The truth is I don’t know a whole lot about how tithes and offerings work in other churches. I only really know how it works in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, nicknamed the Mormon Church. I also know it’s important. In fact it’s so important the leaders of the Latter-day Saint Church placed it in a booklet titled For the Strength of Youth. In this booklet are included many areas these leaders feel needed to be particularly addressed for teens of today. These areas are to act as a guideline and warning to help teens navigate through an increasingly difficult world.
So what exactly is tithing? I really like the way it’s described in Deuteronomy 12:6 –
“And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks.”
As we can see from this list a tithing is attributed to things like sacrifice, a vow, a freewill offering. Everything we are blessed with in this life has been a gift of the Lord. In return for this, He asks us to make a freewill offering, or a tithe. How much should we give? To answer this, let’s look in Numbers 18:26.
“When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe.” (Italics added.)
A tenth of what we earn is all we are asked to give. So if we earn $10, all the Lord wants back is $1. If we earn $350, all He asks for in return is $35. At times it may feel like paying out a tenth of what you’ve earned feels like so much money. This is when we need to change out attitude in regards to how we pay it, and why.
“Your attitude is important in paying tithing. Pay it because you love the Lord and have faith in Him. Pay it willingly with a thankful heart. Pay it first, even when you think you don’t have enough money to meet your other needs” (For the Strength of Youth, p.34).
I can’t tell you how many times I knew without a shadow of a doubt that if we paid our tithing we wouldn’t have enough money to finish paying the bills. Every single time I made sure that tithing was paid, our bills were covered. Over the years I’ve come to make certain tithing is the first thing that comes out of a paycheck. I have never regretted doing so.
Even teens and children are encouraged to pay their tithing in the Mormon Church. When ‘payday’ comes for my children, I make sure the first thing they do with that money is pay tithing. As a teen I recall many times that my father did the same thing with me. It is easier to do the younger you start.
In our Church tithing money goes into a general fund where it is used for many wonderful things.
“It is a way to help build up God’s kingdom on earth. Tithing is used to build temples and meetinghouses, translate and publish the scriptures, prove Church materials to members, do missionary work, perform temple and family history work, and support seminaries and institutes” (For the Strength of Youth, p.34).
Paired with tithing is fast offerings. Once a month, typically the first Sunday, Mormons are asked to fast for the day. This includes everyone eight and over who are baptized members of the Church.
“A proper fast day observance includes not eating or drinking for two consecutive meals and giving a generous fast offering to help care for those in need. Begin and end your fast with prayer, asking for special help with a specific need” (For the Strength of Youth, p.35).
Of course anyone with health problems who cannot go without two meals should not do this, but in all others it is encouraged. Fasting is a personal choice. There are those who choose to do it and others who do not. Is it important? If we look to the example of the Lord we are shown it is. In Matthew 4:2 we are told He fasted for forty days. Though we are not asked to fast for that long, we are taught that through fasting our physical bodies are made weak so that our spiritual selves might have a chance to commune with God the Father. It is a way to feed our spirits more fully. When our bodies are weak we are, perhaps, made to see what our spirits go through when they are not fed.
Fasting should be done with a purpose. Is there a problem you need help with? Do you have a friend or family member who is struggling or sick, and needs extra help? Try fasting for them, beginning and ending it with prayer. Answers, guidance, and healing can take place.
Those in the Mormon Church are asked to pay something called a ‘fast offering.’ This is normally described as the money we would have spent on the two meals, though many who can afford to do so will often pay more. Parents will pay for their children until they are old enough to pay it for themselves. The money donated for fast offerings go right back into the ward (congregation) to help those who are in need.
Paying tithing and fast offerings are a vital part in showing our gratitude for all that God has given us. It helps us overcome selfishness. We become more receptive to the Spirit. I can also testify that as we strive to pay our tithing and fast offerings, God only blesses us more.
