As I said, God said to test Him.  Therefore, if you cannot pay the rent/feed your kids due to tithing (and more likely the 10% isn't going to be the difference between able and unable) then it's no longer your job to do it.  It's God's responsibility now, and He will take care of you.

The accountant in me wants to say that you outgave God by $300....

There's a lot of dead matchgirls whose angels came only after death. Whatever happened to 'God helps those who help themselves'?

ha!  But you didn't add up the groceries?  That's worth something........anyhow that's all I remember from those hard times right now.  Oh and I do  remember my kids got free lunches at school also during those lean times.  So add that up with the groceries!!!  I think we more than broke even......LOL. 

 What I do know is we are now totally debt free owning outright everything we have including two homes.  We have no mortgages.  One of our latest pastors here challenged his congregation to test this out, like you said Jay, put God to the test.  He personally said if they would try the giving to God first and it didn't work out for them and they felt they were not blessed as a result he would personally refund their tithe. 

Pretty risky wouldn't you say?  I'm not sure I agree with him because it's totally missing the point.  We should give without thinking or expecting anything back.  So it sort of defeats the purpose. 

I do have to say that God has truly outgiven us in every which way.  I can vouch for it. 

I guess that depends on what you think tithing is really about.  If it's just about money to you, then you are right, but to me the money is just the tool, faith is the point.  If I take that 10% and spend it on anything that comes down the pike, instead of paying my tithing, I'm teaching my kids that the money is more important to me than my faith in Jesus Christ.  On the other hand, if I pay that tithing, and feed them, but maybe miss a meal myself, then that is an object lesson for them too.

It's $800 and I'm not sure in whose calcuations that it is "not much."  Seems like an awful lot to me -- and depending on where you live, it's at least one month's rent (if not more). 

Really?  It seems pretty clear to me you've never been in a situation where every last dime matters -- 10% is a big deal.

Which is a fair enough lesson if you are talking about spending the money on cable or some other non-necessity.  But if you are talking about trying to teach a kid that faith in Jesus is important while that kids is going hungry -- I've got a problem with that. 

I'm not opposed to giving -- I firmly believe that everyone should be giving back to society -- I just don't agree that financial donations are the only way to show your faith.

Shades:

Which is why I've missed a meal or two to pay tithing, and so has my wife, but there has always been food for the kids... that food may have been breaking into our reserves of Popcorn and Peanut Butter, but they did eat.

True enough. But if I'm going to tell my kids that it is important to pay tithing, the lesson is lost if they see me using that 10% for myself instead.   More to  your point though, if all they see me donating is money, that teaches them something I'd rather them not learn from me also.

We should give, but there are times when the chuch should give. Never give what you need, ask for help.

Funny thing, though.  When I'm tithing, I seem to always have enough money.  When I don't, I always seem to be short.  It's almost as if God is taking care of me when I give... because that's exactly what's happening!

Is there anything wrong with giving to the Turkey basket program at church, and then going and picking up a basket?  I agree that the church needs to be there for you as well, or it's not really doing it's job either.  You give your 10% and the church needs to be there to help do God's work of giving back.

Maybe you tithe because you have enough money and don't when you're short?  That would be the cause and effect that makes the most sense.

If God is providing...does he send you a check?

~Zoo

Cute!LOL!   It comes in whatever form you need!

I've been down the road of not knowing where my next meal is coming from or feeding my kids and not eating much before. I've been down the road of not knowing where the next cent is coming from to pay a much needed bill.  Once I even went to a church to get help, before they could give me help they wanted so much information and copies of documents that I just gave up and left in frustration!  It is not a nice thing not knowing where the next dollar is coming from when you are in a crisis! So how would it be nice to give what you don't have?  I don't see the sense.  One thing I remember the bible says, to not forget yourself in prayer.  I think that God doesn't expect us to short change ourselves as that would be stupid don't you think?  Most definitely give what you can, when you can, a reasonable thing to me!

Exactly, great point!  Faith, having it, no matter what form or shape it comes in, that is the point. Without it, so many of us would give up on our lives, and when someone comes to that point, I hope they can reach within themselves to find that faith, to reach out, beyond pride, to get the help they need.

I think we all have experienced some type of or lack of having at one point or another, unless you're super rich of course!

Ted, can you enlighten me as to what you mean?  I tell my kids to give what they can, when they can, especially to someone who needs it. They are aware also of what it means to tithe.  When we were regular members of a church, they understood what it is and why.  For me (and I'm not saying it isn't for anyone) it wasn't about what I would get back from God, it was from the heart what I could afford.  They learn about the needs of others and that there are organizations out there that do good, that really helps those in need.  They first must start with themselves, and each other, to understnd what it means to give freely and willingly.  This part is a learning curve with my two youngest right now who are in the "me, me, and mine only" stage of their lives.  They know better, but there are times when they don't do it.

What I mean is, my kids learn much more from what they see me doing (or not doing) than what I tell them.  If I tell them that service to others is important, but all they see me doing is writing a check to my church's welfare system, then they will learn a lesson from me that I'd rather they didn't learn... namely, that donating money is "good enough", or that actual service is only done if you can't afford to donate money.

If that's what works for you, great!  But frankly, I just don't buy it.  How much of the money that it tithed actually goes to helping others and how much of it is for administration of the church?  If you are forgoing eating dinner or adequately feeding your children (I'm not sure that popcorn & peanut butter is what I would call an adequate meal, but that might be a personal preference) so that you can help the church buy a new computer/buiding/give the preacher a raise-- I dont see that as something to brag about. 

Also, in KFC's earlier example, she said her kids were getting free lunches (paid for by taxpayers) -- but the $800 she gave to the church surely would have been sufficient for lunches for at least half of the year, if not more.  So because you decided to give to your church instead of giving to your family you had to take resources from elsewhere -- while I don't begrudge anyone needed a boost up -- I do begrudge someone telling me that there is something "wrong with my heart" if I am not tithing when they are collecting government benefits. 

Giving should be between you and God -- and no one should be standing in judgement of what you are able to give and what you aren't.  Yes, it is important to teach your children about faith and sacrifice -- but there are plently of ways to sacrifice for God that don't involve cash. 

I'm sorry if I am being overly harsh -- but I find the topic of tithing to be a way for people to look down their noses at others who they don't think are "giving" enough.  Frankly, it's total BS.

LW -- Thanks for the reminder on Kiva.  I was meaning to check it out last time you posted.  I just went on the website and the front page says that all of their loans have currently been funded -- what an incredible testiment to how the internet can bring people together for the greater good.  I'll keep checking back for new loans to be posted.

If someone is supporting a family on $8,000/yr, 10% makes a HUGE difference.  The less income you have, the more you NEED all of it.  There's just no padding. 

I think that also assumes that the church is going to put the $ to better use than the struggling family would.  I doubt that's typically the case.