How much should I tithe?
There's a question everyone asks...is it 10% and then giving on top of that? Do I tithe on my gross or on my net income? What about my time, resources and assets? What if someone else pays my housing and vehicle costs? Isn't that an Old Testament principle? etcetera etcetera.
I have a new measure of whether you are giving enough. Let the government decide. You see, if the government feels your giving is in line with your income they'll process your return and all will be well. If they feel that no one making the income you make could possibly give that much away to charity then they'll start to take notice. I'm not sure, but I think they call it the Widow's Mite clause 3.2a ii84. You'll know when they feel like you're giving too much because at that point they'll ask you to submit your charitable receipts because they're going to audit you.
So don't give 10%. Don't give on your gross or net. Give till your audited.
Try it out...by the way, while you may be able to outgive the taxwoman, you can't outgive God.
rZ
2 Comments:
This topic is forever debated. There is no one biblical interpretation regarding the specific details(gross or net etc...) that will satisfy all. There is no absolute here, but only a principle. The question begs an answer - Whose money is it that I have? Remember we are not under an OT law, but in the era of GRACE. If one wants to give more than 10% than one should have that freedom. Why do restaurant servers get 15% of the gross? Is this the minimum I am allowed to give as thanks for a good meal? Maybe we have the same thoughts regarding giving as a Christian. If the waiter gives crappy service he gets a nominal tip at best. Do we hold back our 'TIP' from others because we do not think they have given to as they ought (I am talking about the local group of Christians called the 'Church')Are we justified (in making a judgemnt call) based upon how the 'Church' serves me, and then give assording to that conclusion? God loves a cheerful giver and if giveing is done in faith in God then he is pleased. Lack of faith is sin and God does not want the gift then.
teehee, this is funny, this happened to us. i guess in years past we didn't tithe all that much in accordance with what our income was, so this past year we were asked to submit our receipts! We thought it was hysterical, and besides that, it wasn't even a 10th of what we brought in, it was still considerably lower. So just goes to show that the government does see what you give. Also there is a wonderful book out by Randy Alcorn which discusses this issue to the fullest, even to the nitty gritty stuff, called - Money, Possessions and Eternity.
Blessings.
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