Your Expectations From A Church - When You Tithe

When you tithe what would you expect from a church

  • something

    Votes: 2 25.0%
  • nothing

    Votes: 4 50.0%
  • a whole lot

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • i expect to even give more!

    Votes: 2 25.0%

  • Total voters
    8
Hey fellow 'forum siters',

I am only voicing this because its anonymous, otherwise only God knows this question in my head.

Just wanted to know your thoughts on what you expect in exchange if you do tithe to a particular church. Even if you didn't - what would you expect?

I know its not a business, its a church but for me personally, if I am tithing to a church I would expect:
1. Personal Attention (Open doors if I need to chat or be counselled by someone)
2. If I am running a ministry - financial assistance even if its just for petrol
3. If I ever needed help - an open door

I think these are things people don't like to talk about - but I feel its such a commitment to tithe, that the receiving church 'better make it worthwhile'. I don't feel I should run tons of ministries at my cost after having done that. Or pay extra money to some attending visitor. Havent we already taken care of the church.

oooohhhh vent vent! It did sound a bit mouthy hunh?

Its a question that's in my head - that's all.

:)
 
I think that if you are looking to get something out of the tithe from the church then you aren't giving for the right reason. The expectations you listed should be expectations even if you do not give financially.

Mitspa, we've had SOOOOOOO many discussions around here as to whether or not tithing is required. Since this is actually a unique tithing discussion, let's please not turn it into just another verse war about tithing.
 
Hey fellow 'forum siters',

I am only voicing this because its anonymous, otherwise only God knows this question in my head.

Just wanted to know your thoughts on what you expect in exchange if you do tithe to a particular church. Even if you didn't - what would you expect?

I know its not a business, its a church but for me personally, if I am tithing to a church I would expect:
1. Personal Attention (Open doors if I need to chat or be counselled by someone)
2. If I am running a ministry - financial assistance even if its just for petrol
3. If I ever needed help - an open door

I think these are things people don't like to talk about - but I feel its such a commitment to tithe, that the receiving church 'better make it worthwhile'. I don't feel I should run tons of ministries at my cost after having done that. Or pay extra money to some attending visitor. Havent we already taken care of the church.

oooohhhh vent vent! It did sound a bit mouthy hunh?

Its a question that's in my head - that's all.

:)
I have heard some preachers say that we should tithe expecting something from God.. Because God had promised that tithing is a way for him to bless us back.. If we don't expect, then it is same as lacking in faith that God will bless us back.. I have also heard some preachers preach that tithing should be done with no expectation.. Because we are not doing a favor to God, but simply acknowledging His blessings to us..

I know your question is not on whether to expect anything! Just saying.. I am of the latter type.. I don't expect anything back when I tithe.. I don't believe in tithing to a single Church.. I believe God would call a believer to support not just one Church, but probably many churches and ministries.. Certainly, the Church would be one big part of it.. But believers should support other ministries as well..
 
When I give my tithe, my expectation isn't for the local church, but is for what God promises---so I cannot answer the poll.
 
Hey fellow 'forum siters',

I am only voicing this because its anonymous, otherwise only God knows this question in my head.

Just wanted to know your thoughts on what you expect in exchange if you do tithe to a particular church. Even if you didn't - what would you expect?

I know its not a business, its a church but for me personally, if I am tithing to a church I would expect:
1. Personal Attention (Open doors if I need to chat or be counselled by someone)
2. If I am running a ministry - financial assistance even if its just for petrol
3. If I ever needed help - an open door

I think these are things people don't like to talk about - but I feel its such a commitment to tithe, that the receiving church 'better make it worthwhile'. I don't feel I should run tons of ministries at my cost after having done that. Or pay extra money to some attending visitor. Havent we already taken care of the church.

oooohhhh vent vent! It did sound a bit mouthy hunh?

Its a question that's in my head - that's all.

:)

I have a bit of a different idea............... I don't expect help, don't expect money, don't expect consoling. Being a pastor one time I have found that you teach what the people need to hear, and so often the case people come ask for answer when you just taught about it that previous week.

