A Spirituality of the Stewardship of Money

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

A Spirituality of the Stewardship of Money Section V Page 16 A Spirituality of the Stewardship of Money Humanity is in a relationship with God who gives to us all that we have. God asks us simply to give a part of it back so that it is clear that we understand that everything we have is a gift from God. The foundation of our hesitance to give a portion of our income to God through the church may not be in greed, but rather in fear. We are afraid that we will not have enough and so we hold back when we pledge. The writer of Hebrews, establishes the supremacy of the priesthood of Melchizedek, to whom Abraham, the father of the faithful, paid tithes (Hebrews 7:4-6). If Abraham, the father of the faithful, tithed to Melchizedek, then it is appropriate that those of us who arc the offspring of faith and the children of grace tithe to Jesus Christ, who, as our high priest, has offered Himself as the sacrifice for our redemption. DO I TITHE THE GROSS OR THE NET? Tithing is off of the gross. In Genesis 28:22 Jacob pledged by faith, "of all that you give me I will surely give one tenth to you". The Scriptures nowhere make provisions for income tax, FICA, union dues, credit union, or any other kind of deductions. Deuteronomy 14:22 tells us, "Set apart of a tithe of all the yield that is brought in yearly from the field." WHAT ABOUT INCOME FROM INVESTMENTS, SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, CDS, STOCKS, ETC.? Income is income, and we should want to give a gratitude gift to God from such sources; however, we should not become a slave to tithing as we try to figure our income. WHAT IF I UNDERESTIMATE MY TITHE? Then you are not tithing. The tithe is a ten percent minimum gift of thanksgiving and praise to God. GETTING BACK TO THIS BUSINESS OF THE GROSS, HOW CAN I TITHE FROM MONEY 1 DON'T HAVE IN MY HAND, MONEY THAT IS DEDUCTED FROM MY PAYCHECK THAT I WILL NEVER SEE OR BENEFIT FROM? Your gross salary is your income. It just so happens that the way that most of us get paid, the government, the unions, and insurance premiums deduct their money before it reaches us. Why should God be penalized because others deduct their money before they give it to us? For example, if your gross salary is $500 and your take-home pay is $400, and you are tithing off of your net income, then your tithe would be $40. Only $10 separates you from tithing off of your gross. If you can tithe $40, you can tithe $50. As we give more, God blesses disproportionately and immeasurably beyond whatever we have given or sacrificed for the glory of the kingdom and the strengthening of the church. Section V Page 17 I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO BE A CONSISTENT TITHER, BUT OFTEN AFTER I PAY MY BILLS, I DO NOT HAVE MONEY TO TITHE, SO I DO THE BEST I CAN. WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND? You are paying other obligations first and then seeking to fulfill the word of God regarding the tithe last. The biblical prescription for giving is that you reverse the order. God's tithe should come off of the top, not the bottom. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU TITHE AND YOU STILL FIND YOURSELF UNDER FINANCIAL ATTACK? Be faithful to the tithe, and stand on the promises of God. God is faithful and there are times when those who trust God, only come out winners later in the race. Galatians 6:9 admonishes us, "So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time if we do not give up." TITHES AND OFFERINGS Weekly WEEKLY GIVING Monthly MONTHLY GIVING Income 3% 5% 10% Income 3% 5% 10% $250 $7.50 $12.50 $25 $1,000 $30.00 $50.00 $100 $300 $9.00 $15.00 $30 $1,100 $33.00 $55.00 $110 $350 $10.50 $17.50 $35 $1,200 $36.00 $60.00 $120 $400 $12.00 $20.00 $40 $1,300 $39.00 $65.00 $130 $450 $13.50 $22.50 $45 $1,400 $42.00 $70.00 $140 $500 $15.00 $25.00 $50 $1,500 $45.00 $75.00 $150 $550 $16.50 $27.50 $55 $1,600 $48.00 $80.00 $160 $600 $18.00 $30.00 $60 $1,700 $51.00 $85.00 $170 $650 $19.50 $32.50 $65 $1,800 $54.00 $90.00 $180 $700 $21.00 $35.00 $70 $1,900 $57.00 $95.00 $190 $750 $22.50 $37.50 $75 $2,000 $60.00 $100.00 $200 $800 $24.00 $40.00 $80 $2,100 $63.00 $105.00 $210 $850 $25.50 $42.50 $85 $2,200 $66.00 $110.00 $220 $900 $27.00 $45.00 $90 $2,300 $69.00 $115.00 $230 $1,000 $30.00 $50.00 $95 $2,400 $72.00 $120.00 $240 $1,100 $33.00 $55.00 $100 $2,500 $75.00 $125.00 $250 $1,200 $36.00 $60.00 $120 $2,600 $78.00 $130.00 $260 $1,300 $39.00 $65.00 $130 $2,700 $81.00 $135.00 $270 $1,400 $42.00 $70.00 $140 $2,800 $84.00 $140.00 $280 $1,500 $45.00 $75.00 $150 $2,900 $87.00 $145.00 $290 $1,600 $48.00 $80.00 $160 $3,000 $90.00 $150.00 $300 .
