If someone gave you $1,000 and then asked for $100 back and let you keep $900, would you accept the offer? I know I would. That’s how I feel about tithing.
Of all the personal things we share at Six Figures Under, the topic that has brought the most criticism and concern from readers is tithing. I’d like to explain a little more about why tithing is a priority for us, even though we’ve got a serious goal to pay off major debt. I won’t be preachy, I just want you to know where we’re coming from.
We Pay a 10% Tithe on Our Income
If you’ve seen our monthly budget reports where our personal finances are made public, you know that each month, we pay a full 10% tithe on our income. Our total income varies each month, so at the end of the month, we total up our income, then pay 10% of the total at the beginning of the next month. When I was single and life was simpler, I would pay my tithing on each individual paycheck, but for simplicity’s sake we pay once a month.
Tithing is a Priority
The first line in our budget (and each month’s financial report) is tithing. That’s not a coincidence. Tithing is our highest financial priority. We consider all that we have as a gift from God. He not only gives us our actual possessions, he also gives us the talents and ability to do something with our lives, including earning our monthly income. When I was young I learned a verse that explains it perfectly:
I’m glad to pay a tithing, one-tenth of all I earn.It’s little when I think of all God gives me in return. |
We Expect Blessings
We believe God’s promise from Malachi chapter 3 that he will “open the windows of heaven” and pour out great blessings on us as we pay tithing in faith. We have seen the blessings that come in our lives as we obey this commandment. Sometimes they are financial and sometimes they are not, but we have no doubt that God takes care of us when we are willing to give back part of what he has first given us.
Don’t Feel Bad For Us
I’ve been taken aback by some of the criticism and concern of readers. I thought I would share a few concerns and my responses to them in case other readers have the same concerns.
“It angers me beyond belief that a church would require and accept a 10% tithe from someone in your financial situation.”
We don’t see it as the church requiring a tithe, but rather as a commandment of God. Tithing is about faith, not about money. The commandment doesn’t change depending on your current financial situation. Restricting people from paying tithing is denying them the great blessings that come with obedience to this commandment.
“A church that sets an expectation of 10% tithing is more about business than about spirit.”
Our church has an unpaid ministry. We all volunteer our time to serve in various positions in our local congregations. Tithing money is used to construct church buildings and temples throughout the world, to fund the missionary program, to provide operating funds for the church, to pay for outstanding educational institutions, to fund an enormous world-wide humanitarian effort, and many other worthy and important causes. Further, we believe that the president of the church is a prophet of God, called to represent him to us on earth, and that he and the others who decide how tithing funds are spent do it with divine guidance. We have no reservations about how sacred tithing funds are spent.
“From a financial standpoint, do you realize how much tithing is costing you? Just think of how much faster you would reach your goal if that 10% went toward your debt!”
Honestly, we don’t even consider what other things our tithing money could go toward. We could easily calculate it, but we have never considered not paying tithing. We pay tithing first, even if it means that things will be tight. Even if the remaining 90% of our income did not cover our expenses, we would still pay our tithing. Paying tithing is a test of faith. While some would argue that our family can’t afford to pay tithing, we would counter that we can’t afford not to pay tithing.
I Get It
I totally get that people with different beliefs see our willingness to give away 10% of our income as absurd. I get that paying tithing while in debt might seem outrageous to some. That’s completely okay. You don’t have to agree with us. We can still be friends. 🙂 I just wanted to give you the inside scoop as to why tithing will always be a part of our budget, even when we’ve got a relatively low income and high debt.
Please help me, my wife and I are prior military and 60k in debt to the IRS, we have not faithfully payed our tithes, this is troubling me because we want to, but are hesistant. I don’t even know what I am asking but I am tired of robbing God, we give our time and talents in so many other ways, but tithing has been a major concern. Anything you say will help us…please!
I do have lots of debt and am unemployed right now looking for part time work as drawing a small social security check and been tithing but still hard to pay down debt right now with grandkids to buy Christmas presents for too. I just want to keep God first and it’s hard truly. I trust God to provide but also only have 9 weeks left of unemployment but I know God will make a way. But also want to be obedient to God. Thanks for listening.
