Posted on 05/18/2013 10:43:21 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The finances of Christians who tithe are generally healthier than the finances of those who do not, according to a new report that takes a close look at the financial, spiritual and giving practices of people who give 10 percent or more of their income away to churches and charities each year.
Researchers compared tithers to non-tithers using nine financial health indicators, and found that tithers were better off in every category. Among tithers, for example, 80 percent have no unpaid credit card bills, 74 percent don't owe anything on their cars, 48 percent own their home and 28 percent are debt free.
"The weird thing is, a tither looks at that and says to himself, 'Well I'm better off because I give.' A non-tither looks at that and says, 'Oh, they give because they're better off,'" said Brian Kluth, founder of the study and Maximum Generosity, who called the findings "unprecedented."
There are an estimated 10 million Christians in the U.S. who tithe more than $50 billion annually, according to a press release for the annual State of the Plate report. The report encompasses survey responses from 4,413 tithers from all 50 states and a variety of different churches and income levels.
The fifth annual study reveals that 97 percent of tithers make giving to their local church a priority, and 63 percent started tithing between their childhood and their twenties. It also found that 70 percent give based on their gross income rather than their net income, and 77 percent give more than the traditional 10 percent.
"Never before has this group been studied, and I think for every pastor and church leader and parachurch leader it would be valuable if they understand this," Kluth told The Christian Post. "We're in the midst of a 40-year decline in the percentage that Christians give, and we need to see a generosity movement in America, that Christians re-embrace generosity as a spiritual value, but not for the sake of the church budget, but because of the Bible. Churches have made giving all about the budget, and it's not about the budget, it's all about the Bible."
Kluth started conducting State of the Plate studies five years ago in part because he wanted to help the media present accurate information regarding church giving. For the first four years the research focused primarily on church giving trends, he says, but this year's focus on individuals who tithe is unique.
"Without this group of givers, most churches would cease to exist within months," he said.
The "saddest" result of the survey, he says, was discovering that few tithers have included giving to churches and charities in their estate plans.
Tithers make up between just five and 20 percent of the givers in a typical congregation, but they donate 50 to 80 percent of the money. Among non-tithing Christians who struggle to give, 38 percent say it's because they can't afford it, 33 percent say they have too much debt and 18 percent say their spouse doesn't agree with tithing.
Tithing is an Old Testament concept, and Kluth says the New Testament approach to giving is "giving proportionately and giving voluntarily." Even those who have fallen on hard financial times can contribute to their churches, he says.
"The Scripture tells us to give from what we have," said Kluth. "That is a biblical mandate. There are some seasons of our lives we have less than others, and so when you experience a downturn financially you don't stop giving, you give a proportion of what you have...I always like to say, you don't give to get, you give because you've received something already. You give because you've already gotten something from God."
The complete 27-page report, titled "20 Truths about Tithers," is available on the State of the Plate website.
The research was led by Maximum Generosity and was co-sponsored by ECFA, Christianity Today and Evangelical Christian Credit Union.
Here is an infographic that shows some of the study's findings:
Such a ‘cynical’ view. I know, closely, a woman who was a single Mom, raising/supporting two sons on a very limited income, with NO paternal support. Praise be to God, she was making ends meet (sort of). And then, she got saved. And out of her meager income, she began tithing ....$40 a week. Her son asked why she was giving that $40, because they”couldn’t afford that.”
She replied that they could not afford NOT TO give that. She has since prospered.
Do we tithe to Get Gain? No.
We tithe to the church out of monies that God has provided us. I am convinced, through scripture, that tithing with a cheerful, giving heart will result in God providing for all your needs (not Wants).
I do Not subscribe to the Prosperity Gospel. I do not tithe to be better off. BUt I do believe I am better off that I tithe. Tithing says to God, “I TRUST You.”
Who wouldn’t want to tell God that?
If I didn’t tithe, I would, in effect, be telling God,”Yes, I trust you with my salvation, but this money thing, I got it, I dont need your help.”
You (I) do not tithe to a preacher. I tithe to God. IF a preacher (Pastor) misuses monies given to God, I am not concerned. HE will answer for the misuse. I will answer for my decision to tithe.
Love of money and all that.