Recommended publications
  • History of the Jews Vol. V
    History of the Jews Vol. V By Heinrich Graetz HISTORY OF THE JEWS CHAPTER I CHMIELNICKI AND THE PERSECUTION OF THE JEWS OF POLAND BY THE COSSACKS Condition of the Jews in Poland before the Outbreak of Persecution— Influence of the Jesuits—Characteristics of Poles and Jews—The Home of the Cossacks—Repression of the Cossacks by the Government—Jews appointed as Tax Farmers—Jurisdiction of the Synods—The Study of the Talmud in Poland—Hebrew Literature in that Country becomes entirely Rabbinical—Character of Polish Judaism—Jews and Cossacks— Chmielnicki—Sufferings of the Jews in consequence of his Successes—The Tartar Haidamaks—Fearful Massacres in Nemirov, Tulczyn, and Homel— Prince Vishnioviecki—Massacres at Polonnoie, Lemberg, Narol, and in other Towns—John Casimir—Lipmann Heller and Sabbataï Cohen—Renewal of the War between Cossacks and Poles—Russians join Cossacks in attacking the Jews—Charles X of Sweden—The Polish Fugitives—"Polonization" of Judaism. 1648–1656 C. E. Poland ceased to be a haven for the sons of Judah, when its short-sighted kings summoned the Jesuits to supervise the training of the young nobles and the clergy and crush the spirit of the Polish dissidents. These originators of disunion, to whom the frequent partition of Poland must be attributed, sought to undermine the unobtrusive power which the Jews, through their money and prudence, exercised over the nobles, and they combined with their other foes, German workmen and trades-people, members of the guilds, to restrict and oppress them. After that time there were repeated persecutions of Jews in Poland; sometimes the German guild members, sometimes the disciples of the Jesuits, raised a hue and cry against them.
    [Show full text]
  • Tithing in 10 Baby Steps
    Tithing in 10 Baby Steps A Users Guide to The Great Tithe Experiment Mike McGuire 1 This is written for you. You wanted to tithe. Now is the time. 2 The Ten Baby Steps Preface 4 1 Ask “Why?” 5 2 Ask “Why Not?” 12 3 Commit 16 4 Calculate 19 5 Count the Cost 21 6 Develop a Plan 24 7 Determine the Method 27 8 Give Now 29 9 Persevere Through Challenges 31 10 Enjoy the Benefits 33 About the Author 36 The Great Tithe Experiment 37 Notes 38 3 Preface Dear Reader, I want to help you to fulfill your desire to give. This short book takes a big step of faith and breaks it into small baby steps. I have found tithing to be one of the most fruitful spiritual disciplines resulting in a closer relationship to God and a further separation from material pursuits. Our church recently conducted an experiment to measure the effects of tithing. In total, 52 individuals participated, which included 13 households, who started tithing for the first time. You’ll receive highlights of their story in this ebook. A richer spiritual life is only 10 baby steps away. I hope you will join us. Mike McGuire 4 1 Ask “Why?” Tithing is a simple concept. It means donating 10% of your income to your local church. It’s simple, but for many Americans, not easy. One couple who took the experiment remarked, “I wrote my first check and said, ‘Oh, my gosh, that is a lot of money!’ ” The first question to ask is, “Why?” Why in the world would one give away their hard-earned income? And, why 10%? Baby Step #1 – Ask “Why?” Why should you give 10% of your income to a local church? Those are fair and appropriate questions.
    [Show full text]
  • To Tithe Or Not to Tithe?
    To tithe or not to tithe? Considering proportional giving: A guide for everyone © The United Reformed Church 2016 Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. How much should we give? Christians often ask: how much money should I give to the work of the church? And this is often answered by the church treasurer who, on presenting a budget which shows the expenditure as being greater than the income, then appeals to congregation to increase their giving so as to balance the budget. But perhaps a different approach should be taken. God is not calling on us to simply meet a specific need; he is calling on us to give of our resources willingly and cheerfully as a response to his generosity to, and love for, us. What does the Bible say? The Bible has a great deal to say about money! The Old Testament introduces the idea of tithing. This is giving the first tenth of your income to God and living on the rest. Some biblical scholars have calculated that, if people gave according to the original Old Testament laws on tithing, including the special tithes, then each person would be giving 23% of their annual income to God in tithes. Tithing and the Old Testament In the Old Testament there are a number of passages that specifically call on God’s people to give a tithe. Here are some of them which we invite you to read, consider and perhaps discuss in small groups.
