Volume. XX, No. 10
Sunday, 04 September 2005
Elder Khoo Peng Kiat recently spoke on the subject of Giving and Tithing at
Hope Church. While we all know that it is required of us to give a tenth of
all that we earn to God, it is extremely difficult to do so from a practical
point of view. There are many reasons for this difficulty – mostly due
to our lack of financial planning, or overspending. My purpose in this article
is to give some practical tips to tithing and financial control.
Tithing Before Tax
One of the most overlooked concepts to tithing is that it has to be done before
tax. In the old testament, tithing applied to produce such as livestock,
grain and fruits. “And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the
children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and
oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all
things brought they in abundantly.” 2 Chronicles 31:5. As currency
is now the standard form of value exchange, we must honour the Lord by giving
a tenth of our salaries to Him. However, this is to be a tenth of your salary
before tax is accounted for. Jesus said in Matthew 22:21 in response to a
question about whether taxes should be paid, “Render therefore unto
Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.” Here,
it is shown very clearly that you are to give God what rightfully belongs
to Him and taxes are totally exclusive of what you tithe. “Will a man
rob God? Yet ye have robbed me…In tithes and offerings.” Malachi
3:8
When Tithing Gets Hard
In Australia, taxation is high because we enjoy many social benefits such as
healthcare and pensions. Tithing becomes difficult when the sum of tithes
and taxes causes financial problems. Average income earners between AUD$21,601
- $58,000 per annum, are taxed at 30%. If you add an additional 10% for tithing,
it means that 40% of your salary is gone before it ever reaches your bank
account! If you are fortunate enough to earn over $70,000 a year, you are
taxed at approximately 48%, meaning that inclusive of tithing, 58% of your
income is spent on taxes and tithes. For many people, the additional 10%
levy is large enough to cause financial issues – especially for those
servicing mortgages.
Practical Tip #1: BUDGET and Take Control of Your Money
Use a spreadsheet software to create a budget. The easiest way to start a budget
is to work out what current expenses you have, listing everything from mortgage
and loan repayments, to petrol, food, clothing, insurance, movies, presents,
council rates, electricity, phone and tithing all into a spreadsheet. List
absolutely everything that you spend money on, and break it down into a monthly
budget to see just how much you spend each month. This is a good exercise
because you soon realise just how much unnecessary money you might be spending
and will find ways to minimise that. If you are spending more than you make,
then you should rethink what you’re doing with your money.
Practical Tip #2: Use Internet Banking and Telegraphic Transfers
“
If you don’t see it, you won’t miss it.” The tax department
uses this mantra to take money from your salary through something called PAYG
(Pay As You Go), where tax is automatically deducted from your salary before
it is deposited into your bank account. You never see the money that is paid
to the tax office, therefore you won’t miss it. Similarly, you can employ
the same psychological trick on yourself by using Internet Banking to program
a telegraphic transfer automatically every month, tithing automatically on
every payday directly to the church bank account. This has worked wonderfully
for me, as I simply don’t see the money and therefore don’t miss
it.
Practical Tip #3: Clear Credit Card Debt
If you are in credit card debt, make a plan to pay off that credit card in
instalments as quickly as possible and use your budget to ensure that you
do not fall back into debt. Also get rid of any unnecessary credit cards.
You realistically only need one card.
Practical Tip #4: Spend Wisely
Once you have your budget and plan in hand, make sure you stick to it. Spend
wisely. All money and wealth is a gift from God, and we must be good stewards
in the manner that we spend it.
Practical Tip #5: Don’t Procrastinate, Just Give
One of the greatest tests of your faith will come when your conscience speaks
to you, telling you to tithe, while finances are tight. It will be a very
difficult choice between giving up the luxuries of the world and giving to
God. This is a very real and practical test of your faith.
From my personal experience in these situations, I can testify that God has
always provided abundantly. Even when tithing meant that I had almost no money
left in my bank account, God has blessed me immensely through other means.
My basic necessities have always been met and I have found joy and happiness
in countless other things that are not related to money. While it was admittedly
difficult at the point in time to part with the money, I can’t say that
I miss it at all. Many times, it comes down to simply shutting out all objections
and procrastination (which is undoubtedly planted by Satan) and just giving
what is rightfully God’s.
To further strengthen your faith at the time of giving, consider Matthew 6:31-34.
God will provide, so don’t worry, just give what belongs to Him. “Therefore
take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal
shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for
your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek
ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall
be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow
shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the
evil thereof.”
A Final Word About Tithing
God gave us the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. How much is salvation
worth? Can 10% of your salary really justify or pay for your eternal salvation?
Can your life’s savings buy salvation? What about your life? At the
end of the day, money is just a means. Money never made anyone happy, and
the Bible states that “the love of money is a root of evil” (1
Timothy 6:10).
More Lively Hope