The church should not be anyone's source. I tithe, and Jesus accepts the tithe, so God is my source. I think it's bad taste for people to pull on Churches for money help, they ought to be thinking what the can contribute, not what they can Get.

If I need personal Help................ I ask God for the need. I have found often that what I think I needed, is not what I needed, but something else. More than once someone out of the blue had something wisdom for me or even read something on the forums here that just rang clear and made sense. Expecting a person to help or a certain person like the Pastor is looking at man, not God.

Kenneth Copleland sowed back his offering to all the workers of our church. My boys got a couple K just for helping on the parking lot team from Brother Copeland. Lord told him to do that.

My son was sown a truck from the parking lot team a couple years ago, He never said a word about believing God for a vehicle.

More than once I was wanting something to give, and had nothing and someone just comes up and hands you 100.00 bucks to drop in. Sometimes it's 20.00, but even a dollar is awesome if you did not have that to give.

I also listen to the Lord and make sure I am prepared to help or give to someone.

So, I believe staff and people on the church should be hearing God and taking care of others, I don't believe people should pull on people or hint about need. There is a Father in heaven that hears just fine, and more than able to meet any need and does not run out or have limited resources.
 
I think Hunting is thinking along my line of thoughts.

what happens if you ever need help one day?
Its not to say the church should help regardless - sometimes they just cant or they don't.
Relying on yourself is good - that's why you are even able to tithe in the first place.

I think to stay in a church, any church, there must be some sort of exchange. even if
you just like the services that is getting something in return.

any relationship that doesn't have some sort of exchange is a one way road.
 
I think Hunting is thinking along my line of thoughts.

what happens if you ever need help one day?
Its not to say the church should help regardless - sometimes they just cant or they don't.
Relying on yourself is good - that's why you are even able to tithe in the first place.

I think to stay in a church, any church, there must be some sort of exchange. even if
you just like the services that is getting something in return.

any relationship that doesn't have some sort of exchange is a one way road.


I think the worse thing that has happened to me through my saved years is that I have had family to bail me out. They enabled me to not fix my issues. My biggest issue is that I thought I had faith, when I did not have faith. I was self deceived.

Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
(Psa 40:4)

Psa 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

Psa 146:3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

Jer 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

I have found that hinting, telling, pulling on people to get needs met, is a curse. The church is there to give the Word, and the people in the congratulation should be hearing God to take care of someone.

Do I ask God, who is not limited, is amazing, and all things are possible with him? Or, do I go beg for some money from my church who is limited, can't do everything, and humans run it?

Millions run through our church, a bit a money won't hurt them, but if I am lacking, I need more than just money,I need the reason I need money fixed or any need. God can fix me, and supply any need.

Job 36:11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

Isa 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

It's not possible that someone obey God, not speak poverty, and side with the word that the would ever be in need. Paul said he has learned to do without and abound. Paul understood that no matter the situation, God always comes through. It's something Paul said he learned. I suppose we can all learn more and more.

My problem was unbelief. I said I trusted God, but if something came up, I would hint around or ask someone else. That is not trust, it's just unbelief.

Since the wife and I both made a commitment a while back that the only person that will hear anything about need is God, amazing things have happened. I mean stuff that would be hard to believe just telling it.

This is something I have had to learn, but I only expect the Word of life coming from my church. I don't tithe to the Church. Scripture says Jesus accepts the tithe, so I go to the Lord.

I think we all can be stronger in trusting God. I doubt we will learn all there is to know about it in this lifetime.
 
I think Hunting is thinking along my line of thoughts.

what happens if you ever need help one day?
Its not to say the church should help regardless - sometimes they just cant or they don't.
Relying on yourself is good - that's why you are even able to tithe in the first place.

I think to stay in a church, any church, there must be some sort of exchange. even if
you just like the services that is getting something in return.

any relationship that doesn't have some sort of exchange is a one way road.
:rolleyes:
 
I think that if you are looking to get something out of the tithe from the church then you aren't giving for the right reason. The expectations you listed should be expectations even if you do not give financially.

Mitspa, we've had SOOOOOOO many discussions around here as to whether or not tithing is required. Since this is actually a unique tithing discussion, let's please not turn it into just another verse war about tithing.

