Benefits of Budgeting by the Year, Not Month

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I want to state that 'I AM NOT' against tithing, however, is there anyone (other than theologians) who has read the tithing method as set forth in the Bible? I have for many years faithfully tithes and my financial state remained the same. Now I give as my heart instructs me and I am blessed. There are three main focuses of tithing 1 for the High Priests, 2 the poor, widows, and strangers, 3 for your family. If there are more I haven't found them. Also tithing was never in the form of money and it was done in a specific time frame, yearly, every third year, the seventh year no tithes and all debt was to be forgiven. The only place I find the use of money is to exchange the food items for cash and then buy food items when you reach Jerusalem. Furthermore, tithes were to be taken to Jerusalem the Holy City. The other place I found the use of money was to pay the High Priests for sin atonement, which was not a tithe. I also haven’t found anywhere in the Bible where tithes was use to build and maintain the church. Each Israelite family was given a responsibility for maintaining the church building providing wood for the fire, oil to burn, structural repairs etc. I have yet to find a minister who has done a complete study on tithes beginning with the Old Testament on into the New Testament. You only get a few scriptural studies, Malachi, Corinthians, Hebrews just to name a few. For me because one receives blessings because they tithed are not as open and closed as many want to believe. God blesses the just and the unjust (the believer and the unbeliever). There are many non-believers that receive blessings because they tithe to charities, community projects. Many companies do the same. I believe blessings come from God because of two reasons, 1 obedience and 2 because you do it willingly. In other words you do what you do not because you are compelled to do it, but because even if God hadn’t said help the poor, you would do it anyway.
Study and you will see there is a lot more to tithing than just giving. So I say this, tithe if your heart instructs you to, but make sure you are doing it the way God said to do it. Also know that everything we deem Holy may not be Holy to Him i.e. (Christmas and Easter)
If you truly desire to have wealth then learn how to use money wisely because even in tithing if you foolishly spend the 90% God will not give you more to waste.
Colossians 1:9 (KJV)
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Colossians 2:3 (KJV)
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

DH of TX 3:26PM April 30, 2010

Tithing is obedience.It is giving unto the Lord to carry out the spreading of the gospel.It benifits you and the reciever.God gives His favor and blessings on the giver!!!
Don't run to God for favors when you do nothing for Him.No, be obedient, follow HIS teachings and get smart about how to obtain what you need.
A sick person got sick because of somethingelse other than an accident, search out why , where did you miss God and go to HIM and confess.Smokers are more likely to get cancer, yet a smoker wants God to heal them while still smoking, isn't that a bit foolish?

Mick of TX 12:44PM April 30, 2010

Putting God #1 in your life will always produce increasess.If you are not right with God and His SON JESUS than nothing you can do will work out.I am convienced by expirence that when I succeed it is always when I have put God first."Seek HIM first and ALL these things will be ADDED unto you", it is the truth.

Mickee of TX 12:39PM April 30, 2010

People are still using God as a reason to better themselves or blame him !
I belive you should tithe, I also tithe however its not because I expect something back from God but because it is his will to support his Ministry I have seen my share of hardships NO HOME' NO WAY TO FEED 4 CHILDREN EXCEPT THE SOUP KITCHEN but never blame God he has a reason for everything that happens to us even if it is to show our faithfulness to him God died for us and thats reason enough for me to keep titheing even if it is going to short me for the month.

cynthia of NC 12:12PM April 30, 2010

....tithing is not about MONEY...... its about obediance. The 10% of what you have, could mean 10% of your time if you don't have the cash. God doesnt want you and your family to be without electricty or to go without food or shelter. He knows what you (I) have and dont have. His love, protection and forgivness is not C.O.D. Our fatih should not be dependent upon a blessing..... then its not "faith" is it?
(side bar) ..... did the people @ your church know of this hardship? Did anyone help?
What better way to see thithing in action?

GinaS of AL 11:56AM April 30, 2010

The thing about tithing is not that you will have lots of money, but the Lord will help you in making those financial decisions that are correct for you. The Lord expects each of us to do our part also.

Gaylene of OH 11:14AM April 30, 2010

My husband lost job after 9-11 crash and was unwmployed for 1 year we have learnt good lesson between our WANTS and NEEDS.
We started tithing sincerely since then and we increased our income tremendously and we are sustaining in this bad economy paying 2 mortgages and getting unbeliveable raises.
Tithing can never go wronge.I challenge you to try and you will see the difference.
ALL I SAY IS TRY JUST ONCE.

ratna of MS 10:35AM April 30, 2010

Thats funny you ask that. That is the exact reason that I have lost almost all faith in the Lord. I was a brandnew born again Christian in 1986 with lots of faith and 2 teenage girls. Read my Bible, tithed my 10% and lived as close to the way I believe the lord wanted me to as I could. One month in particular, my funds run short and my electri bill ran high. I had a choice, my electric bill or the Lord. Well being a new Christian I wanted to do what I felt the Lord wanted me to do so, I put it in His hands and tithed my 10%. I prayed and gave my electric bill to the lord. 2 weeks later I was without power. So....In answer to your question, YES!!!!! I have seen LOTS of financial hardship in those that tithe.

Edie of AR 10:24AM April 30, 2010

Its strange that the way to avoid financial hardship is not budgeting but tithing. You can see that there are many people who budget their money but still experience financial hardship. But do you know of a person who voluntarily give 10% of his income to the Lord and still fiancially hard up?

dong 9:17AM April 30, 2010

I don't budget shit, but I do see some people and business trying to rob people. Such as me buying a brand new boat in 2007 but later finding out that the boat is a 2006 and the motor is a 2005, of course the dealership never told me the facts, because I would have never paid 15,000.00 for a 1year old boat and a 2 year old motor. There should be a law against this kind of crimminal activity, the dealership told me that a 2005 motor never sold is still brand new in 2007. Explain that to the next person that I try to sell it to and tell them that it is a 2007 outfit !
Pine Crest Marine, Highway # 1 in west cola. These people are the biggest crooks outside of prison, buyer beware !!!

Robert Bush of SC 12:32AM April 30, 2010