Should I tithe while I'm in debt?

[tsutsu]

I have been struggling with debt for the past few years and I still have quite a ways to go before I will find myself debt free. One of the things I struggle with most is whether I should be continuing to tithe at my church. I think that it's a very important thing to do, but I also think it's very important for me to get out of debt. I'm just curious how other people have thought about this situation and what they decided to do?

Right now I'm thinking about lowering the amount I give, but even a lower amount means that I don't get to pay off my debt as quickly as I would like. I can see why both sides of the coin are important and that his client having such a hard time deciding what is the best action to take.

[anna_chronistic]

My church (and I believe many are this way) believes in giving of your "time, talent, and treasure," so it's not all about the 10 percent. Sometimes manhours/labor/volunteers are needed even more than funds. Sometimes my expenses eat up everything for spurts of time, but I've taught Sunday School/youth group, I help decorate the church, donate to charities (either money or items to be raffled/silent auctioned) aside from giving at church, and other things that I can do that don't involve giving money. If I were to stop giving $ altogether until I'm completely out of debt, then it would be years before I would be able to donate/tithe, so no, I don't think you should stop GIVING because of debt. However, do not "tithe" on a credit card (which wouldn't really be tithing, IMO), or give to the point that you can't meet your basic expenses and continue paying on your debt. That's my take on it. If giving to church/other entities only "slows down" your debt repayment a little, I think it should still be done.

I am not of the school that believes that if you give it all away, you'll get it back tenfold (at least not materially, if that makes sense. I mean, I wouldn't give in the hopes that I would win the lottery/inherit a sudden windfall/some other circumstance that would reward me financially), but I do think giving is good for the soul.

[elessar78]

I'm with anna. We give money weekly to our church but it's not ten percent. I give of my time and talents as does my wife. One day, when we can, we'll give the ten percent.

[tsutsu]

I think that volunteering instead of the money donation might be a good compromise for me, at least for the time being with money as tight as it is. It's really hard for me to get out of the notion of not putting any money in the plate as it comes by. I just feel guilty that I should be doing more and I'm not sure how I can resolve this guilt of not being able to give more money to the church.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I am of the opinion if it works in the budget and you can meet all your obligations, go ahead tithe. but if you are declaring bankruptcy, settling debts for pennies on the dollars, then no. You are cheating the fellow man to pay God, I don't quite see how that works out to be a good servant that you don't pay back what you borrowed. Consider if you borrowed money from a bank or credit cars or private loans, don't other people have to survive and pay back their own debts?

But perhaps someone who did tithe while settling credit cards, cars, home foreclosure can explain why it's okay to tithe versus using every penny to settle debts to actual people.

[LuckyRobin]

Well, you don't state which religion, but for example the Bible is very anti-usary. It has very clear statements on those that charge interest to their countrymen and neighbors. I am pretty much of the opinion that God hates usary enough that he would want you to be out of debt as fast as you possibly can be. So if you feel you must tithe while getting out of debt, token tithe now with an idea of fully tithing when you are out of debt, and find ways to contribute as much as possible in other non-monetary ways. Unless you have made a pledge to tithe. If you have made a pledge to tithe, then you are bound to do so, because a pledge is a vow. Church tithe pledges generally only last a year. Anyway, I always think go to the source so here are some verses about usary and about keeping a pledge that might help you make your decision.


Deuteronomy 23:19-22

19“You shall not charge interest to your countrymen: interest on money, food, or anything that may be loaned at interest.

20“You may charge interest to a foreigner, but to your countrymen you shall not charge interest, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land which you are about to enter to possess.

21“When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it, for it would be sin in you, and the LORD your God will surely require it of you.

22“However, if you refrain from vowing, it would not be sin in you.

23“You shall be careful to perform what goes out from your lips, just as you have voluntarily vowed to the LORD your God, what you have promised.


Edited to add: I would not consider not tithing if you are just doing it to get your mortgage paid off early. I am talking about in the case of crippling credit card debt or consumer debt, medical debt, etc . Just things that interfere with you having enough money to live on.

[bjl584]

This question has come up before. Many will argue that, yes, you should continue to give while paying down your debt. Others will say, no, you should focus on your own situation first before giving.

The one word that you used in your post that came to my attention is "struggling." Being that you are struggling with debt repayment, then I'm going to say no. Stop giving to the church at this time and focus on putting every extra penny toward your debt. You will be in better shape in no time, and then you can start giving again. In the meantime, give your time to the church. I'm sure that your church has endless activities and events that you can volunteer to lend a helping hand.

[DebtFree&Broke]

Tithing is extremely important to me. Before I would stop paying tithing I would stop any spending that isn't required for me to survive. No new clothes, no eating out, no treats from the grocery store, no gifts for friends or family, no movies, etc. Tithing shouldn't be the first thing you cut from your budget, it should be the last.

[maat55]

IMO, you do not honor God by paying him with others money. Personally, I would get the debt under control ASAP, then return to "tithing" if you do it cheerfully.

NEW TESTAMENT GIVING

This is not an invitation to a tithing debate, it is just how I believe. I'm not claiming it is indisputably biblical.

[La Profesora]

My advice is based on my personal experience and faith, but because it is a religious question, I am going to assume you are a person of faith. My husband and I have been through times when the budget was tight. We still tithed. I believe that if I have faith that God will take care of my family, then I need to do my part and believe that He will do His. We have been richly blessed and are pretty secure financially. Of course, that could change at any minute as no one is immune to unforeseen disasters, but I truly do believe God has blessed us because we were faithful even when it was scary to be. I agree with the people who say tithing doesn't have to be just your money, but I differ in that I think one area doesn't erase another. I want to be blessed in all areas of my life so I try to give in all areas of my life.

My advice would be that when times are tough, that would be the scariest time for me to stop tithing because God has always been so faithful to get us by when times were lean when we were younger. Again, that is just my personal faith, but you asked a question related to faith so I hope you don't mind. You have to do what feels right to you, but for me, I have always expected miracles, and I usually got them. They may sound small to others, but they were big to me. I stayed home for several years with my kids, and I can tell you of so many times when I know God took care of our budget. So, my advice is tithe. I don't think you can afford not to.

[La Profesora]

Also, I would suggest checking out Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace through your church. They might offer a class. It is fabulous.

[JoshuaHeckathorn]

Tithing is just one of those things that's very personal and spiritual. No one can really tell you one way or the other.

I always tithe 10% of my income, but I've also been fortunate enough to never be in a position where I couldn't pay my bills if I paid tithing. If I ever am, I hope I'll make the right choice.