Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 2/2/2009

Question
I just have a question that I wanted to ask another christian male about tithing.  I feel really guilty these days about tithing, because I have not been able to do so.  I make an offering every Sunday at church, but that is about all I can afford.  I have a wife and two children and all I want is to keep the bills paid.  I don't live beyond my means or anything like that, but I do make a good salary.  We have a house and pretty nice things.  Unfortunately, with my wife not making a lot, I have to pay 95% of the bills.  I guess what I am asking is should I be doing more?  Am I showing a lack of faith in GOD my provider by not tithing right now?  My church says we should tithe 10% of our gross salary.  If I did that, I know I would not be able to pay all of our bills.

Answer
Chris,

Thank you for your question, and the opportunity to help.

First let me say that I will be in prayer with you and your family. Know that God cares for you, and He desires you to be blessed.

Second, I want to be clear that tithe is taught in the Scriptures. From what I have read you feel the same. My wife and I tithe 10% of our gross income, and give offering above that. Let me tell you, we are blessed because of it! Have we always done so? Sadly no. God did provide, but we prevented His true blessings by our lack of faith in not trusting Him but giving tithes off the gross. But from the moment we did, it seemed as if our finances immediately turned around.

You see, the only place in the Word of God that the Lord ever challenged His people to put Him to the test is in the area of tithes and offerings (Mal. 4). He told His people to "Prove Him". In other words, try tithing and giving offerings and see if He will not "pour you out a blessing you will not be able to contain". God promised us that when we pay our tithes, and give our offerings above tithes, that He would pour out such blessings that we would be unable to contain them. WOW! That is powerful my friend.

The Bible teaches us that it is the will of God for every Believer to have more than enough to meet their needs, to have enough left over to bless others and to give into the work of the Lord. I believe poverty, debt, and lack are a curse. Amen?!? I believe as Christians are obedient in tithing to the local church, sowing financial seeds into ministry, giving of their first fruits, and blessing the needy they will reap a harvest.

So what is provision and prosperity? Simply put, provision is having an adequate supply to fulfill the vision (destiny) God has given the Believer, and prosperity is anything more than what meets your needs.

I have two suggestions...

1. Completely trust God and pay on the gross. You may have to call some of your debtors, loans, ect... and make arrangements. But this can be done. I had a similar situation at our home church. A couple I taught in the new members class came to me afterwards and said that they have always paid on the net, and that there was no possible way to pay on the gross. I asked them to put God to the test (Mal 4). I told them to set aside one, or two months and test God by paying on the gross, and then to get back with me at the end of that time period. It was not three weeks later that they came to me and said "Never mind Brother Greg. We don't understand how, but we have enough to do it. Our income did not change, and our bills stayed the same, but we had enough." So Chris know this, God is able if you trust Him.

2. If your faith is not to that place yet, then I suggest that you start at your next paycheck and keep a ledger of the amount you are short between your net tithe and your gross tithe. Commit to the Lord tat you will give this amount as soon as you are able. Then continue to walk in faith and not allow yourself to live under guilt or condemnation.

Chris, please let me know if this helps, or if you have any further questions.

Elder Greg Madden