Thank you for being so honest. I am just starting out my adult life. I have been tithing only 1% with the intention of increasing it little by little. I have the funds taken directly out of my account each month so I don’t have to remember and I can’t decide im not going to give.
I recently paid off my student loan and I am debt free. I am excited to increase my tithe and continue to put away money for retirement and direct savings.
My wife and I have been tithing since the last Sunday in November (2017). Our income varies greatly from week to week – where 10% one week might be $55.56 and 10% the next week might be $447.76. Rather than writing checks for greatly differing amounts each week, we’ve been giving $100.00 a week and if we get “too far behind” we might write a check for $300.00 two weeks in a row or something like that to get it back to being close (and then our plan is to “settle up” any difference the last Sunday in December).
Since I’ve wanted to make sure we give 10%, I’ve really focused on our finances on a weekly basis – income, bills, spending, etc. I’ve created spreadsheets to enter in our income and bills and tithing. We’ve given a little over $3,000.00 to our church since the last Sunday of November, but you know what? Because of the increased scrutiny over our finances, we’ve been in a much better place financially – we haven’t struggled to make sure our bills get paid – something we had always previously struggled with. It feels like we have EXTRA money every week.
I was ALWAYS a big naysayer when I heard people talk about the “benefits of tithing.” I always thought, “I can’t afford that, I can barely pay my bills.” Now, I can’t imagine not doing it.
I am not a believer, but to the extent that these tithes are going to help others I don’t have a problem with them. Our income is lower than yours, but I hope to give away 10% of my income toward charities by June of 2019, when the care is paid off. That isn’t when all our debt will be paid off, but most of it. I think it is important to give because there is so much need.
This isn’t a primary or even secondary reason to pay tithing, but it is a beneficial side effect I’ve discovered: when you pay tithing first as an act of faith, in the belief that you’ll be able to address your goals with 90% of your income, you gain a greater sense of control over your finances. You control your money, rather than allowing your money to control you.
I wonder how many people here would be willing to take on a tithing challenge. The idea would be to take 10% right off the top of the paycheck and donate it to a worthy cause of your choice, then see whether you can live on 90% of your income. I’ll bet you folks could do it.
New Testament command for tithing ? Millions of worldly people are blessed and prosperous yet
They dont tithe or even attend church . Christians has to tithe to be blessed and if they dont they
Are cursed . Seems God are more favourable towards non believers ?
I’m just wondering, now that I am a working college student and my rent is deducted from my salary… the pay that I receive is often less than 10% of my net salary. I literally get $12 per paycheck when Im supposed to pay $26 for my tithe. Should I still pay 10% of my salary? In your opinion what is considered my increase? Thanks!
I so love this and completely agree. God is the one that gave us the ability to earn the money in the first place. I’d also add that people need to step back and not be so opinionated about the church “requiring” us to tithe. The church doesn’t require anything. You can still come thru the doors, enjoy the electricity, air conditioning and the priceless Word of God for free ….without paying a single dime. But how could anyone do that in good conscience? It costs money to run the church and to touch people’s lives.
Thanks Stephanie for being an inspiration. I know coming from an evangelical background i still struggle with financial decisions related to tithing but i obey and set aside 10% from my GROSS, knowing that it isn’t mine to begin with plus 90% blessed is better than 100% cursed.
So just wanted to say thanks again since i was struggling to give back from gross or net, i make at least 13K gross each month but net is only about 7.5k so you can see that it’s a big difference, especially since i’m on a debt free journey myself. But like i said, obeying is better than not and i trust and believe and take GOD at his word.
Appreciate your wisdom and God Bless you.
Hi; Good for you for writing on tithing. I am in the same church as you and I have found paying tithing helps me to find good deals and we are blessed as we are frugal. We paid off our house and have been debt free for years. We currently are finishing our basement and getting ready for retirement. But we need to keep living frugally and not let up on the tight budgeting and saving for the future!
giving is a very good thing to do. but at some point Id feel like I’m not the one to give but the one to receive. but by faith and law of attraction this is impossible.
