It is strongly recommended, in light of the great giving requirements imposed on God's ancient people Israel, that everyone should at least consider the first 10 percent as a starting point in giving - a minimum.
Author: R. Kent Hughes Source: Disciplines of a Godly Man, p. 188.
The key to liberation from the power of materialism is not an exodus from culture - abandoning Wall Street or leaving the wealth of the nation to others - but the grace of giving... Givers for God disarm the power of money. They invite God's grace to flow through them.
Author: R. Kent Hughes Source: Disciplines of a Godly Man, p. 186- 187.
God made all of His creation to give. He made the sun, the moon, the stars, the clouds, the earth, the plants to give. He also designed His supreme creation, man, to give. But fallen man is the most reluctant giver in all of God's creation.
There is no happiness in having and getting, but only in giving ... half the world is on the wrong scent in the pursuit of happiness.
Author: Henry Drummond Source: The Greatest Thing in the World.
If we are going to "set aside" the command to tithe...because it feels slavish and legal, and because we want to promote freedom in our giving, then let us beware of jumping out of the frying pan of legal slavery to a command into the fire of carnal slavery to fear and greed. Sin lurks at both doors.
Author: John Piper Source: Sermon: Malachi 3:7-12, December 6, 1987.
My take on tithing in America is that it's a middle-class way of robbing God. Tithing to the church and spending the rest on your family is not a Christian goal. It's a diversion. The real issue is: How shall we use God's trust fund - namely, all we have - for His glory? In a world with so much misery, what lifestyle should we call our people to live? What example are we setting?
According to the Bible, the marriage act is more than a physical act. It is an act of sharing. It is an act of communion. It is an act of total self-giving wherein the husband gives himself completely to the wife, and the wife gives herself to the husband in such a way that the two actually become one flesh.
Author: Wayne Mack Source: Strengthening Your Marriage, 1999, p. 120
In my opinion, the idea that we should postpone generous giving (to the church) until our debts are paid or until we get a raise or until the children are grown up or until we have bought a house is contrary to Scripture. We may be able to give more then, but we ought to give generously now.
Author: Wayne Mack Source: Strengthening Your Marriage, 1999, p. 104-105
It is strongly recommended, in light of the great giving requirements imposed on God's ancient people Israel, that everyone should at least consider the first 10 percent as a starting point in giving - a minimum.