Tithin'
We have been talking a lot about money on this blog lately. Thought we could do it once again! Saw this post by the Crunchy Con, and while I liked the post I found the comments to be especially interesting. Anytime you bring up tithing you get a whole range of reactions! I saw a couple of my own excuses in the comments, a couple of people that I thought were right on target, and at least one comment that blew my mind (I hope it was tongue in cheek.)
He was looking for responses to the 10% of net/gross. What I want to know is “What about tithing at all?” Do we still need to do it? If we are supposed to be tithing, then why aren’t we? Is tithing a minimum or a maximum? Should we be tithing and giving? Do any of you have rules that you have set for yourself or your family?
Prof, the comments on that blog were quite, uh, well, uh, challenging? Wow.
Guess there’s a reason Jesus said you can’t worship God and money…. (Matthew 6).
Based on Scripture’s teaching, we have always tithed 10% from gross, even when we made very little. And we always give over and above to missionaries and charities.
Oh, and we also have been putting away 5-15% above that for retirement and paid taxes and put our kids through private school.
Never had a new car.
Never been in debt except for the mortgage we are paying off quickly.
Never had an expensive vacation.
Some might say we are tight with our money. Quite the opposite. It’s a blessing and a joy. I highly recommend percentage giving and project giving to everyone.
Loaded question though.
Wasn’t that a wild series of comments? I love the wild divergence of opinion when money is involved!
In the interest of full disclosure, my wife and I have recently tried to switch to 10% of gross. We were doing 10% of net, and not always doing as well as we should.
I just find that every time I try to justify giving less I feel as though I am just making excuses to keep money that doesn’t belong to me.
Tithing cannot be supported by using sound biblical principles of interpretation. Period. If you care to study the matter, see http://www.tithing-russkelly.com
I feel, like Just Jim, that the Bible calls us to give 10% of gross as a minimum. I do find it interesting that in our grossly luxurious culture we have so mush trouble handing over such a small amount.
Are we really that rapped up in stuff that 10% is too much? I do know that some people have trouble making ends meet because they just don’t make that much, but there are also a fair number of folks who just live above and beyond their means.