I don’t tithe either, though my giving sometimes exceeds 10% and other times it doesn’t. For those who choose to tithe, more power to them.
Precisely. Those who do not tithe are in many cases not able to do so.
can’t help but think of the widow and her mite... Jesus promised HE would take care of those whose faith stretched beyond their resources.
Has never failed me in all of my 73 years.....and we have been on the lower end financially!
I agree. I make it a policy never to give funds to someone who makes more than I do. People who do otherwise are brainwashed. That being said, I've never lack for a place to donate to those who have less. The question is where best to send what little funds I have.
Tithing is a gift from God. I always feel that God is prying the money out of my hands for my own good.
Good observation. I believe that tithing is less about the benefit to the recipient than about our being willing to let go. Not only to let go of some of our money, but to let go of the illusion of control.
Any use of money is a matter of prioritizing. When people say, "I can't afford to give," they generally mean, "I've chosen to use my money other ways." The same when they say, "I couldn't afford more than X children": it means, "I chose other priorities."
Tithing represents something more than mere coinage. It represents time and effort. Sacrifice and sweat.
If one lacks actual paper and coins, one could always give the equivalent, or rather, the better thing.
To God, to the needy and poor, even to our enemy, if we don’t have money, we can give whatever we have, including our time and effort. That is love.
I am poor myself, but loneliness is worse than being poor.
Having a sacrificial spirit that actually helps lift other people’s spirits is better than handing out money, imho.
I come across so many people in this world who are lonely and/or sad. So many who are stressed out too, that could use something as simple as a kind word or hug. You could even pray with them, bringing God into the situation to help them have some measure of peace.
Money helps, but in reality, loving others goes much farther to help humans than money ever could.
“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”
- James 1:27
Just a thought that maybe people who tithe are more financially able to?
According to the post, 42% have estates less than $250k
23% have estates worth $250k-$500K
28% started giving 10% as a child/in teens
35% in their 20's
19% in their 30's
18% in their 40's or later.
These stats alone show that a loarge portion of these people aren't rich. Many of them (63%) started tithing 10% as a child or in their 20's.
Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
Not always true. I live on a fixed income and give a certain amount to my Catholic Church. The remaining part of stewardship is talent and time......not just treasure.
I do a lot of computer work for my church — talent.
And I lead a Bible Study Group, organize the daily Mass Sacristans, spearhead the Faith Sharing groups during Lent among other things.
I went to Confession tonight, and before we even got started, my priest asked me to do something so he could preside at a funeral in a former parish.
Yes, then I went to Confession and received the forgiveness of Christ through the priest as Christ commanded.
**Tithers tend to become wealthier in part because the discipline of tithing changes one’s habits with money.**
So true!
If you take all the tithers in an average local church ... among them you will find the mature believers; those who are doing the majority of the work of ministry in that local church.
Just a thought that maybe people who tithe are more financially able to?
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Would seem to be the case when comparing Christians who tithe to Christians who don’t.
From the article: “The report encompasses survey responses from 4,413 tithers from all 50 states and a variety of different churches and income levels.”
Is the author trying to make the claim that they are better off because they tithe?
In what way has she since prospered?
Those that tithe are, whatever their level of wealth or income, are probably more likely to have their act together in many other ways as well.
My step-mom said this weekend that when comparing the financial outcome of those who graduate college and those who never go to college they NEVER point out that the two groups were very dissimilar to begin with as far as family education, wealth level, business contacts, literacy, grades, community involvement and just about every other metric that would correlate with later success in life.
Thank you. That was just what I was pointing out.
‘Prospered’ can mean different things.
She has prospered through being the good example to her son, who is now a saved man. How much more prosperity would a mother need?
Her financial situation has stabilized, and has little to want for.
She is able to help her mother repair some teeth that were broken in a recent fall.
Bottom line, all we have and receive in this life is as gift from God. His word says to give of our first fruits, to tithe, and do so with a cheerful heart. I personally thank God that He’s give me ability to give.
That’s probably because they have more money to begin with. In a related story, ‘women who are good lookin’ get more dates than not so good lookin’ women...so if you wanna be better lookin’ you just need to go on more dates’.
I direct you to post #30 above
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