GIVING/ OFFERING

[Publican]

Your stubborn unwillingness to learn isn't going to serve you well in life.

"And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High"

I'll take my lesson from Christ on this one. But thanks for your input.

 

[studentoftheword]

Many people need to do some soul searching when they give their tithe and offerings to their Church ---God does not need our money ----We give because we Love God and He calls for us to give freely and cheerfully --not because we expect to get a portion back from this worldly system -----

As many people give their tithe and offerings because they can collect a portion of their donation back as they can claim it on their income tax ===they do it as a charitable donation ----

So actually anyone who does this is really not trusting God in their Giving ---they are giving because they will reap a benefit from their giving at income tax time ----

Where is our trust in our giving ----In God whose Promise is this ---it says ----Give and It WILL BE GIVEN --this is God's promise ---------Or is our trust in the Worldly Government System ---of give me a receipt and you get back some of what you gave ----

Where is our Trust in our return ---is the Real Question ----

Luke 6:38



I wonder how many would stop their giving to the church if there was no return on their income tax ???????

 

[studentoftheword]

Interesting read here Usury

https://www.gotquestions.org/usury-Bible.html
What is usury in the Bible?

Usury is, by modern definition, the illegal practice of lending money at unreasonably high rates of interest. Usury is usually carried out with the intention of the lender, or usurer, gaining an unfair profit from the loan. A modern slang term for a usurer is loan shark.

Somewhat complicating the matter is the fact that, before the creation of usury laws, usury could refer to interest in general. Now, usury refers to exorbitantly (and illegally) high interest rates. The King James Version uses the word usury in its now obsolete sense. For example, in Exodus 22:25, the basic rule regarding interest is “If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury” (KJV). However, in the English Standard Version, the same verse reads, “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him.”

In the Old Testament, the Israelites were forbidden from charging “usury,” or interest, on loans to fellow Jews (Deuteronomy 23:19), but they were allowed to charge interest on loans to foreigners (Deuteronomy 23:20). The earlier iterations of this law in Exodus 22:25 and Leviticus 25:35–38 make it clear that it deals with loans made to fellow Israelites who were experiencing poverty. Having to pay back the loan with “usury,” or interest, would only put them further into debt and was not beneficial to the economy. Loans to foreigners, however, were considered more of a business deal—such loans were seen as international commerce and therefore allowed. This law served as a reminder to the Jews that helping those in need is something that should be done without expecting anything in return.

Many of the loans we are familiar with in modern times come from banks, and the Bible doesn’t say much about this. While the Bible does not prohibit the charging of interest, it does warn against becoming too concerned with money, telling us that we cannot serve both God and money at the same time (Matthew 6:24). We are reminded that the desire to be rich leads to destruction and that the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil (1 Timothy 6:9–10).

In addition, God’s wisdom includes a warning not to take advantage of the plight of the poor. “Sharks” who gouge the needy in the time of their distress will not enjoy their spoils for long: “He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor” (Proverbs 28:8, KJV), or, in another translation, “Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor / amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor” (NIV).

 

[Dino246]

"And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High"

I'll take my lesson from Christ on this one. But thanks for your input.

That verse tells you nothing about either "interest" or "usury". Since you choose to be ignorant on the matter, I see no reason to attempt to enlighten you.

 

[Publican]

That verse tells you nothing about either "interest" or "usury". Since you choose to be ignorant on the matter, I see no reason to attempt to enlighten you.

"Lend, expecting nothing in return."
This is the final word on the subject for me. But I do appreciate your input.

 

[daisyseesthesun]

Our friend and fellow advocate, who has a deep personal connection to the protagonists of this story—Prince Peter of Denmark, Italy, Greece, Gets Married Off To Maud Angelica Behn, has brought their plight to our attention. They face an unfair burden from societal perceptions of their relationship and the limitations imposed by royal family traditions and expectations. This situation represents a clear case of injustice we cannot overlook. Societal norms unfairly overshadow their love story, and it's time we stand up against this injustice.

1. In a society where love knows no boundaries, it seems outdated to interfere with two people's marriage decisions just because they met on a reality TV series called "The First Date Series." The circumstances surrounding their meeting are far less important than the genuine connection they have forged.