I'm not sure if I've read any of those discussions. My guess is Mitspa doesn't tithe. He hides his money under his mattress in his fancy little cottage on the lake. hehe.

To answer OP's question. The only thing I would expect is that the church not even know I'm tithing.

“So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you." - Bible
 
I'm not sure if I've read any of those discussions. My guess is Mitspa doesn't tithe. He hides his money under his mattress in his fancy little cottage on the lake. hehe.

To answer OP's question. The only thing I would expect is that the church not even know I'm tithing.

“So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you." - Bible
I give according to the scriptures and The Law written upon my heart, not the religion of man. I am blessed going in and coming out, I am above and not below, I am the head and not the tail. Most tithing being taught in the "church" today, is cursed because it based upon the "law of works" and not the law of faith!
 
Ok now, both of you. Leave the "requirement" part out of this, it's been overdone. This topic is about what to expect from the church if you tithe. I suspect that Mercedes Benz E Class has been tithing and working in his church for some time now and has run into a situation where he needed help either financially, emotionally, or spiritually and did not receive it. I've seen this same situation mirrored dozens of times, and the problem isn't because of the "Law" or requirement. The answer is really the same regardless of the issue of tithe. A church that isn't willing to help at least emotionally and spiritually has no reason to exist IMO. Now, I know that they can't always help financially, especially with declining memberships and declining offerings in most local churches (oddly enough, Mega churches don't seem to be plagued by that same problem). Even Peter ran into that situation, but he still met the needs of the lame man. At the same time, Pastors are usually pretty swamped. We usually try to work everything out with appointments just to keep ahead of the mountain of expectations. It's hard to meet everyone's needs sometimes.
 
Giving in the early church was about meeting the needs of others, whether those others were in the work of spreading the gospel or were people in need. Nowadays, we also have operating costs (i.e. utilities) to pay for. The church is not an insurance company where you invest money to help yourself out later if you need it. Nor is it a club where you expect something in return for paying your dues. You may find yourself the beneficiary some day, but that is not the reason why you give.
 
I think the worse thing that has happened to me through my saved years is that I have had family to bail me out. They enabled me to not fix my issues. My biggest issue is that I thought I had faith, when I did not have faith. I was self deceived.

Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
(Psa 40:4)

Psa 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

Psa 146:3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

Jer 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

I have found that hinting, telling, pulling on people to get needs met, is a curse. The church is there to give the Word, and the people in the congratulation should be hearing God to take care of someone.

Do I ask God, who is not limited, is amazing, and all things are possible with him? Or, do I go beg for some money from my church who is limited, can't do everything, and humans run it?

Millions run through our church, a bit a money won't hurt them, but if I am lacking, I need more than just money,I need the reason I need money fixed or any need. God can fix me, and supply any need.

Job 36:11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

Isa 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

It's not possible that someone obey God, not speak poverty, and side with the word that the would ever be in need. Paul said he has learned to do without and abound. Paul understood that no matter the situation, God always comes through. It's something Paul said he learned. I suppose we can all learn more and more.

My problem was unbelief. I said I trusted God, but if something came up, I would hint around or ask someone else. That is not trust, it's just unbelief.

Since the wife and I both made a commitment a while back that the only person that will hear anything about need is God, amazing things have happened. I mean stuff that would be hard to believe just telling it.

This is something I have had to learn, but I only expect the Word of life coming from my church. I don't tithe to the Church. Scripture says Jesus accepts the tithe, so I go to the Lord.

I think we all can be stronger in trusting God. I doubt we will learn all there is to know about it in this lifetime.
I'm saying that if the church that I've given five thousand dollars in tithe to refuses to throw in two hundred bucks so I can keep my house then I'm going to leave that church. Because obviously all my tithe is going in the pastors pocket instead of to people in need.
 
I'm saying that if the church that I've given five thousand dollars in tithe to refuses to throw in two hundred bucks so I can keep my house then I'm going to leave that church. Because obviously all my tithe is going in the pastors pocket instead of to people in need.

