Straight to the matter at hand:
Well, for those who live in America, you all know this is the season for some extra cash in your pockets right? This is the season when you have to file your taxes and see who owes whom. Either you owe IRS or you're free from their hands (Which many people pray for).
Nywayz, so i was just think-talking to myself and wondered why and i've always wondered why on earth do people ask for the total of whatever they have placed in the OFFERING basket for the past year when filing for thier taxes, and why do people give out checks during offering? (Why would you not cash the money before coming to church? or are you keeping a record of how your money is being spent?)
Well, the first thing that came to my mind was Mathew 6 vs 3-4: But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth. That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. But, the money that goes into the basket isn't alms, It's an offering. So i felt that scripture didn't answer my question enough.
So i decided to share this think-talk with you all. Share your insights with me please:
Why do people need thier offering/tithe information for the year when filing thier taxes?
Why do people give checks during offerings?
Disgressing to another serious issue. With the way things are going at my end with tailors, styles and deadlines, It seems i would beg mama Suraju to teach me how to sow clothings. It is so frustrating that i can't get a great tailor to sow the loveliest of styles on my ankara without paying some ridiculous prize. I need to add sowing to my hubby, and who knows very soon i could become one of the major designers whose speciality is African prints.
Happy new week everyone, take care of yourselves and have a funfilled and fufilled week ahead. Much love from Rinsola the aspiring tailor.
21 comments:
Aspiring tailor eh? You wish! But you know it's never too late to learn the tricks o' the trade! have a blessed week! ;-)
I forgot to add: I don't get it myself when I see people giving cheques as offerings.....maybe for special seed offerings towards projects but as regular offering? I ask myself cos I need answers!
I think people request their offering info/use checks because in America people are not taxed on church givings (so they def will have tax returns on those offerings). I haven't been a recipient of such benefits before though, but last week I came across a scripture in Ezra 7:24, where the king gave the Isrealites permission to rebuild the temple after their captivity to Babylon...and the king gave orders for the temple to be exempted from taxes...
By King Artarxerxes: "You are also to know that you have no authority to impose taxes, tribute or duty on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants or other workers at this house of God."
So u know how America was built on the foundation of God, maybe America is also building up on the traditions of the ancient temple of God in Isreal, because it does not tax churches. (That scripture kinda answered my own question because I had the same question last week)...:)
As for u becoming a tailor...I understand jare, it's expensive to get clothes sewn here in the U.S...lol. When u become a tailor let me know so I can send in my ankara...(lol)...(*wink*).
Have a blessed week Rin, and thans for the comments on my bloggie :)
I give checks to my church not because i want to account for all i have made for donations but my check includes my Tithes as well. Also, i don’t tithe for the purpose of tax deduction; i tithe because God says so. My church provides every member with a receipt for the money they've given -- in tithes and/or offerings -- for tax purposes.
Jesus said render unto Caesar what was Caesar's, not to pay more than Caesar requires. and I do take advantage of this opportunity.
Besides you don’t get "ALLYOUR MONEY BACK" what you get back is that tax $ of that money "Caesar" has already taken from your pay check. I pay another 10% of my tax refund, so i see this as just giving Caesar less.
I see no scriptural basis that is against adhering to tax laws.
Was just having this conversation with someone...went to a church and they gave me a card with a number and called it my thite (abi how them dey spell am) card...I am meant to write the amount and date and put the money in...it will be signed and given back to me...what da...
Ok maybe it was the catholic in me that recoiled...but na lie...I no do!!!
i dont know abt offerings since i only attend church abt once a year, however tithes can be cumbersome in cash. it may also mean you are looking for change to pay the exacta mount
i don't support that idea and don't think it is right, neither can i say why ppl do it.
great observation tho
Hey babes!! When you become a tailor in your own right dont forget we (me, myself and I) get a special discount (Wink wink).
On the tithes and offerings issue. Most churches here get their members to fill in their details so the church can claim taxes back on their offering. The church is seen as a charity so is exempt from taxes i think. Those other pple are just being stingy by trying to claim back the money for themselves.
omo, me i de write cheque oh but na for only tithe, i for prefer cash, but uhmm, i de spend am b4 sunday come, so i just write a cheque instead, anyways, as per offerings, me i have no clue, every man should do what he wants...
as per tax levels, omo me i no know, that one no de apply for 9ja...
meanwhile, shey you will sew my babe a correct outfit, and uhmm i will deliver the four ipods for free.. lol
So one can tax exemption for Tithe and Offering, I need to check that out.
As per cheque it's more convenient, imagine bringing £1000 tithe to church and cash machines don't even give £50. Forget it must be simpler for the ushers sef.
Sew on but you won't use my ankara to learn sha.
Anu you and this your ipod marketing na wa. Maybe your name should be changed to Anu Ipod now
@Beyond, signed cheque is as good as cash so what is the biggie.
Against such is there any law in the Bible?
I think the whole getting money back from church tax thing is senseless,in another way,the govt is giving u back all the money u claimed u gave to God,which means you did not give.
Well i only use my check book,in case i dnt have my money for tithe,and there will not be a reason for me not to pay it.
Nice topic.
You are a woman after my own heart. I have also wondered the same thing in regards to filing offerings on tax records. I usually don't even fill out the envelopes passed around at offering time because, well, I dunno, it just doesn't feel right to me.
