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NASB | 2 Corinthians 9:7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Corinthians 9:7 Let each one give [thoughtfully and with purpose] just as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver [and delights in the one whose heart is in his gift]. [Prov 22:9] |
Bible Question: Greetings Johnny! Are you saying that we are not commanded in the NT to give 10 percent as tithes? Do you have a scripture where Jesus releases us from this commandment? prayon |
Bible Answer: Dear prayon, Greetings in the name of Jesus! My friend, I am afraid that you are (possibly) asking the wrong question. :-) All of the answers you are getting seem to be from those who: 1) Don't want to give as much as 10 percent to their local church. 2) Don't want to give as much as 10 percent to God. 3) Are willing to give but want to do it THEIR way. 4) Are just being argumentative. 5) Are hung up on legalism regarding the Law :-) 6) Are not comitted in their hearts to their local church, i.e. their pastor, their leadership, their fellowship. 7) Are hung up on free will, they don't want anyone telling them anything for any reason. 8) Are so poor that they cannot afford to give 10 percent or more of their meager income. 9) Are better than their leadership, and cannot trust their own church to use their hard-earned money without express consent. 10) Are so rich that their taxes are so high that their remaining income is so little that the cannot live after tithing. 11) Any or 9 out of 10 of the above! Tithing to your local church is not a difficult conclusion to come to, whether you have specific Scripture to be 'required to' or not. It takes a certain amount of money to serve God's people. Period. People, by nature, are not very faithful when it comes to money. So, you can decide upon a simple tithe/offering from the heart situation, or you can ask for money all the time. I prefer the former. Frankly, IMHO, the latter 'milking' or 'fleecing shorn sheep' method is less effective; more of a burden on the faithful-but- monetarily-challenged, and more of an opportunity to 'lift up' the 'humility-challenged' rich who publicly come up with money to meet the appeal only after the 'lesser' folks have given 'til it hurts. Instituting the simpler method, and then giving it unto the Lord, and not harping on it, makes more sense, and makes all feel better (except maybe greedy ministers). So, the real question might be, "What is a sensible way for Christians to give their monetary offerings to God?" I submit this idea to all for approval/disapproval/indignant outrage. In Christ Jesus, charis |