Before you read the title and get mad or before you read the title and run out to point fingers, read the article!

Tithing……….it’s a debate, discussion for the church (it shouldn’t be, however, let’s face it, there are babes in the pulpit).  Even some Pastors do not understand tithing and therefore lead poverty stricken churches!  They give but do so in vain.  Tithing is a principle!  This principle is demonstrated throughout the Bible beginning in the Garden of Eve with the Tree of Life!  (It falls under the theological aspect of Law of First Mentions).  It represents the 10% that belongs to God, you know the ONE who gives us richly ALL THINGS TO ENJOY!  HE only ask for a tenth of it back!

• It’s a trust thing! – Trust is faith matured
• It’s an obedience thing! – obedience is better than a sacrifice
• It’s a faith thing!  – evidence of things unseen!

This principle is so strong that even those who aren’t necessarily believers or members of a church use the same formula in giving donations to non-profits.  The IRS also allows for up to 10% of income to be counted as donations and deducted from taxable income as an itemized deduction. Corporate America understands that 10% and donate to charitable donations under this principle.

10% isn’t much!  We’re talking a dime out of every dollar.  Try living on 10%, you will not get far at all!  If you make $1000 a week, then you are talking about $100! There aren’t many bills in your household that are under or a $100! Maybe the water bill and in most cities that’s a bill connected with electricity.

Again for God it isn’t about the money or the amount but it’s about the faith and trust placed into HIM to honor this request!  Now that we have broken down the amount of a tithe, how can one give it and still be broke?  If I’m obeying God, how can I obey HIM, follow HIM and still not have money?  Is it my Pastor? OMGoodness is it my church?!  Is the deacon taking the money?!!!!!!!!!!!  WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• GIVE IN GOOD GROUND! You should never attend a ministry where you are consistently feeling the need to count the dollars. There must be trust, you should have a little faith in the integrity of your leader.  If you are at a church and you do not trust, I guarantee you that you represent a much larger problem for the Pastor and the members.  Remember, despite what you think, as people we tend to judge people based on our own perceptions and thoughts. In other words, maybe your judgment should be turned inwardly rather than projected outwardly!
  • Pastors and Members alike should understand that there is a business side to ministry and church as well as a spiritual side. Business wise, the church has to pay bills: (Electricity, water, gas, etc) just like any other business. Yes, the tithes probably pays salaries for the ministry and rightfully so!  You should never expect a Pastor to serve for free.  In most cases, Pastors are grossly underpaid and live in poverty without 401k, health benefits and the like, yet they are expected to do soooooooooo much!
  • The church should have its 501©(3) in place. Otherwise those donation forms distributed at the end of the year are worthless and could potentially land the church in trouble.
  • Once you give, it is the responsibility of the ministry to become a steward over your giving. You don’t have to gossip, bad mouth the pastor or
• ARE YOU GIVING TO GOD FIRST OR AFTER YOU PAY YOUR BILLS? Again although the church is collecting the money, this is being given unto God.  You know the one you call on when in trouble?  It is this position or placement of giving that landed Cain in trouble.  Genesis 4:1-7, The faith portion of tithing is to give off the top of your check, not after the bills.

 When I hear people say, I gave my last…..generally (not all the time) they are giving what they have left, what they think they can give to God and call it tithes, but that’s not tithing.  That’s an offering.  The covenant, the blessings lie on the tithe because it is a faith thing, not an afterthought.

• DO you give it consistently? Tithing isn’t a lottery ticket; it’s a lifestyle of placing God First.  It’s about honoring the Giver of the gifts you have and being committed to doing so!  Consistency in anything is key and giving your tithes is no exception!
• NOW after you give the 10% HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE 90%? – We can stop right here. For over 85% of people fall into this category right here.  They give tithes but then they mismanage funds and hope God stops the bad check that they wrote or that HE places miraculous checks in our bank account.
  • Tithing does not absolve one the responsibility of living within his or her means.
  • Tithing does not eliminate the need for one to be a good steward over his or her finances!
  • Tithing isn’t a get rich scheme or scam and doing it will not ensure that you will never have money problems again.
  • Tithing isn’t a miracle action that means as long as I do this, I can do whatever else I desire!

Money is a seed.  Most people do not make the amount he or she needs to make according to their duties, knowledge and/or lifestyle (which is questionable….because we can change our lifestyle, but we will revisit this later).  Money has to be planted, invested and disbursed.  Not spent or thrown away.  When it isn’t planted then there will NOT BE A HARVEST! So the goal is to plant and invest more than you give or spend.

One of the problems with the church people is the things we call blessings versus the things that are blessings! Blessings aren’t material goods or gains.  God gave us talents/gifts and the law is that the gifts will make room (provision) for us and bring us before great men! (Proverbs 18:16).  You can have material possessions by working hard and buying what you desire.  That’s not or should I say, those are not blessings!  It’s a false perception and teaching. You don’t need to pray and ask God for a new house.  It is God’s desire that HIS children be prosperous and in good health as their soul prospers.  (3 John 1:2)

What tends to occur in the church arena is that people want to look blessed so they ‘help God out.’  They tend to buy things that make them look prosperous and then work to figure out how to pay the debt incurred trying to impress others.  If and when the struggle is too great, it makes people on the outside of church view the church in a negative light when in reality, that person is doing just what others outside the church do, live above their means.

When you equate blessings with material things, this will always be the end result!

Blessings:

• Are not material but rather the things that cannot be valued by or with a price tag
• They are mental health – clothed in your right mind
• Physically health
• Gifts that can be used to make money

Faith is also:

• Believing in one’s own abilities! That’s not easy! Many are those with gifts, ideas, blessings that are too fearful to walk in those blessings!

The scripture says:  “I can do ALL things through Christ which strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13  Notice the first word in the sentence is ‘I”.  It didn’t say God will do all things, but it says that “I” can do all things!

• You need faith not for the car or the house, but to believe in yourself to use the gift and make the money to purchase the car or the house!
• You need faith to know that even when things aren’t going well, it’s not always a result of something you did!
• You need faith to know that God didn’t change HIS mind about you, your purpose and who HE called you to become!
• You need faith to get through the rough times, because there will always be seasons of unproductivity
• You need faith to believe in you, your purpose and to walk in that purpose

The devil isn’t repossessing cars, houses.  That doesn’t make sense.  The devil doesn’t drive and he definitely doesn’t need your 9-5 job because he works daily, stealing your joy, killing your peace and destroying your mind.

Lack of money management is the enemy of your financial stability.  Social/Spiritual immaturity prevents church people from maintaining jobs and advancing in diverse areas.  Speaking things out of place, being late for work, not focused on the job, handling church business while at work and then calling the people at work devils because they do not support erratic behavior.  NO!

Tithing, isn’t a magic money pill.  It’s a foundation in your giving and then there must be more practical management and education that accompanies your journey.

 

Your mismanagement did it!  Yesss, a person can tithe and still be broke when he or she lacks the ability, knowledge and/or will to manage the 90% remaining.

 

We shall continue down this avenue………………..I’ll be back!