    [Show full text]
  • The 10% Flat Tax: Tithing and the Definition of Income
    THE 10% FLAT TAX: TITHING AND THE DEFINITION OF INCOME GORDON B. DAHL and MICHAEL R RANSOM∗ Developing a fair and widely accepted income definition presents one of the great- est challenges to tax reform. To arrive at a definition separate from the federal tax code, we surveyed 1200 Latter-day Saints about their practice of tithing. Tithing is similar to a flat tax with no deductions, where individuals voluntarily contribute 10% of self-defined income to the church. The results of our survey indicate that most respondents operate on a cash realization basis, which excludes savings and does not allow any deductions. Respondents’ income concepts generally do not coincide with current tax laws or economists’ views of comprehensive income. (JEL H24, Z12) We recommend the passage of [the income tax] that an income concept exists that is gener- in the confident belief that . [it] will meet with ally agreed on as fair and that can meaning- as much general satisfaction as any tax law. ...All good citizens, it is therefore believed, will willingly fully be applied to individual taxation. But do and cheerfully support and sustain this, the fairest ordinary people agree on what constitutes a and cheapest of all taxes. fair definition of income? And, if so, does the —Committee Report on the Act Authorizing income concept match up with either the cur- the Income Tax, U.S. House of Representatives, October 3, 1913 rent tax code or economists’ views of com- prehensive income? How individuals believe income should be I. INTRODUCTION defined matters for any major reform of the Much of the discussion on individual U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • ETC Section Intro
    Section 5 References General references Specific component references Section 1 Destination audit Section 2 Destination planning Section 3 Destination development © ENGLISH TOURIST BOARD AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE 2003 5 WHERE TO GO FOR HELP: CONTACTS AND REFERENCES 5 Where to go for help: contacts and references The following section gives details of where to go for help, with further references and information relating to each of the individual components. For enquiries regarding the handbook as a whole, please contact Anthony Climpson in the Leisure Services Department of New Forest District Council at Appletree Court, Lyndhurst, Hampshire SO43 7PA, tel 023 8028 5102, fax 023 8028 5457, email [email protected]. General references will be given first, followed by references relating to each of the specific components in the order in which they appear in the handbook. General references Green Audit Kit – Investing in Business and the Environment The Green Audit Kit is a self-help manual developed by the English Tourism Council and the Countryside Agency. It is aimed at tourism businesses and is distributed through the RTBs. It demonstrates the quality and other advantages that environmental improvement can bring to tourism businesses’ marketing, products and customer experiences. Taking a step-by-step approach, the Green Audit Kit puts an environmental slant on key business activities, generating extra business and saving money. It offers advice on maximising benefits and is has the following key features: • allows self-completion and local customisation • encourages sustainable tourism • allows integration in tourism business support programmes • supported by the Green Advantage training course • encourages business review, action and checklist monitoring • includes 22 case studies across England and contact details • includes monitoring forms for user completion • available from regional tourist boards • links in with a user-participation website at www.greenauditkit.org For copies of the Green Audit Kit, please contact your RTB.
    [Show full text]
  • Giving & Tithe Q&A Pledge Questions Q&A Tithe & Pledge Form Located on the Back
    Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Cheerful Giving –2 Corinthians 9 Giving & Tithe Q&A What is tithing? Tithing means giving the first 10% of your income back to God (you may decide 10% before or after taxes). Tithing is also referred to as “first fruits.” Can I give less than 10%, or do I have to tithe? Any amount counts and every gift matters. Your offering is another form of worship, therefore it is between you and God. We recommend the following tips to decide: starting with prayer for God’s guidance, listening for His prompting, reviewing your finances, taking Financial Peace University (offered in March 2019), talking to others who give to hear their insights and testimonies, and trusting in God’s promises of blessing and abundance. Try giving to see what happens! Why should I tithe? It is a true, faith filled step into thankfulness, diligence, and obedience to God: “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce.” -Proverbs 3:9 How do I try tithing? Start by praying over your finances and for God’s direction. If you feel led to take this step of faith, set aside the first 10% of your earnings and give them as your offering. God promises and delivers abundant blessings to all who do so. What is the Tithe Challenge? The Tithe Challenge is when you try tithing for 90 days to RESURRECTION, then watch what happens.