Hello, This is a very nice article. I feel the same way but at the same time I feel stuck. what if you are in so much debt that when you done paying them all per month. that 10% is the only money that can buy food for you and your family? or am I not making my priorities straight? please give advice on this matter and thanks again
I pray that I will truly get an answer from the Lord about this issue. My husband and I tithed faithfully for a full year at a church we were serving. We already had serious financial problems whereby we couldn’t meet all our monthly obligations but we tithed and ended up accumulating more debt almost R 100 K. My question is we are expected to tithe but can’t afford because our debt has now increased. We were at a point of loosing our car because of non payment. I agree tithes are important but how do we do it in this kind of situation?
I wish I could help you, as I can tell tithing is weighing on your mind. Ultimately it’s between you and God. If you decide it’s a priority, I do believe that God will provide a way for you to do what he has asked. Sometimes it takes a leap of faith though. Praying that you’ll be able to get your debt and finances under control. I know it’s super stressful!
Just came across your blog looking for people who were posting reports about paying off their debt and saw the link to Tithing. I had to click and see because I have the same belief. Thanks for posting this.
I admire your commitment to tithing. I try to stay on top of mine, but when I don’t I catch up at year-end. I strongly believe what God has said about giving back and besides if he hadn’t given it to us in the first place, we won’t have it.
I also believe in tithing. I was at a loss as to what percentage was proper until one day I read an article on what is the accepted percentage of a bill to use for tipping different people. In some instances 20% was suggested; ie hair dressers. Isn’t God more important than my hairdresser ? I have not read all the comments so if I am repeating what others have said or step on toes I ask pardon. My tithe goes to the physical church to which I belong to be used for God’s work. I trust them to do so.
Please go read D&C section 119 again. The word income is not used in the “Lord’s Law of Tithing” as recorded in His words. The only words used are “increase” and “surplus”. It is only the greed of men that has altered the perception of the law of tithing in order to deceive members into giving more than the Lord has required.
Increase and surplus are defined as the amount left over after use is satisfied. This goes against the modern day teaching of “tithing first”. Are the scriptures saying that the Lord actually expects you to take care of your needs first and then use 10% of what you have left over as tithing? In this context tithing is not the sacrifice that the church claims it needs to be. It is simply a means to pool from the surplus of those who have in abundance to lift up those who lack. This is how Zion is built. According to D&C 119 the only blessing promised to those who pay tithing is that they will be worth to stand in Zion. The prosperity gospel that the church teaches is not mentioned.
I think your talking about LDS tithing.
First the church does pay higher up leaders. Even Gordon B. Hinckley said he that’s paid And they get extremely good deals for there family like free Schooling at BYU. The church is not opened to their financial. But you have to sit in front of a “bishop” and tell them what you make and if you paid them and if you don’t then you loss you pass( temple recommend) to the highest level of heaven
Then if your are paying tith for blessings your are doing it for a selfish act.
As tithing was not about money this sound like something a cult would get their followers to do
So to comment on this post so late. What do you think of countries who don’t pay tithing? I’d never heard of it until recently.
I wouldn’t be willing to pay this, in debt or not. Who knows if this money is going to the places that they say, so much corruption in religion at the moment.
I think the more appropriate word is RETURN instead of give away. We cannot give away what we do not own.
We earn 100% our income because of the talents given to us by God. We return 10% of it for his Kingdom.
What a great testimony! I’v read so many frugal, FI or investment blogs and very rarely people talked about tithing or donation in their monthly spending. It encourages me as sometimes I find it not easy to do so when everyone talked about how they do with their earning. It’s not about the church or organization, it’s how you put your trust in Him.
We do not belong to or attend any church, nor do we tithe. However, we give to numerous charities, anonymously support a number of people’s special needs, help those who need a “third hand,” slip cash (bills) to strangers whom we see struggling at menial jobs, etc. The most rewarding of all is the latter. Just seeing the expressions on the faces of those who are generally treated as invisible is worth more to us than gold. Another memorable one is when we gave a substantial amount to a man we know whose wife had breast cancer. The man wept, we were told, as they were totally broke and didn’t know how they were going to pay their bills. We feel that what we do is God’s way of acting through us, His way of giving hope and love through us. We are senior citizens living on a fixed salary, but we feel that it is critically important to love others and follow the Golden Rule.
