Monday, June 8, 2020

Tithing on your economic impact payment



I have had some questions and discussions about tithing on your economic impact payment, namely, should I tithe on this money?

The answer is, if you have been tithing all along, you have already tithed on this return of your tax money, but that is only if you actually tithed.

What does that mean?  If you tithed on what you made as opposed to what you have in take-home pay, then you have already tithed.

If you tithed on your take-home pay—get ready—then you didn’t really tithe in the first place.  You put government before God.  God came in second or third or fourth.  You might think that means you should tithe on this money, but that’s being a little hypocritical as you have not tithed on your regular income.

You may have made a recurring offering.  It may have even been about 10% of your take-home pay, but it wasn’t a tithe. Tithing comes with blessings for both the giver and those who serve God.

So, does that mean that you give part of this stimulus check to God or not?

Here’s the best answer that I can find.  Don’t give reluctantly or out of compulsion.  Give what is in your heart.  The Lord loves a cheerful giver.

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 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.  And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.  As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
    their righteousness endures forever.”

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

So, what do you do?  You might think that you can’t go wrong if you give, but that’s not true.  If your heart is not right, don’t expect your offering to count much before God.

So, what is in your heart.  What has God placed on your heart?  There is your answer as to what to give.

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