    [Show full text]
  • Jizya, Social Domination and the Meaning of Constitutional Secularism
    THE AFTERLIVES OF AURANGZEB: JIZYA, SOCIAL DOMINATION AND THE MEANING OF CONSTITUTIONAL SECULARISM Dhruv Chand Aggarwal* ABSTRACT This Article is the first to fully explore the historical context in which the relationship between taxation and religion has operated in India. It examines the history of Article 27 of the Constitution of India, illustrating how the men who designed it in the 1940s were influenced by the painful memory of faith-based levies imposed by bigoted Muslim sovereigns such as the 17th century Mughal ruler, Aurangzeb. It then proceeds to show how post-independence Supreme Court jurisdiction on the article has not only been scarce and intermittent, but has also been inconsistent with basic ideals of secularism and tolerance espoused by India’s founding generation. This Article suggests that by amending Article 27, and by re-examining the constitutionally mandated link between taxation and the state’s relationship between different (and competing) religious denominations, we can move toward a newer—and clearer—understanding of “Indian secularism.” At a broader level, it aims to convey the limitations of “constitutional borrowing” and the need to understand the cultural context in which these laws operate before changing them to conform with evolving standards of decency. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................. 2 I. PURITANICAL OR PRUDENT?: INVESTIGATING THE HISTORICAL RECORD ON JIZYA ............................................................................. 4
    [Show full text]
  • The Jewish Encyclopedia
    T H E J E W I S H E N C Y C L O P E D I A A GU ID E TO ITS CO NTE N TS A N A ID TO ITS U S E O S E P H A C O BS J J , Rsvxs c EDITO R FU N K WAGNALLS CO M PAN Y N E W YO R K A N D LO N D ON 1906 PR E FACE IN the followin a es I g p g have endeavored , at the s Funk Wa nalls m an reque t of the g Co p y, to give such an account of the contents of THE J E WISH E N C CLO E DIA s as Y P , publi hed by them , will indicate the n u n at re of the work in co siderable detail , and at the same time facil itate the systematic use of it in any of i i ts very varied sections . For th s purpose it has been found necessary to divide the subj ect- matter of the E N CYCLO PE DIA in a somewhat different manner from that adopted for editorial purposes in the various departments . Several sections united under the con trol of one editor have been placed in more logical order in ff e a di er nt parts of the following ccount , while , on the other hand , sections which were divided among different editors have here been brought together under one head. In justice to my colleagues it is but fair to add that they are in no sense responsible for this - redistribution of the subject matter , or indeed for any of the views which either explicitly or by implication are expressed in the following pages on some of the disputed points affecting modern Jews and Judaism .
    [Show full text]
  • Mormon Profit: Brigham Young, Tithing, and the Bureau of Internal Revenue
    Loyola University Chicago, School of Law LAW eCommons Faculty Publications & Other Works 2019 Mormon Profit: Brigham oung,Y Tithing, and the Bureau of Internal Revenue Samuel D. Brunson Follow this and additional works at: https://lawecommons.luc.edu/facpubs Part of the Tax Law Commons Mormon Profit: Brigham Young, Tithing, and the Bureau of Internal Revenue Samuel D. Brunson* Since the enactment of the modern federal income tax, churches have been exempt from taxation. But that exemption is neither necessary nor inevitable. In fact, at the end of the 1860s, the Bureau of Internal Revenue decided that tithing received by the Mormon church was taxable under the Civil War income tax. At the time, Mormons distrusted the federal government and the federal government, in turn, distrusted the Mormons. The question of taxation was a small part of a larger legal and existential battle between the Mormons and the government. This Article situates the question of the taxability of tithing in the broader legal and relational conflict. More important, it tells the story of how the income tax threatened to fundamentally change the Mormon church and how Mormon leaders reacted to that threat, both with increasingly sophisticated legal arguments and, in the event their legal argumentationfailed, with plans to take the tax law into account. CONTENTS IN TRO D U CTIO N ................................................................................................... 42 I. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX .......................................... 47 A . The Civil W ar Incom e Tax .......................................................................... 47 B. The Bureau of Internal Revenue ............................................................ 49 * Georgia Reithal Professor of Law, Loyola University Chicago School of Law. I am grateful for comments from David J.
    [Show full text]
  • Synonyms and Related Words. What Is Another Word for TITHE?