Thanks for sharing Jude! That is such a beautiful and fun way to bless those in need who are around you! God is definitely acting through you! 🙂
This post was totally on time for me. I was just thinking about do I really want to tithe? I keep saying that I want to get out of debt but I keep struggling with getting further into debt. . I really needed to read this for the reminder to keep my priorities where they are. . Thanks for sharing!
Hate to be the proverbial stick in the mud, but God never required monetary tithes from anyone in the Holyd Bible. His commanded tithes were agriculture, not money and they did have money in those times. Food was bought with money, land was bought with money, burial plots were bought with money, and servants were bought with money.
Malachi 3:8-10 is one of the most misused, misunderstood and misapplied passages in the Bible. It was never a command for the post-crucifixion church. It was a command for the Priests of Israel. The commanded tithe was agriculture. The blessing was rain from heaven to bring full crops in the fields, and locusts prevented from eating the produce. Malachi 3 has nothing to do with God bestowing financial wealth for tithing.
So many people are kept in poverty because of the lie that God requires ten percent of their money. Many pastors are presenting a false god to their congregations,… a god that requires money for blessings. Yet the God of the Bible will give us all things freely. (Romans 8:32) Truly sad.
Sorry, while I admire your conviction, I will never give a church money with the way most of them are nowadays.
Thank you for this. I have just started to be obedient to the 10%. It has been a struggle for me. I don’t have enough to go around. This is a huge test of faith for me. I do not feel bad about it either. It isn’t my money. It is God’s. Something I didn’t understand until becoming a christian. I think that is the struggle for people to understand when they are not Christian. They see it as a waste. As a burden. That is the way of the world.
I am excited for my future even though things are very tight right now.
🙂
Just ran across your site (from a YNAB link) – and wanted to share an experience with Tithing.
I belong to a church (LDS) that requires a full tithe. I have always paid tithes. It is what I was taught to do from a very young age.
I was on a business trip a few years ago with an colleague from a different faith. He shared with me that he and his wife decided to start to pay a full tithe about a year previous. He was amazed at the financial blessings that he received from paying 10% of your income to others. We shared many stories of how paying 10% to others first put us both in a much better financial situation.
Over the past 6 years, my wife and I have paid off over $200,000 in debt (Student loans, vehicles, and now we are working on the house). Because we have stayed laser focused on our debt, we will be completely debt free (Including our home) in October 2016. As our income has increased, we have been putting most of the increases to debt repayments.
I am proof that you can work your way out of debt! There is light at the end of the debt tunnel!
While I no longer attend church and disagree with some of the teachings of the faith I grew up in, I respect tithing. I think people often miss that when you fall short and are in need that the church (at least the LDS church that I grew up attending) will step up when you need it most.
So while some people may look at it as “not affording” to be able to pay tithing I think they miss that church is a community and your tithing may be going to help someone in a far worse situation by putting food on their table, clothing on their children, and a warm place to sleep at night.
Heaven forbid you are ever in that situation, the church will be there for you too. I was there once and even though I didn’t attend regularly they still helped pick me back up when I desperately needed it. Without judgment or hesitation.
Anyway, that’s just my two cents.
It is so good to see a blogger who is committed to paying his/her tithes. I am now researching ways to come out of debt as I approach the year of 2015. I was recently involved in an accident that I now have to pay several medical bills for, as well as, student loans and credit card debts that I have accumulated over the years. I have always tithe since I started working at the age of 16. I totally agree with you that I cannot afford NOT to tithe…through all of what I have been through, God has kept me and I have never been without. Lately, with so many bills coming in…I find myself discouraged about paying my tithes because approximately $500 can go towards paying a something off/down. I feel that I am drowning in debt now. However, after reading this blog…it has helped me to remain faithful in giving God that 10% (with a joyful, giving heart)….thank you so much. Your commitment and heart is not in vain. Your testimony just encouraged me to keep pursuing the righteousness of God. #newfolloweradded
Thank you Jess. I sincerely believe that when we put God first everything else will work out. Best wishes for progress toward debt-free in 2015! 🙂
It’s just the way you’ve been taught you whole life so really you never notice it…but to be honest I bet you give away more than 10%, that is the minimum just for tithing. When you factor in the other charitable opportunities we figure ours in around 20%.
