While the practice of tithing and whether it is a biblical responsibility is still debated today, The Barna Group found that very few Americans, including Christians, give the tithe.
Overall, only 5 percent of U.S. adults tithed in 2007, the survey released Monday showed. Since 2000, the proportion of adults who tithed has remained in the 5 percent to 7 percent range.
The most generous group was the evangelicals, with 24 percent having tithed last year. Other groups who were more likely to give at least 10 percent of their income include conservatives (12 percent); people who had prayed, read the Bible and attended a church service during the past week (12 percent); charismatic or Pentecostal Christians (11 percent); and registered Republicans (10 percent).
Evangelical Christians gave high donations with 83 percent contributing at least $1000 to churches and non-profit entities in 2007. Among all adults, only 34 percent gave away $1000 or more that year.
We are to tithe because we are called to be stewards. Stewardship doesn't stop with just that, though. Good stewardship also includes what we do with our time and other resourses. Yes, we need to support the church. But our "tithe" can be of our time. Like, mowing, cleaning or whatever. Ane we can't forget how we treat the land that we've been given. God has named us stewards of that as well. But look at what we do. We pollute the air and toss our trash everywhere and anywhere. Including thowing things out of our car windows.
While tithing is under the law and yet we are no longer under the law, the law was still a tutor, a school master, a teacher for us. Therefore we need to consider the importance of tithing. When we tithe we are only giving back to God what is already his. What he has given us to be stewards over. When we tithe we give in faith believing , knowing that He provides our every need.
Therefore tithing becomes a faith issue now more than an issue of the law. So what do we tithe 10% of our money/time? Do we limit it to that? or do we do more than the 10%?
Consider the widows mites, was this her 10%? or was it more or less? I really don't think it matters. What matter was her faith! She gave more than her budget allowed. Jesus honored her more for this than He did those who gave out of their surplus.
So where is our faith in God or money?
.....if you are under;how can one say that they are worthy to benefit
from all that's available to them.If you are under,then Satan will
consider that you should be willingly acceptable to all that's he has for
you.
I believe the tithe is where we should start. We should give more than 10% if and when we can. But as HD said it is a faith issue. I do not believe we should tithe because we are required to by law as we are not under law but grace.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (English Standard Version)
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
I think as Christian we get to hung up on money. IMHO that has directly led to the word faith, seed faith movement and this is the wrong way to look at everything.
Tithing encompasses more than money, our heart, head and time are there too. Do we do devotions, giving just a small 10 percent of our time to God. Do we think and pray to God always? Do we goto Church or help out when needed?
Money is nice, but it's far from the most important thing. Giving ourselves to God is
Jesus spoke more about money and possessions than He did heaven and hell combined. I think it was an important issue to Him because He knew that our attitudes toward it and what we do with it speaks volumes about our spiritual conditions.
Tithing should never be as much about money as much as it is about faith. We should never give because God will mulitibly. Sure mulitipication is a principle but it should never be the reason.
We give because it was laid down in the law. The law was a teacher. As I said in my previous post.
So we give first because of the example of the law that was given us and because of our faith that God is our provider we have no fear, He will provide our needs. So in faith we give, not out of our need as the "name it and claim it", "give me your money" preacher preach, but because we know He owns it all anyway and we know that He is our Father and when we ask for bread He will not give us a stone.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome the evil with good.
