed' the word of God with understanding by a teaching church, Pastor and staff, your life is enriched and you become spiritually 'prosperous'.

Dusty

Excellant Violet and Pastor Gary,

I would just like to add this verse :

Even though you feel you are not gaining in this world , that is not important as God will honour your giving and He promises to always look after you and He is not a God that He should lie. The world looks upon storing up here but our eternal home is more important.

I can tell you of many testimonies of God's faithfulness. My brother lost his job of 29 yrs and was worried as to how to feed his family of six but because he had always been faithful with giving his tithes and offerings when he was working God has provided for him and his family and from out of what we think is hardship the Lord gives to his own. People gave them food and others gave him little jobs and the needs of the family were always met and then an Aunt whom he had been looking after died and left everything to him so praise the Lord , do not worry , God will look after you.

I don't want to make this too long so will tell another time how God has looked after me as well when I thought there was nothing for me in my retirement years. So trust in the Lord . He will direct your paths and He knows it all and you will see how He works. Just tust Him for the outcome. God Bless.

__________________

Trials prove a Christian

Love confirms a Christian

But death crowns a Christian

Dusty

Pastor Gary...... I understand what you are saying but I still give my 10 % out of my fixed income as I am happy to give to the Lord for the furtherence of His Kingdom. But that is just me and do understand if people can't do it . But for me I put that 10% right off the top and the 90% God blesses me even more and it goes farther.

__________________

Trials prove a Christian

Love confirms a Christian

But death crowns a Christian

Banarenth

If you are tithing on your gross income, then haven't you already tithed on your SS?

Jasher

I'd have to ask the question - Is the Tithing law simply a Church tradition? If not, where does the authority come from to demand tithes of the people of God? Does it come from the new Testament or the old? Where?

My mother is now 85 years old and about 15 years ago she told me one day that she had always felt guilty about not tithing. She raised eight children by herself, had a drinking and battering husband - the Church never helped her at all. In my high school years we were on welfare. She lived in poverty and was always in need herself - always sacrificing for her children. Do you think there something wrong with this picture?

Pastor Gary

Leviticus 27:32 (KJV)

Nehemiah 10:38 (KJV)

and carried forth in several N.T. locations including -

Matthew 23:23 (KJV) and

Luke 11:42 (KJV) -

but read the entire chapters that these are contained in so the overall subject is understood as an entire concept carried forth.

More to the point, several denominations have skewed the Word of God to include tithing to the 'church' no matter if they teach or not. That is just a fund raiser to keep the administration on a payroll...a tradition of man. Genuine tithing is to those rare religious organizations that teach God's Word chapter by chapter and verse by verse with understanding and they DESERVE every penny.

BreathOfGod

Pastor Gary, I never heard that before about the fixed income thing, but it makes a lot of sense. We are told to tithe from the first fruits, and the money from the fixed income is (as you said) money we already earned during our lifetime, which then means it is not a firstfruit. The firstfruit would have already been tithed on.

I wanted to say to the first poster in the thread, that sometimes we can find ways to give unto God which are not monetary. You do not need to feel like you must contribute money to every basket that comes your way. I was raised in the belief that we are to give of our time, talent, and money. So, giving of a tithe, giving of my time, and giving of my talent. Look for ways that you can be a blessing in the church without always just opening your wallet. Maybe your church has a nursing home ministry that you can attend and help pray for the people. Maybe they have a church auction to raise funds and you create things that could be auctioned off. There might be a lot of ways to contribute.

I always like that one scripture in the Bible where the woman gave two little coins, and everyone else was giving lots of money..... and Jesus said that the woman gave more because she gave all that she had out of love. I think of that scripture during the times when I have but a small amount I can give. When I was young, I always was careful to put my tithes in a tithing envelope, mark it, seal it, etc..... once I asked my dad why we put money in the envelope and he said so that the church can give you a statement at tax time and you know how much you paid for your income taxes. Now, not to put down people who take it off on their income taxes..... I was mentioning that to say that when I give, as an adult, I have never once placed in it an envelope or marked it. I figure that what I give is between me and God. I have KNOWN churches who will "bless" their members based upon their tithes, and it is something I have never liked nor agreed with. For example, I knew a church once who would give discounted childcare at their business for "tithing members" only. Or churches who would give help paying for certain classes offered (such as the Barean courses) for "tithing members" only. I never liked this philosophy because it is like saying that we will help those who help us. When in reality, we should give not so that we get something in return from the church, but because God asks it of us. And churches shouldn't bribe people to tithe. I hated that concept. On principle of all these things, I have never placed my money in an envelope as an adult. It should never be like someone is standing in the church office ticking off member's names saying "oh, this person tithed..... this person hasn't given in 8 weeks.... this person gave only this amount and I've seen the car they drive......" And it happens! I heard a man of the church stand up front one Sunday and comment that we must have a lot of very poor people in our congregation because of what little tithes they are paying. I find it sad that churches feel the need to shame people into giving. Then you have people giving for all the wrong reasons.

Anyhow, I will get off my soap box. Sorry about that.

Dusty

Yes , Bookworm .... that is true. My brother always said.... Even though he was not working and could not give a monitary gift, that he would serve in the church and give of his time to the Lord and that is what he does... He is now in charge of all the sound equipement and trains others under him. Thankyou for bringing that up as I also give of my time to the Lord serving on the Pastoral care team, visiting shuts ins,helping with the women's ministry and on the committee for the senior's ministry. If more people would think this way the church would not have to beg for people to help. Sorry to say others sit back and let Mrs. Jones do it all.

Me , I am so happy to be a part of all that God has for me and willing to serve him with a greatful heart.

__________________

Trials prove a Christian

Love confirms a Christian

But death crowns a Christian