New info concerning tithing

This is something I learned this morning in Bible Study. We were discussing how people in debt are suppose to tithe. Many times we have heard it taught that everyone must tithe on the gross. The point came up about people who can't tithe on the gross since they will not have enough money to pay their creditors. Well this is what we learned. Let's say there are two people who make $3,000 a month. Person A: Is a married woman with 3 kids. After taxes she is left with $2,277. Her obligations are to pay half the mortgage ($500.00 and to pay the $59.00 cable bill, and other things which equals up to an additional $250.00. After everything is said and done she is left with $1468). Her husband takes care of the other expenses since he brings home $4,000 a month. Her tithe will be off of the gross ($300.00). Person B: Is a single mother of 3 kids. She also brings home $3000.00 and lets say she is left with $2,277 after taxes also. Let's say her mortgage is $700 (she also has the electric, water, cable, telephone bill which all equals to $350.00). Childcare is an additional $400.00 a month. So she is already down to $827 and we haven't even got to her car payment which takes off an additional $200.00 leaving her with $627. Since she is a single mom, she needs money for gas, groceries, and other things that may come up. So her tithe can actually be off the $627.00 which will be $62.00. Because that is all she has left once she has fulfilled her financial obligations (her vows). This is because God has a commandment concerning fulfillment of vows and if you have financial obligations that will maintain your household you have to fulfill them and cannot delay the payment of them (Deut. 23:22). And making a vow (promise) before man is like making one to God Himself. So God doesn't want a tithe that includes part of her mortgage, or that will cause her children to be without childcare. Not only will you be not fulfilling your vows but you will also be stealing (from the people you owe money to, the childcare workers, mortgage company, etc). This goes for anyone who is in debt. Because what is left in your hand after you have paid your debtors truly belongs to you. However, this is only a temporary situation which will enable a person to increase their level of tithing. I am not here to stir controversy because there are different teachings concerning tithing.

Very good articles concerning "singleness"

http://www.boundless.org/departments/beyond_buddies/a0000961.html
http://www.boundless.org/2005/articles/a0001199.cfm


Enjoy

Reaping what you sow: The conclusion

Miracles Follow Movement

Matthew 7:2
“…and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”

In previous posts in this series, I’ve shared about the law of sowing and reaping. I’ve emphasized that God is intentional. He invites us to take deliberate steps toward the life we desire in Him. Yes, He is supernatural, but He is also practical. Unfortunately, many of us tend to view God through a lens of what I call “spooky thinking,” especially when it comes to big life issues like marriage.

By “spooky thinking,” I mean the belief that things will just magically fall into place without our involvement. It is the mindset that says, “If it’s meant to be, it’ll just happen,” rather than understanding that we are called to partner with God. He is not a magician who zaps blessings out of thin air. He is a wise and intentional Father who works through principles, timing, and preparation. Yes, God can do the miraculous; however, He also expects us to move in faith and not wait passively for things to appear.

This is where the principle of sowing and reaping becomes so important. If we want to see movement in a specific area of life, such as marriage, we must sow intentionally in that direction. That means praying, preparing, listening for God’s voice, and letting go of limiting beliefs. Faith is not passive. Faith is a seed. When we sow it through deliberate action, we align ourselves with God’s divine order.

One area where spooky thinking especially shows up is in our ideas about marriage. Since Jesus was raised in a Jewish context, I am turning to Everyman’s Talmud: The Major Teachings of the Rabbinic Sages by Abraham Cohen to help us examine marriage from a Hebrew perspective and clear out some of the fog and mysticism we’ve allowed to build up around it.

Interestingly, I had not even planned to write about marriage or mates today. But as I began typing, this topic poured out. If it seems like I am veering off course, stay with me. I believe the Holy Spirit is leading in this direction because someone needs clarity.

Many people, especially women, find themselves asking: When will I marry? Will I ever marry? Is this my season for marriage? While God does operate in times and seasons, it is not as mysterious as we sometimes make it out to be. The Bible uses phrases like “the wife of your youth” and “the husband of your youth” (see Proverbs 5:18, Joel 1:8), which suggest that there is often a natural season for marriage.

On page 162 of Everyman’s Talmud, Cohen writes, “To marry and rear a family was a religious command; indeed, the first of all the commands addressed by God to man (Genesis 1:28).” In other words, marriage and family are not just personal desires; they are divine directives. According to rabbinic tradition, the ideal age for marriage was between 18 and 24.

Of course, in modern times, many people marry later due to career, education, healing, or simply waiting on God’s timing, and that is okay. But just as we expect children to grow, speak, and mature at certain stages, there are often windows when marriage fits naturally into a person’s life path. Biologically, a woman’s fertility tends to decline after 40, so it can be wise to prayerfully seek God about marriage during one’s most fertile years, generally between ages 18 and 35.

