A question about Tithing and debt, what would Ramsey say?

[SandrA9810]

I know tithing should be about 10% of one's income, to the church. But what about donations to religious charities, is that considered tithing or just giving?

So here's the Dave part. How do you balance tithing/charities with debt? Like taking money out of savings to cover monthly bills? Not just a few dollars here or there, but 100-200 a month. And the tithing is a considerable amount as well.


I know one is just as important as the other, but how do you balance it out?

 

[superme80]

For my family tithing is a bill. It needs to be paid. I have had a few friends that could not afford to do so, and I know God was not mad at them. If you can make it a priority then do so. If it just will not finacially work then let it go until it can work for you.

 

[beaucoup]

I know tithing should be about 10% of one's income, to the church. But what about donations to religious charities, is that considered tithing or just giving?

So here's the Dave part. How do you balance tithing/charities with debt? Like taking money out of savings to cover monthly bills? Not just a few dollars here or there, but 100-200 a month. And the tithing is a considerable amount as well.


I know one is just as important as the other, but how do you balance it out?

If you need to take 100-200 out of savings every month to cover bills, I personally think the tithing needs to be put on hold until it can be covered by income, not by savings.

You aren't in a position to be helping others financially when your income is not covering your own expenses. Find another way to help others, but not financially, for now.

If you don't, you might become their next giving project.

 

[SandrA9810]

If you need to take 100-200 out of savings every month to cover bills, I personally think the tithing needs to be put on hold until it can be covered by income, not by savings.

You aren't in a position to be helping others financially when your income is not covering your own expenses. Find another way to help others, but not financially, for now.

If you don't, you might become their next giving project.

I like the way you put that. Thanks.

 

[lovemygoofy]

I know tithing should be about 10% of one's income, to the church. But what about donations to religious charities, is that considered tithing or just giving?

So here's the Dave part. How do you balance tithing/charities with debt? Like taking money out of savings to cover monthly bills? Not just a few dollars here or there, but 100-200 a month. And the tithing is a considerable amount as well.


I know one is just as important as the other, but how do you balance it out?

Tithing and charitable giving are line items in our budget. We give to both religious and non religious charities because we want to not because it is expected. We have always gave even when it was only $5 and will always continue to give because that is important to us. However, I don't think someone that can't tithe is on a black list.

If someone is going over their budget by 200 or more a month, I'm guessing this is about more than tithing.

 

[geishagirl81]

We don't have the means to give a set amount to tithing with me not teaching. I give every Sunday, but what I can after bills are paid and needs are met. We gave more when we could afford it and will give more again when we can. In the mean time, my pastor told me "time is money". Meaning, God wants you to give, period. If 100 to 200 a month is taking away financial freedom, donate some time to a charity/church. I am doing 10% of my former work week, fours hours at church teaching Sunday school and answering the phones for 2 hours.

 

[indimom]

This is just me, but I feel that if someone wants to tithe, but doesn't have the money, they could tithe time. Donate their time to a charity, the church, the people around your community, just helping others. I'm pretty sure God doesn't care about dollars and cents, he cares about people.

 

[RMAMom]

Our Priest says tithing should be 10% of your income - 5% to the church and 5% to charities of your choice.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

I know tithing should be about 10% of one's income, to the church. But what about donations to religious charities, is that considered tithing or just giving?

So here's the Dave part. How do you balance tithing/charities with debt? Like taking money out of savings to cover monthly bills? Not just a few dollars here or there, but 100-200 a month. And the tithing is a considerable amount as well.


I know one is just as important as the other, but how do you balance it out?

If someone is taking $100-200 out of savings every month, they're not living within their means. As I see it, tithing is a "bill" like any other. It's not the problem, though--the person needs to cut back in other areas to get within their means. Especially if the tithing is a "considerable amount", then they have a good income.

