What does the Bible say about tithing while in debt?
“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.
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.
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.
Even if you're in debt or walking through a rough financial season, tithing should still be a priority. Yep—you read that right. While it's tempting to throw that money at your debt, the discipline and faith that tithing brings are so worth it.
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.
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.
People who cannot afford to give up 10% of their income can give up their time. Instead of seeing how much money is left every month and then tithing, they should tithe first and then spend the rest of the money responsibly.
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 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.
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.”
Do you tithe on social security?
QUESTION: If your only income is from social security, are you supposed to pay tithe and offering? ANSWER: It is believed that one should tithe from the gross of any increase one receives. When you tithe from your gross, you tithe from the overall amount from which your social security has been deducted.
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.
You don't have to make a contribution for each paycheck, though. If you have a thorough, well organized monthly budget, you probably have a good idea of how much money you'll have coming in every month, and when it will be coming. A good budget should have a tithe built into it.
Although we aren't commanded to give 10% of our earnings to God, he does expect us to be givers. Don't look at the requirement to not tithe as an opportunity to be stingy. In the Old Testament, God required Israelite farmers and herdsmen to give the tithe regardless if they were in debt or not.
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.
Did Christ abolish the tithe? No. He came to fulfill (complete, bring to fruition, accomplish) the Law and the Prophets, not to abolish it ( Matthew 5 v 17.)
The unpardonable sin is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Blasphemy includes ridicule and attributing the works of the Holy Spirit to the devil.
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.
The promise in Malachi is that if you tithe, the Lord will open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing such that there will not be room to receive it. If one chooses not to tithe, those windows remain closed and the promised blessings are not received.
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%. After all, anything can change on a dime!
Will God punish me if I stop tithing?
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).
Tithing is the Baseline for Giving
If you just can't give of your income because you're going through a tough time, then giving your time is a good alternative. However, you should never see it as a substitute instead of tithing. There is nothing more fun than being able to give generously.
“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.
It is also important for you to know that today as believers, even if you are unable to tithe, God still loves you and you are still the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Tithing therefore, is not an obligation but rather a privilege where we get to honor the Lord for all that He has done and is doing in our lives.
What does the Bible say about paying tithes? The Bible is very clear in Leviticus 27:30 where it says “A tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain or fruit, is the Lord's, and is holy.” And Proverbs 3:9 (NIV) says, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops.”