If the church disobeyed God, and did not help you when the Lord told the Pastor to help you. That is between the Pastor and the Lord, and the Lord my ask you to leave eventually because of the unfaithfulness.

If you read all those scriptures I posted, You tithe to the Lord, and He should be the only one to hear about your need. If your trusting in man to meet your need, then you should not expect all that much from a man, or feel let down.

It's the Lord's Job to see that you keep your house, not some man.

The great commission is to preach the Gospel to every creature, not to feed every creature or make sure they keep their house. It's the Lord's Job to supply all our need According to Christ Jesus. So, I am not sure why you would want the church to spend money on someone so they can keep their house.

Some church do have direction from the Lord to open food pantry's, have rent pay funds, and things to help that the Lord directed. If the Lord does not direct it, then it runs out.

If the church gets in the habit of just handing out money, the people will suck it dry.

Also the amount of tithe you give makes no difference. A million a year, or 10.00 a year. It does not entitle you to a thing. The amount is based on Joyful giving, and/or percent of what you make for tithe. It might be 5.00 a week. The Lord is not concerned with amounts, just the heart that gave it.

The women gave her last two penny's, and less than everyone else, but the reason she gave it got her mentioned forever and acknowledged by Jesus. Pretty good reward.

You can't base who is the best giver in church by amounts. Millions, or 1.o0.............
 
If the church disobeyed God, and did not help you when the Lord told the Pastor to help you. That is between the Pastor and the Lord, and the Lord my ask you to leave eventually because of the unfaithfulness.

If you read all those scriptures I posted, You tithe to the Lord, and He should be the only one to hear about your need. If your trusting in man to meet your need, then you should not expect all that much from a man, or feel let down.

It's the Lord's Job to see that you keep your house, not some man.

The great commission is to preach the Gospel to every creature, not to feed every creature or make sure they keep their house. It's the Lord's Job to supply all our need According to Christ Jesus. So, I am not sure why you would want the church to spend money on someone so they can keep their house.

Some church do have direction from the Lord to open food pantry's, have rent pay funds, and things to help that the Lord directed. If the Lord does not direct it, then it runs out.

If the church gets in the habit of just handing out money, the people will suck it dry.

Also the amount of tithe you give makes no difference. A million a year, or 10.00 a year. It does not entitle you to a thing. The amount is based on Joyful giving, and/or percent of what you make for tithe. It might be 5.00 a week. The Lord is not concerned with amounts, just the heart that gave it.

The women gave her last two penny's, and less than everyone else, but the reason she gave it got her mentioned forever and acknowledged by Jesus. Pretty good reward.

You can't base who is the best giver in church by amounts. Millions, or 1.o0.............

The church is supposed to help people. That means leading them to Christ and caring for the poor etc. If I am about to be homeless they have a responsibility to help me.

I'm not saying they need to throw wads of cash at people as they sit in their pews, but if the church is full of Christians, and Christians are supposed to be generous, then why would they not help me? I'm not saying that it has to come out of the tithe money because God knows the pastor needs that for the church and maybe his own pockets, but I'm saying that I am a member of a church (which means I have a responsibility to give to the church) I expect someone is this building full of people that are supposed to be generous to help someone in need. That's what I expect. I expect the people to be a higher priority than a useless building.
 
The church is supposed to help people. That means leading them to Christ and caring for the poor etc. If I am about to be homeless they have a responsibility to help me.

I'm not saying they need to throw wads of cash at people as they sit in their pews, but if the church is full of Christians, and Christians are supposed to be generous, then why would they not help me? I'm not saying that it has to come out of the tithe money because God knows the pastor needs that for the church and maybe his own pockets, but I'm saying that I am a member of a church (which means I have a responsibility to give to the church) I expect someone is this building full of people that are supposed to be generous to help someone in need. That's what I expect. I expect the people to be a higher priority than a useless building.

The Church, not the organizational church is where the true help from God comes through. God inspires and motivates individuals to meet needs. It is His obedient ones who follow through. Sometimes he will use an ungodly source to meet our needs and to deliver blessing from His own hand.

Proverbs 13:22 (NLT)
22 Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren,
but the sinner’s wealth passes to the godly.
 
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