That said, I would think all donations to charity would count as part of tithing--whether donating $ to a church, donating $ to your community, giving donations of food or clothing, donating time. If someone wants to donate time, they might want to talk to their pastor to find out what organizations are in most need of help. This would also serve to let the pastor know that they're trying to get their financial house in order.

 

[willowsnn3]

Titheing is giving of yourself whether it is time or money. Doesn't have to be just to your church.

 

[eliza61]

I don't follow dave ramsey so I can't help you with his take on it.
for me tithing is non negotiable. My faith (and by extension) my church are as important to me as my children. Even if I were eyeball level in debt I would still feed my children and I would do the same with my church.

For me its more a faith issue than a financial issue. as long as I have an income coming into my hands I will pay some type of tithe. Now there have been months when I could not give 10% of my income but if it's in my pocket, I will split it.

 

[EMHDad]

Tithing is a difference of opinion as to rather a person is an active Christian or not, and what church they go to.

I preach that tithing is 10%. That is 10% of our income and 10% of our time. They are not interchangable. I teach my church that one should not replace giving financially with serving more. Likewise, one should not neglect service by simply giving more. To be a member of my church people have to pledge their support of the church with the prayers, presence, gifts, and service.

A pastor once should a tought I enjoyed. His wife ahisd himself felt tithing his $8,000 income was easier when he was early in his career more so than his $80,000 income.

My wife and I have operated on a tithe first philosophy. We remove 10% from our income before we even budget, pay any bills, or really do anything. As far as we are concerned, if we don't tithe, we are stealing from God. After our tithe, we then figure out what we have and what we need. So far, we have always been more than blessed again and again.

Also, I believe and teach tithing is to the church alone (not all-inclusive charity giving). Biblically, tithing is not equatable with any charity giving, but specifically with support of the religious (Church) institution.

That said, I do not believe that it is an absolute issue. I preach that it must be progressive. I do not expect inactive Christians to tithe. If a person claims to be a Christian, but is not active in a faith community, I dont have the expectation that they will be giving 10%. If a family is giving 2%, I do not expect them to jump to 10%. I ask them to jump to 5%, the 7%, then 10%. If a person is giving 10%, I ask them to take the next step.

Bottom line though, we cannot and should not be legalistic about the nature of tithing. Tithing is a spiritual discipline that is reflective and supportive of our relationship with our Lord.

Side note: Studies have shown that tithing in this country from church going Christians hovers around 2.4%

 

[SandrA9810]

The pastor received a copy of Dave's CD set for Christamas. I'm hoping he passes it around. Or at least shares it's message during Church.

$200 tithe, wuld be from a $2,000 a month income, which is about 24,000 a year. Last time I read, a lot of people here considered that to be a fairly low income. Today's standard, 30% should be for housing. So that means only $600 for that. $600 for an apartment or a mortgage payment is also considered rather low.

I've been reading sites about it as well. It seems to be fairly clear that tithing does not have to be in money. Maybe offering time will hopefully open up new doors. In more ways than just giving money.

 

[ilovemk76]

The pastor received a copy of Dave's CD set for Christamas. I'm hoping he passes it around. Or at least shares it's message during Church.

$200 tithe, wuld be from a $2,000 a month income, which is about 24,000 a year. Last time I read, a lot of people here considered that to be a fairly low income. Today's standard, 30% should be for housing. So that means only $600 for that. $600 for an apartment or a mortgage payment is also considered rather low.

I've been reading sites about it as well. It seems to be fairly clear that tithing does not have to be in money. Maybe offering time will hopefully open up new doors. In more ways than just giving money.

Whose income is this?

 

[CowboyCO]

Many people have observed that after they stopped tithing, their finances seemed to get worse. In the Book of Malachi, God promises that if you do not rob Him of your tithing, He will rebuke your devourers and protect you.

If you cannot live off 90% of your income, then you cannot live off 100%. It does not require a miracle for you to get through the month. I think that if you sit down and look at your budget, you will see that you can make it while giving at least 10%. Read the Bible and take from it what you will, and if you tithe, do it out of love for God, not guilt.

