Should Christians tithe when in debt?
If you're in debt, tithing should still be a priority. Listen, I know it's tempting to throw that money at your debt, but the discipline and faith that tithing brings are so worth it. Even while you're paying down debt, you can still have an attitude of generosity.
If you can't afford to tithe due to a tight budget, you can always volunteer your time and talents, says Deborah L. Meyer, CPA/PFS, CFP®, and the author of Redefining Family Wealth: A Parent's Guide to Purposeful Living. “Giving both your money and your time are forms of tithing,” Meyer explained.
Is it a sin if I don't pay tithes? No, it is not a sin because you are not breaking any of God's commandments. Tithing was established for the Jews living before Christ.
The tithe is God's law for his children, yet the payment is entirely voluntary. In this respect it does not differ from the law of the Sabbath or from any other of his laws. We may refuse to obey any or all of them. Our obedience is voluntary, but our refusal to pay does not abrogate or repeal the law.
Tithes and offerings in the Old Testament and New Testament were to create an opportunity for God's people to worship Him. As Christians, making a decision on where to give should align with the same goal. Therefore, if you have a passion to help the poor, go for it!
If you're in debt, tithing should still be a priority. Listen, I know it's tempting to throw that money at your debt, but the discipline and faith that tithing brings are so worth it. Even while you're paying down debt, you can still have an attitude of generosity.
Quite simply, there is nothing you can do to go to heaven except for one thing— and that is accept God's free gift of salvation by faith in Jesus. You can't tithe your way into heaven, you can't buy your way into heaven, you can't work your way into heaven. You can only go there based on accepting God's free gift.
It doesn't say that it's a sin to borrow
While the Bible offers many warnings about the dangers of debt, it never says that you are out of God's will or violating one of God's commandments when you borrow. We can debate the wisdom of incurring debt under certain circ*mstances, but it's never a black-and-white issue.
And, even as a Christian, you may allow curses to come upon you through fear or your own negative words. But you are NOT cursed because you don't pay ten percent of your earnings to God, or to His representatives.
Under the new covenant, there is no law demanding that Christians tithe at all, and that is because we receive all blessings today based on Jesus' finished work and His finished work alone.
What did Jesus say about tithing?
Jesus endorses tithing – but expects His followers to exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees whom He encouraged to continue tithing (Matthew 23:23). Here are the key ideas of the principle of giving: God owns everything, and His people are “money managers.”
It is simply not biblical to require people to give their entire tithe to their local church.
Generally speaking, we tithe on our income. Loaned money from a bank or lending institution is not income, but debt that must be paid back with interest. Therefore, loans are not sources of income, but sources of expense that would not require a tithe.
If you can barely pay your bills, I encourage you to give God a dime. Literally a dime, just start somewhere. And as your faith grows, increase it as much as you can, until you are able to give God 10%.
Is Money the Only Way to Tithe? Yes, money is the only way to tithe. However, the New Testament communicates that one finds purpose in also giving time, care, love, service, prayer support, and material support, in addition to money. We are blessed by God so we can bless others.
Giving your time is a great way to honor God and show love to others. But it should be done in addition to your tithe, not as a replacement for it. See, the Bible is pretty clear on the importance of tithing. And it doesn't offer another option when it comes to giving 10% of your resources back to God.
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7, NIV). There are so many benefits to giving. Always. We encourage you to continue doing it even as you dig your way out of debt.
Within this context, Deuteronomy 15:1 presents an alternative to the debt cycle, calling for a regular “remission,” or forgiveness. The passage gives justification to this debt easem*nt, “Because the Lord is sure to bless you” (Deuteronomy 15:4b).
Be cautious about bringing a church into debt.
Proverbs 22:26-27 says, “Don't be one of those who enter agreements, who put up security for loans. If you have nothing with which to pay, even your bed will be taken from under you.”
Because we're under a curse if we don't tithe. (Malachi 3:8-9) Paul tells us that as Christians we can put ourselves under a curse… although he mentions that curse comes on us by doing part of the law and not all of it (Galatians 3:10).
Is not paying tithes a sin?
Since we are now under grace all of our giving is based on 2 Corinthians 9:7, which says every man should give as he is purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity because God loves a cheerful giver. God does not obligate anyone to PAY him a tithe.
The tithe is God's law for His children, yet the payment is entirely voluntary. In this respect it does not differ from the law of the Sabbath or from any other of His laws. We may refuse to obey any or all of them. Our obedience is voluntary, but our refusal to pay does not abrogate or repeal the law.
Matthew 6:12 - Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Matthew 18:27, 30, 32, 34 - Forgive because your debts have been forgiven. Luke 7:42-43 - He who is forgiven much (debt) loves much; he who is forgiven little (debt) loves little. Romans 4:4 - Wages, like a debt owed, must be paid.
Repay it as quickly as possible.
When God has provided the funds to pay off the debt, pay it off. It reduces the amount of interest owed, but also the bondage that debt brings. Proverbs 3:27-28 “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
tithing on the net (after taxes): “Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce.” Tithes should be given from the first fruits—your income before any expenses or other obligations are taken out—the gross, not the net. (Also read Deuteronomy 26.)
