--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The tithe simply is not a sufficiently…" description: "\"“The tithe simply is not a sufficiently radical concept to embody the carefree unconcern for possessions that marks life in the Kingdom of God. ... It ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/richard-j-foster-1460_generousity_the-tithe-simply-is-not-a-sufficiently-r_2202046.jpg" --- # The tithe simply is not a sufficiently radical concept to… ![“The tithe simply is not a sufficiently radical concept to embody the carefree unconcern for possessions that marks life in the Kingdom of God. ... It is quite possible to tithe and at the same time oppress the poor and needy. ... The tithe is not necessarily evil' it simply cannot provide a…” quote by Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/richard-j-foster-1460_generousity_the-tithe-simply-is-not-a-sufficiently-r_2202046.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/richard-j-foster-1460_generousity_the-tithe-simply-is-not-a-sufficiently-r_2202046.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/richard-j-foster-1460_generousity_the-tithe-simply-is-not-a-sufficiently-r_2202046.jpg) > ““The tithe simply is not a sufficiently radical concept to embody the carefree unconcern for possessions that marks life in the Kingdom of God. ... It is quite possible to tithe and at the same time oppress the poor and needy. ... The tithe is not necessarily evil' it simply cannot provide a sufficient base for Jesus' call to carefree unconcern over provision. ... Perhaps the tithe can be a beginning way to acknowledge God as the owner of all things, but it is only a beginning and not an ending.”” [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The tithe is insufficient for true spiritual freedom; it can coexist with oppression and lacks the radical generosity taught by Jesus. **In simple terms:** Tithe alone doesn't ensure spiritual generosity. Key Takeaway Seek deeper generosity beyond tithing. Themes faith generosity spiritual practice social justice Mood thoughtful critical Type theological ethical When to use this quote - church budgeting - personal giving - community support - addressing poverty Key Concepts tithing Christian ethics wealth distribution Questions to Reflect On - How can believers practice true generosity? - What alternatives to tithing foster equitable sharing? A Different Perspective Tithing may become a ritual without transformative impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Generousity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generousity/) [Kingdom of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdom-of-god/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love of money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-of-money/) [Needy Tithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needy-tithe-4840803/) [Poor And Needy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-and-needy/) [Possible Tithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possible-tithe-4840802/) [Tithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tithe/) [Tithe Necessarily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tithe-necessarily-4840804/) [Tithe Simply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tithe-simply-559839/) [Tithing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tithing/) ## Related quotes > [Giving in a regular, disciplined, generous way-up to and beyond the tithe-is simply good sense in view of the promises of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/giving-in-a-regular-disciplined-generous-way-up-to-and-beyond-the/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“If old age is good for anything it's good for being generous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kuhn/if-old-age-is-good-for-anything-it-s-good-for-being-generous/) [William Kuhn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kuhn/) > [“Milena found Cilia outside, holding her bamboo box. Milena hugged her. ‘I’m sorry about your shins,’ she said. Milena lifted the lid of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-ryman/milena-found-cilia-outside-holding-her-bamboo-box-milena-hugged-her-i/) [Geoff Ryman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-ryman/) > [“Don’t be selfish in life; pass the ball. Winners in life’s game are people who demonstrate that they are not greedy when they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/don-t-be-selfish-in-life-pass-the-ball-winners-in-life-s-game-are/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“The little I have, I share with you; the little you have, you also share with me. Together we all have a full share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-little-i-have-i-share-with-you-the-little-you-have-you-also-share/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Be fair before being generous, be human before being fair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fern-n-caballero/be-fair-before-being-generous-be-human-before-being-fair/) [Fernán Caballero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fern-n-caballero/) > [“Giving does not only preceed receiving; it is the reason for it. It is in giving that we receive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/giving-does-not-only-preceed-receiving-it-is-the-reason-for-it-it-is/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Giving is an act of generosity. Giving is sowing a seed. The seed will produce great harvest of fruits.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/giving-is-an-act-of-generosity-giving-is-sowing-a-seed-the-seed-will/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“God provides something to you through somebody. Thats same God can give something to somebody through you. If you make yourself a greedy traffic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/god-provides-something-to-you-through-somebody-thats-same-god-can/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“What is offered from a generous heart should be accepted generously.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-dumas/what-is-offered-from-a-generous-heart-should-be-accepted-generously/) [Alexandre Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-dumas/) > [“If you earn little, give little. If you earn much, give much. 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The more you share, the more you get …and the more you get, the more your sharing responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/life-is-about-getting-and-sharing-the-more-you-share-the-more-you-get/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) ## More by Richard J. Foster > [Prayer is - listening for the still small voice of God. Listening with the "ear of our hearts."