Money just isn’t about making yourself better, but can improve the life of so many others. I have a lot of employees who depend upon me and my performance at work. I don’t want to hurry up and retire, I want to help others improve their lives along the way as well. Once you see that you can live on less you truly see that money doesn’t control your life.
Just out of curiosity, how do you handle tithing and monthly zero-based budgeting in YNAB? Obviously if your income is variable, then at 10% your tithing will be variable, too. I think you said you pay tithing once a month–so when you pay tithing, is your tithing expense for Month X based on the Month X-1 income?
For example, if you earned $4000 in September and $5000 in October, would you pay tithing of $400 on Oct. 1 and $500 on Nov. 1, or $400 on Sept. 30 and $500 on Oct. 31?
I’m fairly new to YNAB and have always just paid tithing on the next available Sunday after receiving income (which is mostly biweekly). So it can get tricky if you get three paychecks in a month and therefore pay three tithing checks, but your last month’s income in YNAB was only two paychecks.
That’s a really good question Dave. I can tell that you’re really thinking things through thoroughly! 🙂
On the first Sunday of the month, we pay tithing based on the previous month’s total income. I’ve found that it’s easier to keep track of that way and it makes the most sense (at least to me) to do it that we since we live off of last month’s income. At the beginning of the next month we know exactly how much we earned in the previous month (and that’s the money we’re using).
So in your example, we’d pay tithing of $400 on Oct. 1 and $500 on Nov. 1.
It’s like during September we stuff all of our paychecks into a jar that we don’t open until October 1st. When the jar is opened, we pay our tithing on that money and make our budget with that money. All the paychecks that come in during October go into a different jar that won’t be opened until November.
That makes sense! Thanks for explaining your method. I think I might try that, too. I like the jar analogy–my thought with always paying immediately (before YNAB) was that it’s the best way to make sure I am paying tithing first. But with your jar concept, you’re still doing that; you just don’t open the jar until the next calendar month. I like it!
I think you are great 🙂
Thanks friend. 🙂
Hi, I just found your blog through Pinterest and I love this post! My husband and I are trying to get completely debt free (luckily all we have is our car payment left) and this is something I’ve struggled with. It’s so tempting to put tithing on hold when trying to accomplish certain financial goals, but when you really think about it, it’s like the least we can do. God takes care of his children!
I also read another one of your posts about how you budget using last month’s income. This is so brilliant and I don’t know why I’ve never thought of this before! One of the most frustrating things about zero based budgeting for me is that we don’t make exactly the same amount of money every month so I’m constantly changing amounts in the budget as we go and I feel like that just defeats the purpose. I’m gonna start trying it your way! Anyway, I’m glad I found your blog and I wish you lots of good luck on your journey to become debt free 🙂
Hi Lauren! That’s awesome that the only debt you have left is your car! You’re so close! The way we budget works great for income that fluctuates! I thought the same thing– why didn’t I ever think of this before!?
And I totally agree: “God takes care of his children!”
Hi Stephanie, I’m in a very similar place to your husband and your blog inspired me to create my own law school debt blog. I’ve obviously added your blog to my blogroll list. Thanks for sharing your story!
That’s great! I love the way that a blog keeps us accountable and motivated! Wishing you the best!
Since I decided to tithe my increase as first THING to be paid, I have been extra ordinarily blessed. Tithe means 10% as Abraham paid 10% of the bounty to high priest Malechesadek, king of Salem. Then as Jesus said to render unto God what portion is God’s. God spoke through the prophets that the first fruits increase belongs to him. It puts God first in recognizing he is the true provider. Not the money providing the things nor the jobs etc. He is the owner of everything that he gives us to handle and manage. Offerings are seperate charitable part of giving that is different from the first frorgsnizatiinng to God. I chose a church orgsnizatIon I am comfortable about their using the tithe as God intends it. I did my part in god faith isn’t my issue to contend from here. Its not my money. It belongs to God. I had my debts forgiven unexpectedly. I have been offed a million dollars that just fell in my lap. It just keeps happening just beyond the brink of going broke. Looking at it from human perspective. The promise to protect the rest of my pissessuons and restore ne and protect my health and restore MY youth like the eagles is also quite true. All the storms have evaded me when I was right in the bulls eye for a direct hit. Is yes, its all good and with trusting God to obey his will for my own good. He promises u won’t miss out or be at a loss withourestirationon of better than ever before.
