How to tithe when you're flat broke?

[Bendito]

Well, you are being snide, and I don't have the time of day for that.

I was not being snide at all. I was only saying that it is my experience that that is usually what is taught....You don't teach doctrine, or traditional teachings, or from the commentaries? What do you teach then?
Listen my friend...I'm a word weaver, a writer...I say things the way I see them...If you have a problem with the way I say things, its for you to deal with...There is no need for you to fight in these threads.

 

[hoghead]

I was not being snide at all. I was only saying that it is my experience that that is usually what is taught....You don't teach doctrine, or traditional teachings, or from the commentaries? What do you teach then?
Listen my friend...I'm a word weaver, a writer...I say things the way I see them...If you have a problem with the way I say things, its for you to deal with...There is no need for you to fight in these threads.

Woah! Wait a sec! How would you know what I teach? I never told you anything about my curriculum. FYI: I have a doctorate in theology. The current RE class I and the minister are working on is probably going to use two of my published texts. It will address the doctrine of God as found in classical theism, the Christina mystical tradition, and process theology.

 

[Bendito]

Woah! Wait a sec! How would you know what I teach? I never told you anything about my curriculum. FYI: I have a doctorate in theology. The current RE class I and the minister are working on is probably going to use two of my published texts. It will address the doctrine of God as found in classical theism, the Christina mystical tradition, and process theology.

Oh So you do teach doctrine and tradition and opinions.......Why are you so offended then, at my post?

 

[hoghead]

Oh So you do teach doctrine and tradition and opinions.......Why are you so offended then, at my post?

Try reading you post again.

 

[LordKnows]

Well, you are being snide, and I don't have the time of day for that.

Ya know @hoghead - I too took his post as being somewhat snotty also but after a few seconds - His opinion is based n HIS opinion & what he witnessed. BUT WE - You, him, her, them, they & myself are ALL here to GAIN knowledge & wisdom to get CLOSER to God himself.

Now lets say - God judged you on that reply alone. What do you think he would say? You took what you thought was a snide comment & returned it with a prideful snappy comment.... WHO won? What was gained?

You see what I'm getting at is "humbling" ourselves means to let things go that would normally have us fly off the handle. I personally used to snap & totally flip out on anyone if they even so much as thought about taking a jab at me in a snotty, snide way. 98.7% of the time I was reading into something that wasn't even there. I would jump before the words even left their mouths. I would, I was so worldly & was proud of that fact. As if I thought "NOBODY will take a jab at ME & walk away like their better & have ME look like some idiot!"
I was an embarrassment to myself say the very least now that I look back. I KNOW God had to think "My word, SHE is SO lucky I made the promise to never flood this earth again because the first raindrop would hit HER head!" BUT because He stepped off his throne & lived WITH us, ate with us, talked with us & LOVED US for NO REASON, seriously NO REASON at all. He loves us & gave US another chance NOT because he has to, but because he WANTS to. We are all the family we have in this world of madness & misery. It's all going to come to an end, everything. The ONLY thing we are taking with us... well.... we're not talking ANYTHING - It's God that will take our soul & place it where he wants it to be.

Hoghead, you didn't look like a fool or some sap for what someone else says - That will be determined by what comes out of you (replies, talk, body language).


Ponder on that while God sheds his light on your heart. Jesus looked like a sucker by the way he let people spit on him, kick him, punch him & call him everything but a human.... But Jesus tells the weather what to do... Now if THAT is not humility with having ALL the power, I don't know what else is.


With God leading my way as I try take my own route stumbling & creating my own misery- Mindy

 

[LordKnows]

I'm pretty much in the same boat. I live on a fixed income. I simply don't tithe. I can't afford to. I do try and help the church out in other ways. If and when I have an overage of food, I make sure it goes to the church. I also teach adult RE classes.

I pray I had a "fixed" income... does zero count? LOL... I know Gods got my back. He's never left me homeless, hungry or without & I firmly believe he never will.

I now believe Tithe is whatever we cling to. What has most of our attention. Money yeah, it's great, grand wonderful to have but when I had more than I knew what to do with - I was at my lowest point EVER. I haven't ever felt so alone in all my life. I bought everything & anything & was miserable. All I ever prayed for was money, money, money & more money.... God gave it to me (in NOT the best ways) but I had it & boy oh boy... did I learn to watch what you pray for. Had I been walking with God instead of walking away from him things would have been different but he showed me exactly what I didn't want a lot of. I couldn't focus on him. I seen past his blessing of life & into the closest mall.

I give what I can not pay for & that is my time. I am a God fearing slave for the mercy of God.

He IS great!!!

 

[Bendito]

Ya know @hoghead - I too took his post as being somewhat snotty also but after a few seconds - His opinion is based n HIS opinion & what he witnessed. BUT WE - You, him, her, them, they & myself are ALL here to GAIN knowledge & wisdom to get CLOSER to God himself.

Now lets say - God judged you on that reply alone. What do you think he would say? You took what you thought was a snide comment & returned it with a prideful snappy comment.... WHO won? What was gained?

You see what I'm getting at is "humbling" ourselves means to let things go that would normally have us fly off the handle. I personally used to snap & totally flip out on anyone if they even so much as thought about taking a jab at me in a snotty, snide way. 98.7% of the time I was reading into something that wasn't even there. I would jump before the words even left their mouths. I would, I was so worldly & was proud of that fact. As if I thought "NOBODY will take a jab at ME & walk away like their better & have ME look like some idiot!"
I was an embarrassment to myself say the very least now that I look back. I KNOW God had to think "My word, SHE is SO lucky I made the promise to never flood this earth again because the first raindrop would hit HER head!" BUT because He stepped off his throne & lived WITH us, ate with us, talked with us & LOVED US for NO REASON, seriously NO REASON at all. He loves us & gave US another chance NOT because he has to, but because he WANTS to. We are all the family we have in this world of madness & misery. It's all going to come to an end, everything. The ONLY thing we are taking with us... well.... we're not talking ANYTHING - It's God that will take our soul & place it where he wants it to be.

Hoghead, you didn't look like a fool or some sap for what someone else says - That will be determined by what comes out of you (replies, talk, body language).


Ponder on that while God sheds his light on your heart. Jesus looked like a sucker by the way he let people spit on him, kick him, punch him & call him everything but a human.... But Jesus tells the weather what to do... Now if THAT is not humility with having ALL the power, I don't know what else is.


With God leading my way as I try take my own route stumbling & creating my own misery- Mindy

I guess I was a little snide, snotty as you called it...I was totally sick of his better than anyone attitude and his "Oh I have a doctorate" Guess what though...What I said was not wrong....Just my disgust showing through...
I do apologize to you all for my anger/ disgust I was wrong for unleashing it, but if you don't mind I'll stand by what I said...
The world I grew up in was not a gentle one....It was very rough and tumble and stand on your own two feet...It was all root hog or die kind of thing. Its not always easy to make allowance for things. I offer this last as a reason but not as an excuse...I had no excuse

 

[LordKnows]

Hey it happened... unfortunately we don't have the self control God does. PRAISE HIM for his control cuz I would have flooded this place a million times by now.

But yeah, it happens & it will again. I'm with you Benito, ohhhh folks are blessed not to have seen me whacked out & worldly... SNAP!

Don't sweat the small stuff. Opinions are like ... well you know the rest. We haven't always been walking right. There are them that say they have been there done it better & them that sit back & don't have any need to announce what they have accomplished. Like a saying I like "Being powerful is like being a lady, if you have to say you are, you're not".

Stay in the word so Gods forcefield surrounds his children. Mindy