Do You Tithe and Forgive as a Christian?

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Do you tithe?

Some churches teach that you should give at least 10% of your income to the church, especially the church you attend all of the time. Other donations to other ministries should be above the 10%.

If God gives you 100% of your income, can’t you give Him back 10%?

It might be tough because you’re in over your head and working two jobs to make ends meet. You might not have a dollar to your name and could be drowning in more and more debt just to get by. In your mind, that 10% could be what you need to keep your home out of foreclosure or feed your family.

On the other hand, could you trust God anyway? Matthew 6 says He knows all of our needs and will be faithful to provide.

Could you at least consider 10% of your net income? How about 5% of your net income? Maybe 3%?

Pastors sometimes like to say that you can know a person’s heart by their checkbook. What’s in yours? Where are you spending your money? Where do you live? What game system do you own? Where do you buy your clothes? Who cuts your hair? What kind of cars do you own? What about computers and smartphones? Where do you buy your food? What do you eat?

If you’re giving isn’t high, maybe that’s an area to examine. What can you change? At the very least, if you can’t give as much as you want, then serve and serve well. God wants our time, talent and treasure. How are you doing along those lines?

Do you cling to your stuff?
Do you live sacrificially? Are you willing to give up some of your possessions? Would you let someone live in your home for a while? How quick are you to meet someone’s needs?

These verses in Acts get to the heart of the matter. I wish my life more fully reflected how early Christians viewed their possessions and their regard for the poor.

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.”
— Acts 2:42-45

“Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.”
— Acts 4:32-35

Are you forgiving?
I’m not saying a Christian can’t die and go to heaven with an element of bitterness. We’re all fallen. Moments before I die, I may be wrestling with anxious thoughts, vanity or worldly idols.

It’s not a good sign to live for years with unforgiveness. You were God’s enemy and He allowed Jesus to die in your place for all of your sins. How could holding a grudge really make sense? People have forgiven drunk drivers who killed their children. Some sins are so heinous that it would seem impossible for someone to forgive a murderer or a rapist.

Forgiving is not about forgetting. It’s also not about dismissing the severity of what happened (justice will happen when God weighs in). If someone steals from me, I would hardly be inclined to invite Him back into my home. But I don’t need bear the heavy weight of hate on my shoulders.

I’m not sure that we have it within us to forgive, especially with the most monstrous of offenses. But we’re asked to forgive anyway. And we do it by the grace of God. As we begin to make the effort, His grace takes over. We forgive by the prompting and power of the Holy Spirit.

“Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”
— Proverbs 19:11

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