Hi Stephanie, at this moment I don’t have time to read all the responses, so forgive me if I repeat some above. First of all, many people who are in debt (aren’t we ALL in debt, lol), don’t tithe…However, in my experience, you can’t afford NOT to tithe! And you are dead on: tithing is about FAITH, not about money. God has given us 100% of the money we have, and we are to be stewards of HIS money…he only asks for 10%, and HE does not even need it…I believe He just wants to teach us to eat out of His hand. I had stopped tithing temporarily (remember last winter when I had all these bad financial things happen? I didn’t tell you this, but it was BECAUSE we had stopped tithing!), and been in the worst financial shape of my life. But as soon as I started tithing again, God certainly did rain down financial blessing from heaven, and all of a sudden I had THOUSANDS of unexpected dollars pouring in. Tithing increases our faith. My dad just preached on Malachi 3 this past Sunday, and how it’s amazing that people will trust God with their LIVES, but not their wallets. That’s something to think about. Lastly, once you become accustomed to tithing, it’s like second nature and you don’t even think about it. Anyway, again, you didn’t know this, but YOU were the one who encouraged me to get back on the tithing bandwagon that I had temporarily slipped off for the first time in my life. So thank YOU for encouraging me, and thus allowing God to richly bless our lives in many ways again, including finances!
Hi Liz! Thank you for sharing this with me! What a wonderful lesson to really notice the difference paying tithing and not paying tithing makes. I’m glad I could be encouraging without even knowing it. And how cool that your dad just preached on Malachi 3! 🙂
I think some of the criticism you’re receiving over this issue is because your money is going to support a church. (See your first two example comments.) It seems to be the ‘in’ thing to trash Christians these days. I’ll bet if you were giving your money to a political candidate or cancer research or saving the endangered purple-spotted toads of northwest Alabama, you would not have heard a peep against your decision. (Okay, maybe someone would’ve had something to say about the toads!) And judging by the third example comment, there’s a certain amount of greed and a ‘me-first’ attitude in play.
While I don’t personally believe that Christians are required to tithe a specific amount, I think it’s fabulous that you feel the need to give back to God. Even if a person is not religious, the saying is still true: there’s more happiness in giving than in receiving. Whether you call them blessings or Karma or whatever, you’re sure to get back good things even greater than you have given.
It is funny what people will criticize and what they won’t! Thankfully that criticism doesn’t bother us. I think you are right, that whether we’re religious or not, giving feels good and we get good things in return.
curious if you are lds?
I currently don’t have an income from work but just from child support while I finish grad school. How would you recommend tithing in that situation? Thank you for your transparency.
Yes Catherine, we’re LDS. I would say that each situation is personal and what you define as your income is between you and God. For us, we tithe on our increase, so that is income, our tax return, gift money, bonuses, etc.
I really respect your dedication to your faith and your church. DH and I try to give as much as we can even when we have to go without something. We choose to give our money to a number of charities like the March of Dimes (our daughter was born 8 weeks early), the local food bank, and our church. We definitely don’t give 10%, but we give what we can, when we can.
That is great that you find ways to be generous to charities that are personal for you!
Love your blog, so inspiring!
Do you give tithes after or before your business expenses (Like etsy, for example)?
Thanks Irena!
In order to figure my income for my Etsy shop and my blog, I deduct business expenses first. After I take out business expenses (Etsy fees, shipping, materials, etc), then what is left is my income and I tithe on that.
We all choose what is important in our lives, set priorities, and strive to reach our goals. If everyone made the same choices, it wouldn’t be called PERSONAL finance.