On your profession. OMG! I soooo, want to open a boutique or a chain of boutiques. Was at this site http://www.sikadesigns.co.uk/index.htm and fell in love with the prints. When I open my boutiques I now know just the person to create a line for me!!!
abeg yes hurry up and become a tailor so that we bloggers can benefit from free services *wink* *wink*
lmf(fine)ao i was wondering the same thing. the reason people issue checks is cos they want the receipt so they can get more money when they file their tax. 1 time i went to file ma tax, i met this nigerian man n his wife, they came with receipts of everything including grocery shopping, like who saves receipts for groceries for a yr?...i was so embarrased.
tailor? i guess u'll be making my 1st nigerian outfit...i'll pay u well.
Hey gurl, thanks a lot for bringing thsi on cos its been on mii mind for weeks and me i actually got a mail from my church with some of my givings(the checks and stuff with my name on it) and i have ben thinking hard. But Jaycees' scripture just made it clearer than it was. lets see how it goes from here. how u dey?
Here is some information I got from the internet:
1.)http://en.allexperts.com/q/Assembly-God-2292/Tithing-Return-Expected.htm
Now as to wether you should claim this on your taxes, I feel that this should be a personal matter between the Believer and His Lord. The Bible does teach us to keep our giving as a personal matter...
Mt. 6:3
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
My understanding is that the right and left hand are symbolic of fellow Believers (two hands apart of the same body, the Body of Christ). That Jesus was teaching us not to be boastfull but to keep our giving between ourselves and teh Lord.
But this does not mean that one cannot take advantage of the law. In my own case, though my donations do help me at tax time, but it does not necessarily do so every year.
I do agree with you that a Believer should not give their tithes simple so that it would benefit them at the end of the year. This is not giving unto as unto the Lord, but of greed.
My view is that if you feel that you should not take your tithes and offerings off on your taxes, then follow your convictions by all means. But on the other hand, if a Christian does take advantage of the law by deducting their tithes and offerings, then I feel the Scriptures do not prohibit this either. The important thing is to obey the Lord in our giving, and to be sensitive to the Spirit's direction about tax deductions.
Ray, please let me know if this helps, or if you have any further questions.
Elder Greg Madden
http://www.forministry.com/USOKPENTEMMM1
2.) http://www.daveramsey.com/etc/cms/giving_5089.htmlc
You gave the money to the church. You were biblically obedient in that. The Bible also tells us to be good managers of our money. It does not diminish the sanctity of your gift to take the tax deduction. It is a way to manage the rest of the money. Take the deduction.
Later when you get your income tax refund, remember that this is money that you've already tithed, although you're certainly welcome to devote some or all of it back to the Lord as additional thanks for His blessings.
I think whether we file taxes on tithes or not is really up to us sha. It is a personal issue and it is no measurement for whether we are spiritual or not.
As for me, for a long time I used to think that I should not file taxes on my tithe. But two years ago I realized that the real reason why I did not file those taxes was because I was financially ignorant and careless. So I am trying to educate myself more about finances the Christian way
Furthermore, when you file taxes on your tithes you can always take the money you receive and donate it right back to the church. I think the church would be double blessed if we did that.
If people realised that offerings are given to God, maybe they'll worry less about it.
American capitalism (in my humble opinion) is based on greed and rewards greed. Now this is not to say that other economic systems do not do the same thing, but I can only talk about what I am familiar with. That being said, the aAmerican tax system encourages 'charity' by rewarding greed. Thus, if you keep track of how much you spend on charitable donations (of which Church donations is included), you can deduct that money when Uncle Sam comes a-knocking. Now, I know the calculation behind this is much more complex than what I suggest, but one cannot ignore the fact that many people have forgotten that we should not give to others, or God, because we expect something in return (i.e. tax breaks). We should give to others and do for others because it is simply the right thing to do. Hopefully, we can all get back to that. And as to those who pay with checks, some families do that to keep track of expenditures and maintain their budget. I have never had the fortune of writing a check because my Sunday bags are way to small. But, I will find a way to carry one because it would save time spent looking for an ATM on Sunday morning when you have spent all your money at the supermarket on Saturday. lol!
NIGERIANN CURIOSITY
IT WAS SO MUCH EASIER WHEN I ONLY HAD ONE...
I grew up in a church that till this day does not do offerings,seed faith,instrument dedication/building fund/pastor needs a brand new plane, only Thithes. The thithe box is always in a back room and might be brought to the back inside wall of the church sometimes so people are reminded. It is preached about very, very, rarely. That being said, I agree with Indegineous Productions,not filing is financial ignorant and careless.
In today's church, do not delude yourself that you are giving directly to God, last time I checked, the Lord did not have a bank account, and was not asking to be registered as a not-for- profit /charity.You can decide to use your tithe money towards a particular needy family in church, or for toys for needy children in church or towards an educational fund for a certain child in church,etc, as long as it is 10% of your earnings. Who says your tithe has to be pure unadultarted cash? For the person who has hang ups with writing a check and claiming it during tax time, by all means dont.But do not judge the man who has been pressured to give more than he really needs to, under the guise of, give to the Lord and he will reward you ten fold, sow a seed of faith by standing up in church and pledging money you may struggle to afford, or raising you hand containing money or an envelope,or walking up a long aisle to go drop you tithe envelope at the altar where everyone can see you and take note, and being prayed for while the rest who do not have, have to sit and squirm.The message is, if you do not have money to bring to church, you might as well not come, last i checked, my God was not a money doubler.
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