    Need another word that means the same as “tithe”? Find 11 synonyms and 30 related words for “tithe” in this overview. Table Of Contents: Tithe as a Noun Definitions of "Tithe" as a noun Synonyms of "Tithe" as a noun (11 Words) Usage Examples of "Tithe" as a noun Associations of "Tithe" (30 Words) The synonyms of “Tithe” are: levy, tariff, duty, toll, excise, impost, contribution, assessment, tribute, charge, fee Tithe as a Noun Definitions of "Tithe" as a noun According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “tithe” as a noun can have the following definitions: An offering of a tenth part of some personal income. One tenth of annual produce or earnings, formerly taken as a tax for the support of the Church and clergy. A tenth of a specified thing. A levy of one tenth of something. (in certain religious denominations) a tenth of an individual's income pledged to the Church. GrammarTOP.com Synonyms of "Tithe" as a noun (11 Words) An amount determined as payable. assessment The assessment of educational needs. The price charged for some article or service. charge I get a real charge out of working hard. A voluntary gift (as of money or service or ideas) made to some worthwhile contribution cause. I am proud of my contribution in advancing the project. Work that you are obliged to perform for moral or legal reasons. duty A strong sense of duty. A tax levied on certain goods and commodities produced or sold within a excise country and on licences granted for certain activities. The rate of excise duty on spirits.
    [Show full text]
  • General Excise Paper
    General Excise Paper Tax Strategy Group – TSG 19/09 Prepared by the Tax Division, Department of Finance www.gov.ie/finance Contents 1 ALCOHOL PRODUCTS TAX 3 1.2 Public Health Policy 3 1.3 Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) 4 1.4 Recent Changes to Rates, Yield, and Consumption 4 1.5 Cross-Border Trade 8 1.6 Microbreweries Relief 9 1.7 Options to increase the excise on alcohol products 13 2 TOBACCO PRODUCTS TAX 14 2.1 Introduction 14 2.2 Public Health Policy and Regulatory Changes 14 2.3 Recent Changes to Rates and Yields 16 2.4 Illicit Tobacco Market 18 2.5 Non-Irish Duty Paid Cigarettes & Cross Border Comparison 20 2.6 Minimum Excise Duty (MED) 21 2.7 Tobacco Products Tax Directive and Novel Products 21 2.8 Options 22 3 Betting Tax 23 3.1 Background 23 3.2 Receipts 25 3.3 Alternative Betting Tax Proposal 26 3.4 Options 31 4 Sugar Sweetened Drinks Tax 32 4.1 Introduction 32 4.2 Yield 32 4.3 Initial UK Experience 33 5. Appendices 34 —— 2 1 ALCOHOL PRODUCTS TAX The current rates and structures of excise duty on alcohol products are harmonised across the European Union through Directives 92/83/EEC and 92/84/EEC ('Alcohol Products Tax Directives’). This section outlines the main policy considerations regarding the Alcohol Products Tax and sets out budgetary options. 1.1 Alcohol Products Tax Directive On 25 May 2018 the Commission adopted and published a legislative proposal amending the Alcohol Products Directive 92/83/EEC on the harmonization of the structures of excise duties on alcohol and alcoholic beverages.
    [Show full text]
  • The Prophet's Public Budget and Its Relevancy to the Indonesian Context
    Advances in Economics, Business and Management Research (AEBMR), volume 55 6th International Accounting Conference (IAC 2017) The Prophet’s Public Budget and its Relevancy to the Indonesian Context Dodik Siswantoro1* 1Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Indonesia, Depok 16424, Indonesia *Corresponding Author: [email protected] This research seeks to analyze the relevance of Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) (PBUH) type of governmental budget in the current Indonesian context, in which Muslims constitute the biggest population. In its early stage of development, Islam grew and spread rapidly after the Prophet moved to Medina from Mecca. At that time, the spread of Islam was indirectly supported by a budget. It only took ten years from scratch for the Prophet to reach the stage of doing battle with the Roman Empire. The research method used in this paper is a qualitative method with a postpositive paradigm. The data was collected from secondary sources and discussions of specific issues in news media. The results showed that some components of the public budget, such as ghanima (war booty), fai (booty), and jizya (non-Muslim tithe), need to be modified to be relevant to the current Indonesian context. Other countries have applied ghanima and fai in different ways. However, such other practices as zakat (tithe) and sadaqa (charity) are still relevant to supporting Indonesian economic development. Keywords: Prophet; Public; Budget; Zakat; Indonesia. 1. INTRODUCTION The development of Islam in Medina only took ten years (AD 622–632) from scratch, before Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) passed away. Islamic troops were able to successfully defeat Roman troops, who were the toughest army at that time.
    [Show full text]