That said, God is not bound by human timelines or medical statistics. He is the Author of miracles and writes unique, individualized stories. What matters most is staying aligned with His voice, His timing, and His purpose for your life.

In biblical times, a woman’s father played a role in ensuring she married at the appropriate time. Today, many of us come from broken homes, and society is less marriage-minded than it once was. As a result, many men have not been taught how to be men, and many women have never been taught how to fully walk in their womanhood. That is why, now more than ever, we must look to our Heavenly Father to guide us into godly unions.

And He will speak. If you have a close relationship with God, He can and will give you wisdom about your future spouse. God is not playing games with your heart or leaving you in confusion. While He may be silent in some areas of life, I do not believe your future mate is one of them.

As a single woman, I have experienced God warning me about certain men before they ever approached me. I know believers who were led by God to their spouses long before any romantic connection began. That does not mean God will audibly announce your spouse’s name. But He may give you an undeniable peace, a prompting, or a spiritual “yes” when the right person enters your life.

This all brings us back to Matthew 7:2: “With what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again.” If you believe that God will lead you clearly and personally, He will. But if you only half-believe, thinking, “Maybe someday God will bless me with someone,” then you may find yourself surrounded by “maybe” energy—uncertainty, confusion, and delays.

God honors bold faith. So, sow with intention. Trust His timing. Move in expectation. As you do, you position yourself for what He has already prepared.

TAKEAWAY
God is not spooky. He is strategic. Miracles often follow movement. When you sow intentional faith, God meets you with intentional guidance. Let go of passive “maybe” thinking and boldly expect the clarity and fulfillment He has promised.

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Reap what you sow Part 3: God is deliberate, Not Spooky

Matthew 7:2 says, “…with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”

As I sat and reflected on what God was showing me, one thing became clear: God is very deliberate. He doesn’t move haphazardly. He doesn’t operate by gimmicks. He is precise, thoughtful, and intentional.

Let’s take a moment to unpack that word: deliberate.

According to Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary, deliberate means to think about carefully, as if balancing on a scale. It also means something done or said on purpose, careful and slow in deciding, slow in action and not hurried, and voluntary.

This definition tells us something powerful about God’s nature. He plans. He prepares. He waits. He moves on purpose.

If we want to reflect His nature, especially in areas like finances, must also become intentional and thoughtful.

No More Magic Offerings

If you’re praying for financial freedom, you need to do more than drop a so-called “magic offering” in the collection plate and expect a million dollars to appear by Tuesday. That’s not deliberate. That’s delusional.

We’ve all heard the hype:

“Turn around three times and tell your neighbor, ‘Neighbor, my money is turning around!’”

But are you really turning your finances around, or are you just turning in circles?

Real financial change doesn’t come from theatrics.
It comes from transformation.

Read a book.
Attend a financial literacy workshop.
Create a budget.
Cancel the subscriptions you don’t use.
Get quiet and make a plan.

That’s spiritual.
That’s deliberate.
That’s how God moves.

Practicality Is Not Carnal. It’s Christlike.

All these spooky theatrics we’ve added to Christianity?
Let’s be honest, they’re often rooted in emotionalism, not Scripture.

God is supernatural, but He’s not spooky.
He gave all of us a brain.  This means that we have the ability to make decisions ourselves.
He gave us the ability to think, study, and grow. Don’t ignore it.

It is spiritual to enroll in a class.
It is spiritual to seek wise counsel.
It is spiritual to steward what you have until God increases it.

If you're broke, it’s not a sin. But staying broke while ignoring knowledge is a problem.

Let’s stop glamorizing last-minute miracles and start honoring long-term discipline.
Let’s stop shouting over promises we’re not willing to partner with.

God is deliberate. If we want His results, we must reflect His ways.

Reap What You Sow Part 2: Double mindedness

Matthew 7:2 – “...and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”

Another major obstacle that can block us from receiving God’s best is double mindedness. The Bible is clear on this in James 1:7: “For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.” Why such a strong warning?

Because when your mind is constantly shifting—uncertain, unsettled—you won’t be able to move in the direction God is calling you to. Verse 8 goes on to say: “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” Even if God wanted to bless you, He may not be able to—because your thoughts are so scattered and inconsistent that you may not even recognize the doors He's opening.

I often hear women say things like, “I want to be married…” and then a week later, “Well, maybe I’m not ready for marriage.” Which one is it? Are you ready—or not? I’ve also heard people say, “I want to start my own business,” only to later retreat into uncertainty: “Well, I’m not sure if business ownership is for me.” Then they become frustrated, feeling like God hasn’t answered their prayers.

But here’s the truth: If you sow double minded seeds, you will reap double minded results. You cannot plant confusion and expect clarity. You cannot water indecision and expect breakthrough.

Don’t let your emotions keep you stuck on an endless rollercoaster. Your feelings will change from day to day, but God’s Word does not. His promises are sure, His direction is steady, and His character is unchanging.