Reports from the Council of Europe, a leading human rights organization, indicate a significant societal shift toward accepting relationships and marriages formed through unconventional means, with over 60% of people across Europe supporting such unions (Council of Europe Report, 2020). This change reflects the democratic values we uphold, emphasizing the freedom to choose one's partner and the liberty to decide when and how to solidify a relationship, independent of external validation.

Given this transformative landscape, we, as supporters and well-wishers of Prince Peter and Maud Angelica, must come together to support their love story. Your support is not just important. It's integral. With your collective action, we can make a notable difference. We must stand together to respect their choices, protect them from undue pressure, and champion their right to love and marry on their terms. Your support is crucial in this fight for love and equality.

Let us unite in urging the relevant authorities and societal influencers to embrace this change, dispel the stigma surrounding unconventional love stories, and celebrate the union of two souls in marriage, irrespective of how and where their love story began. I encourage everyone to sign the petition today; your support is vital in allowing Prince Peter and Maud Angelica to make their most loving decision. Remember, your signature is not just a mark on a page but a powerful statement of support. Together, we can inspire meaningful change, and your action can be the spark that ignites this transformation!

 

[daisyseesthesun]

Our friend and fellow advocate, who has a deep personal connection to the protagonists of this story—Prince Peter of Denmark, Italy, Greece, Gets Married Off To Maud Angelica Behn, has brought their plight to our attention. They face an unfair burden from societal perceptions of their relationship and the limitations imposed by royal family traditions and expectations. This situation represents a clear case of injustice we cannot overlook. Societal norms unfairly overshadow their love story, and it's time we stand up against this injustice.

1. In a society where love knows no boundaries, it seems outdated to interfere with two people's marriage decisions just because they met on a reality TV series called "The First Date Series." The circumstances surrounding their meeting are far less important than the genuine connection they have forged.

Reports from the Council of Europe, a leading human rights organization, indicate a significant societal shift toward accepting relationships and marriages formed through unconventional means, with over 60% of people across Europe supporting such unions (Council of Europe Report, 2020). This change reflects the democratic values we uphold, emphasizing the freedom to choose one's partner and the liberty to decide when and how to solidify a relationship, independent of external validation.

Given this transformative landscape, we, as supporters and well-wishers of Prince Peter and Maud Angelica, must come together to support their love story. Your support is not just important. It's integral. With your collective action, we can make a notable difference. We must stand together to respect their choices, protect them from undue pressure, and champion their right to love and marry on their terms. Your support is crucial in this fight for love and equality.

Let us unite in urging the relevant authorities and societal influencers to embrace this change, dispel the stigma surrounding unconventional love stories, and celebrate the union of two souls in marriage, irrespective of how and where their love story began. I encourage everyone to sign the petition today; your support is vital in allowing Prince Peter and Maud Angelica to make their most loving decision. Remember, your signature is not just a mark on a page but a powerful statement of support. Together, we can inspire meaningful change, and your action can be the spark that ignites this transformation!

sorry just ignore this its my brother he has autism

 

[DaughterZion]

Our church is very organized with a transparent budget a board of Directos, and members who can vote, etc. it has allocations and line items which shows how much is coming in and how much is going out for certain things. Similarly you can don’t designate where you want your offering to go you can designate for example for the church building structures and maintenance or you can designate missionary work, or you can write it in.

this is great and an amazing way of showing transparency

 

[Billyd]

Many people need to do some soul searching when they give their tithe and offerings to their Church ---God does not need our money ----We give because we Love God and He calls for us to give freely and cheerfully --not because we expect to get a portion back from this worldly system -----

As many people give their tithe and offerings because they can collect a portion of their donation back as they can claim it on their income tax ===they do it as a charitable donation ----

So actually anyone who does this is really not trusting God in their Giving ---they are giving because they will reap a benefit from their giving at income tax time ----

Where is our trust in our giving ----In God whose Promise is this ---it says ----Give and It WILL BE GIVEN --this is God's promise ---------Or is our trust in the Worldly Government System ---of give me a receipt and you get back some of what you gave ----

Where is our Trust in our return ---is the Real Question ----

Luke 6:38

View attachment 269737

I wonder how many would stop their giving to the church if there was no return on their income tax ???????