Yep! It’s personal. I just figured that since we make our personal finances public that I would give some detail on what’s personal for us. The great thing is that everyone gets to choose what’s personal for them!
I just wanted to share my experience. We are now debt free (including our very modest starter home). We have the same income that you do, three kids, and also spend about $300 a month on groceries(it varies from 250-350 depending on what we need to stock up on). When we got serious about paying off debt, my husband felt strongly that not only should we continue our full 10% tithing, but that we should increase our fast offering (once a month going without two meals and taking that money to donate to others who are in need of food) to a level that felt like a sacrifice. We ended up giving approximately $100 extra each month for our offering. It hurt! And it felt crazy! It seemed like giving away even more money was going to hurt us financially and set us back further. The reality is, once we started doing this, we paid off our debt at the quickest rate we had experienced. I can’t tell you logically how it worked out that way, but it did. We felt like the Lord blessed us for our sacrifice and truly opened the windows of heaven to pour blessings on our head.
Thanks for sharing Laurie! What a beautiful story and testimony! And congrats on being totally debt-free!!
Stephanie, why do you choose not to publish all responses? This has happened in the past to me and now, again. I may not always agree, but I write very fair responses. I do think your blog is much too censored! I think you will find that your blog will grow if you accept all responses, even if they conflict with yours somewhat. BTW, love reading about your debt pay-off!
Actually, I do publish all comments on my blog, even ones from people that disagree with me. My thinking is that if someone had a question, concern or criticism, it’s likely that there are other readers who are too shy to comment who feel the same way, so I want to address it.
If you are worried because your comment does not appear right after it’s submitted, it’s because of comment moderation. I have comment moderation enabled to keep off those spam comments that slip though the filters (knock-off Coach purses anyone?). My spam filter is pretty good usually though, so if the comment looked questionable, it may not have even made it to my view. Just to be sure I didn’t miss something, I did a search and I have no other comments submitted under the email address you used.
Aside from toning down the language if someone swears (though that has only happened maybe twice), I do not censor comments. I have wonderful readers who leave uplifting and insightful comments, constructive criticism, and thoughtful arguments. Fortunately I haven’t had to worry about censoring comments. We keep it clean around here though, so if inappropriate comments start appearing I will remove them. So far that hasn’t been an issue though!
Thanks for your response. I don’t know why my comment did not show up! I will try again. I appreciated your thoughts on tithing. We too have always given faithfully. For years, our giving was part of our church membership. We understand completely that churches have bills–salaries, utilities, building maintenance etc. But the last church we were in gave us pause about our giving. After reviewing the financial reports for years, we finally realized that most of the giving stayed within the church–salaries, the pastors’ hefty retirement funds, new building programs etc. Very little went to the community. In fact, all we saw each year were the proceeds of the annual rummage sale, about $6,000, that was earmarked for community needs outside our church.
This was when we decided to drop our membership. We now give truly to “orphans and widows” as the Bible commands. We are able to buy groceries for the unemployed, give cash to the homeless on street corners, support our local medical clinic for indigent people in our city etc. Our tithing now is in our community and is given directly to our recipients. We still have fellowship with other believers, but we are so happy to choose how our giving is distributed. I do believe that is one drawback of “the church on the corner.” Soon the preoccupation is with property and church assets, and often real needs are overlooked.
That’s would be frustrating to feel like your contributions weren’t making a difference. I’m glad you have found ways to give that are meaningful and important! 🙂
While I’m not religious and don’t believe in tithing, I still respect you for sticking to your faith. I can still be friends without agreeing with you 🙂
I’m glad we can still be friends. 🙂
“We can’t afford not to pay tithing” … I totally agree! As a pastor’s kid, tithing was a part of who we were … even as little kids. It is easy to look at the bills and decide not to give tithes. It is courageous to give even when things don’t look so great. Some how, some way things always work out!
It takes faith, but things do always work out! Thank Jayleen.
