Tithing...

[theBUBBAMANcan]

Hello,

I am scheduled for my baptism but I've been really concerned about my ability to tithe.

My wife and I are flat broke. We both work, but we have 3 young kids (plus I pay child support on a fouth).

We both work but by the time we pay day care, my child support, etc we have nothing left. We have no savings and no retirement whatsoever.

We do not go out to eat, have never taken a vacation, we do not drive nice cars, buy nice clothes or have fancy things. We have almost nothing that can be cut of our budget (cable bill = $20/mo...we use cell phones only, no land phone line, etc).

Anything you can say to help me make this leap of faith...let me hear it!

[Hemidakota]

Sit down with the Mission President about this issue. Do not worry. Everything will work out. Congrats.

[zookeeper]

A leap of Faith can be quite uncomfortable...hence the phrase. I hear your stress, but the cool thing is that it sounds like you are planning to pay anyway...There is your leap!
Anytime I've struggled with being faithful I lean on the examples of my parents. You just do what you're supposed to do...no big deal.
Good Luck!! If you happened to live near me I'd do a nice family portrait for you on that day. Congrats!!!

[lilered]

Let me share my testimony with you concerning the payment of Tithing. This commandment in the beginning was a large hurdle for me to accept when I joined the church years ago. We were about in the same boat as you are now. I too worried about where I would get the extra money.
I realized that as I started to progress I would eventually reach a cross-roads whereby I would be forced to make the Tithing decision whether to accept this gospel principal or not to accept it.
I finally accepted the fact that paying tithing is also about faith and obediance.

After mulling this over for several weeks, I decided to put the Lord to the Test concerning Temporal and Spiritual blessings promised if our family started paying a full tithing. We started and I can tell you that we have never missed a time we have not payed our tithing. We have never missed the payment of our tithing since, we have been blessed with 3 wonderfull and healthy children, we have been blessed with plenty to eat, a nice warm place to sleep as well as inumerable blessings spiritual and temporal in nature. We are so committed that we would never ever think of not paying our tithing. We have several times been in a position to counsel relatives, friends, etc. about their continued participation in this Principle even though they were tempted because of their circumstances to "rob" the Lord of that which is rightfully his. Each and every time, they continued to adhere to this principal and were blessed as a result. I have also learned that one can never get ahead of the Lord when it comes to keeping a commandment or principle and receiving the promised blessings. He always delivers upon his promises. May God bless you and I encourage you to seek your answer in prayer on your knees and as earlier stated. Discuss with the appropriate Bishop or Stake Pres.

[japacific]

The rate of bankruptcy in Utah is infamous. I don't agree with those who say even if you don't have enough money that you should pay tithing to the church

[tubaloth]

As Malachi says we have to prove him. Put God to the test. Pay tithing and see if God opens blessings for you. Having Faith in God is never an easy thing to DO.

[LolaBella]

You have to do whatever works best for you. Church members have high expectations of other church members and then good people such as yourself feel stressed and guilty for not meeting those standards. I always say that you should do THE BEST you can in your life. If you are doing THE BEST YOU CAN and still cannot afford to pay tithing then don't worry. If you really want to, make small donations where you can. A bishop once said to me, why not pay a part-tithe? It doesn't have to be all or nothing. Why not pay $5 a month and see how you get on?

[a-train]

Tithe no matter what. Cut all expenses necessary to live within your means.

-a-train

[countrygirl66]

I have a dear friend in your financial situation right now and i feel for you. Pay your tithing and the lord will bless you. If you can't budget to pay it right now, go to the bishop and ask about food or other assistance so you can free up some money to pay your tithing. I know it can be terribly uncomfortable, but we are all there for each other. I am thankful for the blessing of tithing everyday. It gives me a way to get the blessings I need by obeying a simple law. The blessings are equal weather you are rich or poor. Good luck and congratulations.

[skalenfehl]

The church's wealth is irrelevant. If the Lord cared only for wealth, He would drop a vein of Gold (that would put Fort Knox to shame) in the Uintah Mountains and tell President Monson to have the church go into the mining business. The church's "wealth" is in direct relation to the faith of its members and all its programs for aiding and assisting its own AND the many programs that benefit countless around the globe.

We are commanded to pay tithing because the Lord will have a tried people. Like silver in a refiner's fire or diamonds that are formed from the greatest pressures, so are our characters built through trials and tribulations. God will have us learn the law of sacrifice if we are to be worthy of His kingdom. Did not Christ give everything of himself? How much greater are we than He? If we cannot live the law of tithing, how can we live the law of consecration? It is easy for some to criticize the church with no regard to its history and the history of those who sacrificed to build it up, get it out of debt so that it could become the finely tuned instrument in fulfilling all of God's labors for the salvation of man. There are millions more to be brought to the fold, who must also benefit from our sacrifice and who will also be expected to sacrifice to benefit others and us as well.

Can we begin to understand the Law of Consecration?

Bubbaman, let your testimony be your guide, brother. Best wishes.