Q & A, 4

Q: Do you tithe before or after taxes are taken out...gross or net income?
A: (#1 question asked) I know when my wife and I started tithing 25 years ago we tithed on what we had to take money from--our net income. The government's money went to the government. What we had left we channeled into 3 streams: 10% to God's work, 10% into savings, and live on the rest (80%). If you've never tithed before start with your net/after-tax income.

There are a lot of differences of opinion on this question. I've read them all and don't think you can make a strong argument that one's better than the other. The best thing to do is to start. Years later you can raise your giving level. You can tithe on your gross income or give 15% or more. Tithing is "a floor not a ceiling"...it's a good Biblical starting point not a stopping point.

Q & A, 3

Q: Does ones tithe all have to go to the local church?
A: I tend not to get "hard nosed" about this question. Some teach a "storehouse" principle (Malachi 3:10) where God says bring the whole tithe into my storehouse (storehouse = temple). They say the modern equivalent to the storehouse is the church. Again, I don't hold tightly to that. God's work is God's work--whether that's at Crossroads or The Billy Graham Association. I will say that I believe your local church should get the majority of your tithe. Why? It's where you're at. It's major focus is your community. It invests in other worthy ministries (at least it should...at Crossroads we invest over $100,000 in ministries outside our church). And, you know what's really going on in and through your local church. You know the leaders. You know the mission and vision and the work that's really going on. You local church is where your heart and your family are at. So, invest heavily in it.

Q & A, 2

Q: We live paycheck to paycheck...not because we have a lot of bills (we have no outstanding debt), but because it's all we make. How do we give 10% when we barely have enough for our own family? There is nothing to save.

A: First, I applaud your lack of debt. You are in the minority. I'm not sure how to answer your question without knowing your "lifestyle". I'd ask: what ARE you spending your $$ on? How much on housing? How much on entertainment? Do you have cable? Do you have a cell phone? Do you buy new cars? Where do you vacation? How much do you eat out? How much are you spending on internet (high speed or dial up)? Etc.

Those are all very personal questions, yet they have to be asked. Most (maybe not you) can save a lot more than they think they can by defining WANT vs. NEED.

Lastly, I would challenge you to right off the top try tithing for 3 months...trust God and see what happens...see if you are still able to live.

Q & A, round one

As promised last weekend, I'll spend all this week blogging on questions I didn't get to during our Q & A after my message. Here's the first: "Can you give a suggestion of a good way to honor God (give money) during Christmas instead of giving presents?"

Yes. Christian relief agency World Vision has a "gift catalog" that is full of wonderful alternatives. For example: for $75 you purchase a goat (in someone's name) for an impoverished child in countries like Haiti or Kenya. That goat provides that poor family with milk, cheese, and yogart (and even fertilizer that can improve crop harvests)! So...instead of buying your spouse a $75 watch you buy a needy family a goat in their name (they get a card that says a gift/goat was given in their name).

We have World Vision catalogs at the mini-info desk right outside the Sanctuary at church. Or, go to www.worldvisiongifts.org for the same info.