I just want to let you know we understand just what you mean about tithing. Several years ago we felt a calling to start tithing even though we were in debt and had trouble making ends meet many months. The funny thing is (and I know many people who will tell you this) is that when we started tithing first we actually had more money than when we were not tithing. Every time something would come up that required money we had not budgeted for an amazing thing happened. The amount that we needed would be there. One time we had an unexpected bill of $100. I was so worried (needlessly) and fretted over it for a day or two. But two days later I received a check in the mail for $103 for reimbursement of some fees from out bank. I had filled out the form for that reimbursement over a year before. But it came just when I needed it most. That is God watching out for our family and showing us his love for us by providing just what we need.
It is amazing how things work out! Thanks for sharing your experience Janet. God definitely will take care of us!
My family has much less financial stress since we stopped paying tithing. We are putting more into savings and enjoying more things together as a family that we couldn’t afford before. I regret giving the church a quarter million dollars over the last 20 years as a full tithe payer. It caused my kids tangible harm.
I am not surprised but incredibly saddened that people would choose to attack you about this particular issue. I am not a member of a particular church or following but my parents are Christians and one of the tenants that has always resonated with me was that you have to give to receive. When I was younger and had difficulty understanding the concept, my mother told me to stick out my hand. She then closed it and offered me a dollar. My immediate instinct was to open my hand to take the dollar. My mother commented on this and said, “With an open hand, blessings and opportunities will come and go but you can grasp nothing with a closed hand.” I don’t tithe ten percent of my income but I give even when it is uncomfortable. For all of the opportunities and gifts I have had in life the little that I give, in debt or not, doesn’t seem significant. I admire your commitment to helping others (beyond your tithing you often always have an “other charitable giving” line) and thank you for your willingness to write about this issue is such an open way.
“I give even when it is uncomfortable.” <-- I think this is so important Candice. There isn't really a time that is "convenient" to give. If we wait until we have extra money sitting around and aren't in the habit of giving, we'll find something else to do with that money.
I wholeheartedly agree with you. I don’t compromise tithing either. I have thought about what that money could do in times of desperation. But when I think of what God has done for me, 10% is not even enough compared to His goodness. When we are faithful, He will fulfil His Word. (I was reading the passage in Malachi just last night) 🙂
“But when I think of what God has done for me, 10% is not even enough compared to His goodness.” <-- Love this Tina!
I couldn’t agree with you more! Thanks so much for sharing this.
You’re welcome Debra. 🙂
I respect you for putting your faith above all else. For those who see it as supporting your church, the building and the clergy could not support you if you don’t support it (at least that’s how I see it – we are Jewish and there are so few of us that every donation counts). Good for you and your family for letting the negativity roll away and sticking with your commitment to God and your debt repayment.
Thank for the kind words Beth!
Thank you for sharing this post and for doing so boldly. I had just been struggling with the concept of whether or not I should pay tithes given my financial situation. When money is tight, we seem to have this urge to want to hang on to ever last penny, especially those we feel don’t make any sort of visible difference in our lives (at least at that moment). I, too, grew up in a household where the word of God takes precedence. God wants us to be cheerful givers. Even though it is a commandment, He wants us to do so willingly and out of love and appreciation for what he has done.
So thank you for giving me the rejuvenation I needed in this area. God is so funny in how he uses people/things to affect our lives 🙂
Thanks for your comment Charlsey! I’m glad this post came at the right time for you. 🙂
This is just supports my opinion that people will make money for what they value. It’s obvious that your passionate about debt repayment from everything on this blog, but that doesn’t take precedence over your complete goal which is a good life committed to your religious values. I think that’s great! That’s why this is personal finance, you get to personally set your own priorities. Also, beyond all of its value from a religious standpoint, I think you’re attitude of gratitude is an excellent one. There was a recent psychological study that showed gratitude of all personality traits was most highly correlated to a happy life. And I think making charity a priority in your life fosters gratitude. On a personal level, I recently went through a bit of debt battle bitterness, and for me increasing my time volunteering and focusing on what I have to be grateful for is what got me out of a bad attitude.
Love this Judi! I love what you said about gratitude. I agree that being grateful really does make us happier. And service can really change our perspective. Thanks for sharing!
Tithing is not comanded in the Bible, this is so sad, we pay the tithe too and have no money, I believe we are poor stewards of what god gives us when we steal from our debtors to pay God