Owe Nothing But love
Paul's advice to us is to owe nothing but love. In Romans 13:8 is an indication that God doesn’t want us to live a debt ridden life. For very good reasons, overpowering debt keeps us chained; debt creates discord in our marriages; all our attention is focused on debt when we should be focussing on God, looking to Him for the answers. Trusting Him to be our true source, this becomes more important, crucial in fact in these times where companies are closing down left, right and centre all around us. Are you in a position where you can't see any light in the tunnel, either from the side you came in or going to get out.
Try the following steps:
Prayer
Sincere prayer works, seek God's guidance, wait upon Him. Pray the solution, not the problem; I know it is a cliché, but try it. After praying the solution believe it, and affirm it; stop saying and thinking “I don’t know how, what, where or when” If you really need to sprout “I don’t know” then qualify it with “I don’t know how, but I do know “God will supply all my needs according to his riches in glory”.
Philippians 4:19 (King James Version)
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Praise
Acts 16:25:
"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: And the prisoners heard them."
Verse 26:
"And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's bands were loosed."
Just as God freed Paul and Silas from a physical prison, through your praise and worship He can free you from your prison of debt. Though you might not feel like praising God, do you think Paul and Silas relied on their emotions, or their faith?
Pay your tithes
Malachi 3:10 (New International Version)
"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 you will not have room enough for it."
Yes Doc, whether you believe it or not is not important, what is important is Gods promise, and it is the only place in the bible where God actually tells you to test Him: “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 you will not have room enough for it.”
Often our tithe is the last thing we pay; make it the first thing you pay, and give it with love.
Should the above be not exactly what you were looking for, try debt consolidation.
Debt consolidation:
Debt consolidation is basically getting deeper into debt, by paying one account, instead of a lot of smaller ones. The one company takes care of your payments.
Debt Negotiation:
Is to me a better option. Phone the credit managers and reschedule your payments. Try paying higher amounts on the smaller debts to clear them up quicker; as you clear one, then increase your payments on the next smallest.
Debt negotiation is something you may need to do if you cannot make your payments on your debts. Do not think that nobody will notice if you miss a payment? Do you need to reduce the payments and take longer to pay off the loan? Or do you need a payment break this month, so you do not pay at all? This option can be good if your problem is temporary, but it is only advisable if you are sure you will be able to pay in future months; or if you are using the gap to get rid of another debt.
Usually the company is happy to negotiate with you. Check it carefully, and then make sure that you make the payments on time.
Comments
1. Post-Calvary Christian giving principles in Second Corinthians are superior to tithing. (1) Giving is a "grace.” (2) Give yourself to God first. (3) Give yourself to knowing God’s will. (4) Give in response to Christ’s gift. (5) Give out of a sincere desire. (6) Do not give because of any commandment (8:8, 10; 9:7). (7) Give beyond your ability. (8) Give to produce equality. (9) Give joyfully (8:2). (10) Give because you are growing spiritually. (11) Give to continue growing spiritually. (12) Give because you are hearing the gospel preached.
2. Abraham's tithed in Genesis 14 in obedience to pagan tradition. (1) He did not "freely" give. (2) His was NOT a holy tithe from God’s holy land by God’s holy people under God’s holy Covenant. (3) His was only from pagan spoils of war required in many nations. (4) In Num. 31, God required 1% of spoils. (5) His tithe to his priest-king was a one-time event. (6) Not from his personal property. (7) Kept nothing for himself. (8) Is not quoted to endorse tithing. (9) Most commentaries explain 14:21 as pagan Arab tradition, it is contradictory to explain the 90% of 14:21 as pagan, while insisting the 10% of 14:20 was obedience to God’s will. (10) If Abraham were an example for Christians to give 10%, he should also be an example for Christians to give the other 90% to Satan, or to the king of Sodom! (11) As priests, neither Abraham nor Jacob had a Levitical priesthood to support; they probably left food for the poor at their altars.
3. Although money was common and essential for worship for over 1500 years, biblical tithes were always only food increased by God from inside Israel (Lev. 27:30, 32; see site for all 16 texts).
4. Since only farmers and herdsmen tithed, there was no minimum standard requirement for most. Tradesmen such as carpenters (Jesus), Peter (fishermen) and Paul (tentmakers) did not qualify as tithe-payers. The poor and Gentiles did not tithe.
5. Tithing was only commanded to national Israel under the terms of the Old Covenant. Tithing was never commanded to the Church after Calvary (Ex 19:5-6; Lev 27:34; Mal 4:4; Mt 23:23 matters of the law).
6. Those who received the first whole tithe did not minister atonement (Num. 18:21-24; Neh10:37b). Priests only received 1% (a tenth of the tithe) (Num 18:25-28; Neh 10:38).
7. In exchange for receiving tithes, both Levites and priests forfeited all rights to permanent land inheritance inside Israel (Num. 18:20-26).
8. Firstfruits are not the same as tithes. Firstfruits were a very small token offering (Deu 26:1-4; Neh 10:35-37; Num 18:13-17). Tithes were the tenth and not the best; only 1% of the tithes included the best (Lev. 27:32, 33).
9. There were 4 O.T. tithes: (1) Government taxes (1 Sam 8:14-17). (2) Levitical (Num. 18:21-28; Neh. 10:37-39). (3) Festival (Deu 12:1-19; 14:22-26). (3) Poor tithe every 3rd year (Deu 14:28-29; 26:12-13).
10. Tithes were often taxes used to support Levite [politicians (1 Chron, chap 23 to 26; esp 23:2-5; 26:29-32; 27:5). Tithes never supported mission work (Ex 23:32; Heb 7:12-18).
11. OT Levitical tithes were brought first to the Levitical cities and not to the Temple (Num 18; Neh 10:37-39; 2 Chron 31:15-19). Most Levites required tithes in their Levitical cities where 98% stayed (Num 35, Josh 20, 21).
12. Malachi 3 is the most abused tithing text in the Bible. (1) Malachi is OT and is never quoted in the New Covenant to validate tithing. (2) Tithes are still only food. (3) His audience reaffirmed the OT curses (Neh.10:28-29). (4) The blessings and curses of tithing are identical to and inseparable from those of the entire Mosaic Law (Deu 28:12, 23-24; Gal 3:10/Deu 27:26). (5) “You” in Malachi refers to the dishonest priests and not the people (1:6-14; 2:1-10; 2:13 to 3:1-5). (6) The “whole” tithe never went to the Temple! (Neh 10:37b). (7) The Levitical cities must be included in a correct interpretation. (8) The 24 courses of Levites and priests must be included. (9) The “storehouse” in the Temple was only several rooms (Neh 13:5, 9). (9) “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse” only makes contextual sense if it is only commanding dishonest priests to replace the tithes they had removed from it or had failed to bring to it.
13. The OT Temple and priesthood have been replaced by the priesthood of every believer. NT elders and pastors more closely resemble OT prophets who were not supported by tithes.
14. Tithing was not legalized as a church law until AD 777. If was not introduced as a local regional law until the 6th century. See any reputable encyclopedia.
15. NT giving principles are: freewill, sacrificial, generous, joyful, not by commandment or percentage and motivated by love for God and lost souls.
From the book, Should the Church Teach Tithing?
www.tithing-russkelly.com russell-kelly@att.net