Make up your mind. Set your face like flint. Be rooted in the Word, not in your ever-changing emotions. That’s when clarity will come. That’s when you’ll start moving in rhythm with God's plan.

Stay tuned for Part 3.

You Will reap what you Sow

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap".  Galatians 6:7

People often believe that they can get away with wrong doing unscathed.  You may even know someone who seems to be just doing wrong and goes around unpunished.  I think of drug kingpins who sell drugs for years, even decades and seem to be living the good life.  They may have riches and wealth, and can go along time without being caught.  However, when they least expected them and their associates are round up and ratting each other out hoping to avoid lengthy sentences.  This is just one example of people reaping what they have sown.

In the opening verse, Galatians warns us to be not deceived, we will reap what we sow.  Because we often do not reap what we have sown right away, we sometimes feel that we are getting away with wrong doing.  Then all of a sudden when we least expect it the bad harvest strikes.

However, we can also reap good things in our lives.  We may get discouraged because we are going through a rough patch in our life.  Let's say that you are that friend that always seem to be able to connect your friends with good relationship partners that lead to marriage yet you remain single.  You may feel that God is being unfair to you but be encouraged that you will reap an out of this world, mind blowing relationship that will confound those around you.   

Photo:  Laurent Sartorio

The same thing can go for a business.  You may have opened up a business and it is going slow.  You have done everything in your power to sustain it and you have sown your own time, money, and diligence.  Well know that you will reap a blessed harvest in return.  One day "seemingly overnight" you will experience financial breakthroughs like never before.  Those on the outside may think that you had a fast ascension to success but you know it was years in the making.  

So let us focus on reaping a blessed harvest.   If you sow love, kindness, compassion, mercy, and patience than you will reap that in your own life at a time when you need it most.  If you sow consistency in your prayer life, you will consistent answers to prayer.  If we sow hard work and integrity on the job, you will reap raises and promotions.   

So we see the whole picture of reaping what we have sown.  Let us make sure we reap a bountiful crop of good things.  

Covered and Kept: A prayer for Protection Psalm 91

Updated:  May 13, 2025

"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty..." —Psalm 91:1

There are moments in life when fear creeps in quietly, or roars like a storm. A bad report. A sudden loss. A sleepless night. A challenging day at work.  During these times, we long for something steady, something sacred. That’s where Psalm 91 becomes more than just a passage. It becomes a lifeline.

This psalm is not just a prayer, it’s a promise. A covenant of divine protection for those who choose to dwell in the presence of God. It reminds us that we are never unprotected, even when we feel exposed.

God Is Our Refuge and Fortress

Verse 2 says, “I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress.’”

God is our refuge and our fortress.
Just as a refuge is a place of safety when danger is near, God is where we run when life feels uncertain. He is also our fortress—the One who surrounds us and defends us. He covers us when we feel fragile. He holds us up when we’re about to fall.

Psalm 91 doesn’t promise a life without trouble, but it does promise that trouble won’t consume us.

God delivers. God shields. God guards. God answers.

Peace Is Possible—Even in a World of Chaos

The psalm speaks of pestilence, arrows, terrors, and destruction. It’s not poetic exaggeration, it’s real life. But verse 5 declares: “You shall not be afraid.”

Why? Because we dwell under His wings. We’re not walking alone. When fear tries to claim space in your heart, Psalm 91 reminds you who really holds your life, the Almighty.

Angels on Assignment

“He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” (v.11)

We’re not just protected by walls, we’re protected by watchmen. God has placed spiritual guards to shield us from what we can’t see. We don’t have to fear the unseen because God sees it all.

What Psalm 91 Teaches Us Today

1. Your peace is not circumstantial—it's positional. If you’re dwelling in God, you’re already under His protection.

2. The enemy may form weapons, but they won’t prosper. You may feel surrounded, but you are also covered.

3. God’s protection is personal. This psalm isn’t just for “the church”—it’s for you.

A Prayer Based on Psalm 91

Father, I choose to dwell in Your secret place—not in fear, not in anxiety, but in faith.
Be my refuge when I feel weak. Be my fortress when I feel under attack.
Cover me with Your wings. Surround me with Your truth.
Thank you for assigning angels to protect me and those I love.
I trust in Your Word, and I declare that no evil shall come near my dwelling.
I receive Your promise of long life and Your salvation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Psalm 91 Isn’t Just Something You Read—It’s Somewhere You Live

Let this be more than a comforting Scripture. Let it be your spiritual home address. Return to it often. Meditate on it deeply. Speak it aloud daily.

And if you’re struggling with fear, anxiety, or emotional fatigue, know that trusting God also includes taking wise steps. Reach out for support. Talk to someone. God can heal through His Word and through the help He sends.

You are covered.
You are kept.
You are safe in Him.