|
Post by michelle on Feb 7, 2007 22:04:57 GMT -8
11/05:
Ahh, now I am the one catching up.
I always feel pangs of guilt whenever I read about tithing. I have heard stories about people who give 10% without fail. It's always the first thing that comes out of their paycheck and they have faith that bills will be paid with whatever is remaining. I have faith in a lot of things, but I would have to say that is where I lack faith the most. I'm sure it has to do with being an accountant and being so budget oriented, but I have never been able to just give my finances over to God. What I do give, I give cheerfully, but I always feel like I should be giving more. Each year when I get my tax return I think, "I'll give a big chunk to church since it's money that's not budgeted for". Yet I always seem to find a different way to spend it. Brent often says, "I hate money" and I would have to agree with him. But if it weren't money, it would be crops or animals that I weren't giving to the Lord. I guess I need to work on my ability to sacrifice.
|
|
|
Post by Josh on Feb 7, 2007 22:31:38 GMT -8
11/05:
You're on a roll!
Once several years back I was contemplating 'redifining' our way of tithing (we'd always tried to do the 10%- I just grew up with that way of doing it). And I was talking with God about it while I was driving. Just when I asked God if it would be all right to change things (which I think meant giving less money, LOL), I looked up and there was a bumper sticker in front of me saying something like: "Tithe, it's the least you can do", or something like that. I quickly backed away from my bargaining.
Of course this was a message only for me, and not necessarily for anyone else. Really, as Paul says here, tithing should be voluntary and doesn't have to be a set amount. Still, there's no better way to ensure that you're giving than to give regularly.
|
|
|
Post by sarah on Feb 7, 2007 22:33:25 GMT -8
11/05:
Boy Josh, The Lord really seems to like to talk to you from the back of cars!
|
|
|
Post by Josh on Feb 7, 2007 22:33:49 GMT -8
11/05:
And gravestones, billboard signs, verses on checks, etc... I've had quite a few uncanny experiences involving the visual senses.
Weird... other people tend to hear in other ways. Imagine if each of us was more in tune with all the ways God speaks.
|
|
|
Post by sarah on Feb 7, 2007 22:35:20 GMT -8
11/05:
Wow is this an uncomfortable subject to talk about! It literally turns my stomach and makes me really uncomfortable. Interesting in and of itself. Ok so for me it is like this, I am one of those "write the tithe check first" kind of people. I learned this over a long education process. The tighter the money the more important I find it to tithe. I feel kind of funny lately because I try to write one after every check or weekly. Between Brian and I we are working 3 jobs, two of which have sporadic paydays and you all know that money has been tight for us. For the first time I have felt self conscious about my giving because I know that you know our financial situation and in a church of 15, it is hard to hide a tithe. Somehow it feels highlighted amongst you and I wonder about my friends interpretation of our actions. Not a good indication of my own maturity level.
What I do know is this, if I don't write the check there is not a net gain in my financial situation. Somehow not tithing never fixes my finances or makes what was not possible, possible. By recognizing God first with our finances, I remind myself that he is in control of meeting our needs, not us. That he is the provider and tithing helps me reaffirm my trust in him. Basically it keeps things in perspective. I have also found that writing the tithe immediately with each influx of resources is more practical versus waiting until the end of the month to write the check. For me to actually tithe "successfully" smaller more frequent checks are helpful. It is much harder to come up with a whole month worth of tithe.
The thing I have been working on learning lately is the difference between tithe and offerings/gifts. I think that my whole life I have thought of it as the same. That any money I am returning to the Lord is tithe. I now believe that tithe should go directly to the church, and that all those other things that tug my heart strings should be offerings/gifts. That means that giving is above my tithe. My thinking used to be along the lines of "______ has a need, I will give them my tithe this month and help out". Now because we also tithe, giving is a sacrifice of additional resources. I also think that when I was designating for myself where the tithe would go, that I was determining for God where his resources should go. Probably not a good role for me to be in.....
What I do know is this, God has directly challenged me to tithe. He could certainly come up with his own resources, but he calls us to tithe so that he can bless us. Tithing opens me up for blessings in my life and makes me more aware of his provision.
|
|
|
Post by michelle on Feb 7, 2007 22:35:48 GMT -8
11/05:
Sarah, you said that your wonder what our interpretations of your actions are. I can't speak for everyone else, but as far as I'm concerned you and Brian are an example to be followed. I think that fact that you are in a tight situation, yet you never cease tithing is an amazing example of faith and faithfulness. I think it is so amazing that even though you may think twice about it, you give to the Lord first and trust Him to make the rest happen. Was faith #1 on your survey because it should have been!!
|
|
|
Post by Josh on Feb 7, 2007 22:36:58 GMT -8
11/05:
I don't see in it any motivation other than obedience to Christ's calling for you- whether it's hard or easy. It's not seen as anything less than that- and it is inspiring!
|
|