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/prayer-is-listening-for-the-still-small-voice-of-god-listening-with/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [Over-consumption is a cancer eating away at our spiritual vitals. It distances us from the great masses of broken bleeding humanity. It converts us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/over-consumption-is-a-cancer-eating-away-at-our-spiritual-vitals-it/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“To believe that God can reach us and bless us in the ordinary junctures of daily life is the stuff of prayer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/to-believe-that-god-can-reach-us-and-bless-us-in-the-ordinary/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [Prayer is simply saying "thank you, bless you, praise you."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/prayer-is-simply-saying-thank-you-bless-you-praise-you/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [There is an old proverb to the effect that 'all those who open their mouths, close their eyes!' The purpose of silence and solitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/there-is-an-old-proverb-to-the-effect-that-all-those-who-open-their/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [It is an occupational hazard of devout folk to become stuffy bores. This should not be. Of all people, we should be the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/it-is-an-occupational-hazard-of-devout-folk-to-become-stuffy-bores/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“Lord God, you deserve my best. Forgive me for the times I have offered you only the dregs, whether it be half-heartedly muttered prayers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/lord-god-you-deserve-my-best-forgive-me-for-the-times-i-have-offered/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/superficiality-is-the-curse-of-our-age-the-doctrine-of-instant/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [If worship does not change us it has not been worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/if-worship-does-not-change-us-it-has-not-been-worship/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“I want to mention one other reason why we shy away from commitment. It is, very simply, the fear that we will not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/i-want-to-mention-one-other-reason-why-we-shy-away-from-commitment-it/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“It is one thing to act like a servant; it is quite another to be a servant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/it-is-one-thing-to-act-like-a-servant-it-is-quite-another-to-be-a/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“we hold on so tightly to the good that we do know that we cannot receive the greater good that we do not know.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/we-hold-on-so-tightly-to-the-good-that-we-do-know-that-we-cannot/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“Once we have made generous latitude for individual differences and schedules, we must firmly discipline ourselves to a regular pattern of prayer. We cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/once-we-have-made-generous-latitude-for-individual-differences-and/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [Freedom in the Gospel does not mean license. It means opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/freedom-in-the-gospel-does-not-mean-license-it-means-opportunity/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“The tongue is our most powerful weapon of manipulation. A frantic stream of words flows from us because we are in a constant process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/the-tongue-is-our-most-powerful-weapon-of-manipulation-a-frantic/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) [Explore all 239 Richard J. Foster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) ## More Generousity quotes > [“If old age is good for anything it's good for being generous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kuhn/if-old-age-is-good-for-anything-it-s-good-for-being-generous/) [William Kuhn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kuhn/) > [“I should like the woman I choose to be very honest, generous, and to have a sincere faith in God, rather than mindlessly following…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-dickerson/i-should-like-the-woman-i-choose-to-be-very-honest-generous-and-to/) [Melanie Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-dickerson/) > [“Remember: Let's look for ways to take \*care\* of each other rather than look for ways to take \*advantage\* of each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laone-collins/remember-let-s-look-for-ways-to-take-care-of-each-other-rather-than/) [Laone Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laone-collins/) > [“Give and receive; give big and receive big; give freely and receive freely; give poorly and receive poorly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/give-and-receive-give-big-and-receive-big-give-freely-and-receive/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“If you earn little, give little. If you earn much, give much. But even if you earn nothing, try to give something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/if-you-earn-little-give-little-if-you-earn-much-give-much-but-even-if/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“What is offered from a generous heart should be accepted generously.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-dumas/what-is-offered-from-a-generous-heart-should-be-accepted-generously/) [Alexandre Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-dumas/) > [“God provides something to you through somebody. Thats same God can give something to somebody through you. If you make yourself a greedy traffic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/god-provides-something-to-you-through-somebody-thats-same-god-can/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Giving is an act of generosity. Giving is sowing a seed. The seed will produce great harvest of fruits.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/giving-is-an-act-of-generosity-giving-is-sowing-a-seed-the-seed-will/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Giving does not only preceed receiving; it is the reason for it. It is in giving that we receive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/giving-does-not-only-preceed-receiving-it-is-the-reason-for-it-it-is/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Be fair before being generous, be human before being fair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fern-n-caballero/be-fair-before-being-generous-be-human-before-being-fair/) [Fernán Caballero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fern-n-caballero/) > [“The little I have, I share with you; the little you have, you also share with me. 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