From Dave's website http://www.daveramsey.com/article/daves-advice-on-tithing-and-giving/lifeandmoney_church/

 

[DMRick]

I've been reading sites about it as well. It seems to be fairly clear that tithing does not have to be in money. Maybe offering time will hopefully open up new doors. In more ways than just giving money.

I'm not sure where you read that, but tithing is money, not time.That said, without time given to our church, it could not survive. No one in our church (well except the recording secretary) should have the information about your giving. That's between God and you.

That said, there have been poor times in our lives. My husband has been on strike, we've had illness, we had three kids in college at one time, etc. In spite of that, tithing is/has been the first to come out of our paychecks. We've never starved or been put in paupers prison because we've given at least 10%.

I often wonder how people think the churches heat and lights, the pastor, the Sunday School materials, etc gets paid. Can't do it if people are tossing in $5 weekly, especially a small church. Our church also tithes to missions, the Samaritan fund. It practices what it preaches.

Now, all of that said, if you don't tithe, you don't get tossed out. No one would even know, exept you and God.

 

[Swan4Me]

I wonder if the religious folks who tithe also put that same amount away fro retirement-which , nowadays, is far more important

I dont go to Church or tithe

 

[PrincessDadx2]

I wonder if the religious folks who tithe also put that same amount away fro retirement-which , nowadays, is far more important

Actually we do, it is just a different retirement

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-20)

For me, money is the most tangilble representation of our lives. Our labor/time is turned into money. You can't really surrender your life to God without surrendering your wallet. 10% is enough to get your attention which is why it seems to work so well

We give as a minimum 10% of gross income to our church and other charities that we believe in. I don't believe the majority of churches provide the same functions as the Jewish nation, so don't believe there is any requirement to give only to a "church". Most Christian churches should love one another, join together, close down their duplicate buildings and overhead, and then serve others. Tithing was never meant to pay the lights and heat for 100's of small churches that disagree over minor points of doctrine. It was meant to support the ministers and care for people who have trouble caring for themselves, widows, orphans, etc.

One practical advantage of starting out tithing is that is teaches you to live below your income and helps prevent you from getting into deep debt. These habits will serve you well. If you come to tithing after messing up your finances there are two schools of thought that you can follow as you grow. One is to take a stand and shrink your lifestyle to the point where you can tithe and meet your other obligations. A second is to shrink your lifestyle to meet your obligations with a goal of increasing your giving to a tithe over a set time. I believe DR supports option1, but is not upset if you go option 2.

 

[eliza61]

I wonder if the religious folks who tithe also put that same amount away fro retirement-which , nowadays, is far more important

I dont go to Church or tithe

Far more important according to who? My spiritual life is way more important than if I have a condo in florida when I retire.
For me it's not and either or proporsition.

Would you let your kids starve to save for retirement? No that's crazy. As I said before my faith is just as important so I wouldn't let my children go without, neither would I let my spiritual family go without.

 

[robsmom]

The pastor received a copy of Dave's CD set for Christamas. I'm hoping he passes it around. Or at least shares it's message during Church.

$200 tithe, wuld be from a $2,000 a month income, which is about 24,000 a year. Last time I read, a lot of people here considered that to be a fairly low income. Today's standard, 30% should be for housing. So that means only $600 for that. $600 for an apartment or a mortgage payment is also considered rather low.

I've been reading sites about it as well. It seems to be fairly clear that tithing does not have to be in money. Maybe offering time will hopefully open up new doors. In more ways than just giving money.

I think even Dave tells people that if they can't afford his book, they can get if from the library. Also, you can watch him on TV. I think his ideas are well worth reading and find his show interesting. I don't always agree with him on everything, but I think he has a great common sense approach to life. I think that Dave would tell you that 24K is an income issue not a spending issue. He would say that you need to focus on bringing in more income. If you canfigure out how to make $55 per week, you could make the tithe without issue.