 

[Billyd]

"I wonder how many would stop their giving to the church if there was no return on their income tax ???????"

I've been giving all my life (and 10% minimum for many years) and never received a return on my income tax. Every time I get close enough to qualify for a return, God raises the amount to qualify for a return.

I give because I love Jesus, and he has blessed me with more than I will ever need.

I wonder how many people could give 10%, but find an excuse not to give. It took me more than 30 years to discover just how easy it is.

 

[Dino246]

As many people give their tithe and offerings because they can collect a portion of their donation back as they can claim it on their income tax ===they do it as a charitable donation ----

So actually anyone who does this is really not trusting God in their Giving ---they are giving because they will reap a benefit from their giving at income tax time ----

Sure, there are worldly people who give to various causes in order to reduce their overall tax burden, but that has nothing to do with the Church.

"Trusting God in our giving" is giving when, how, where, and how much God says to give, and trusting that He will supply both the full need for the recipient and for all of your needs. It has nothing to do with tax refunds.

Just because the laws of some nations permit us to claim church donations as tax-exempt does not mean we are giving "because" we "will reap a benefit from their giving at income tax time". If the government offers you a rebate and you don't take it, you're being a poor steward. At least take it and give it right back to the church, if you choose.

 

[studentoftheword]

Just because the laws of some nations permit us to claim church donations as tax-exempt does not mean we are giving "because" we "will reap a benefit from their giving at income tax time".

Your Missing the Whole Point -----

God says Give and and I will look after your return ----

So you are not trusting God in your return ----your trust is in the Government for your return ----

You cannot trust both God and the Government for your return at the same time ----Your wither Trusting God or your trusting the Government -------Period

 

[Dino246]

Your Missing the Whole Point -----

God says Give and and I will look after your return ----

So you are not trusting God in your return ----your trust is in the Government for your return ----

You cannot trust both God and the Government for your return at the same time ----Your wither Trusting God or your trusting the Government -------Period

I'm not missing anything here. Firstly, God does not say, "Give and I will look after your return." That's not in Scripture anywhere.

Secondly, I don't give for the purpose of receiving any kind of return; I give because God says to give.

I trust in God to provide, and I recognize my responsibility to steward the resources He puts in my hands. I believe that it is poor stewardship to neglect a tax refund on donations when it is available to me. If you feel differently, that's between you and the Lord.

 

[studentoftheword]

Give and I will look after your return." That's not in Scripture anywhere.

You don't seem to know Scripture very well by this comment ---

God's Kingdom works on the sowing and reaping principle -----


2 Corinthians 9:6-8-----what you sow God gives back to you ----so he does provide your return -----

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

6 [Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [[a]that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings.

7 Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He [b]takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving].

8 And God is able to make all grace (every favor and [c]earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need [d]be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation

I trust in God to provide, and I recognize my responsibility to steward the resources He puts in my hands. I believe that it is poor stewardship to neglect a tax refund on donations when it is available to me. If you feel differently, that's between you and the Lord.

Your not trusting God to provide if your Collecting from the worldly Government -----and using good stewardship is a scapegoat for reaping a worldly harvest in my view ---

If you feel differently, that's between you and the Lord.

This quote here you make to me ---I send right back at you

 

[Dino246]

You don't seem to know Scripture very well by this comment ---

2 Corinthians 9:6-8-----what you sow God gives back to you ----so he does provide your return -----

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

As I don't normally use the Amplified version and never have used it regularly, the accusation that I "don't seem to know Scripture very well" is asinine. The translations that I do know (along with the KJV) are:

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. (ESV)

Now I say this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows generously will also reap generously. (NASB)

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. (NIV)

The word "return" is not in any of them. Getting a tax refund is unrelated to the principle of sowing.

Your

not trusting God to provide if your

The word is "You're".

"... Collecting from the worldly Government -----and using good stewardship is a scapegoat for reaping a worldly harvest in my view ---

You're welcome to your opinion. I'm not "collecting from" but receiving back what was never theirs in the first place.

It seems to me that you harbour an attitude of self-righteousness on this matter.

 

[studentoftheword]

It seems to me that you harbour an attitude of self-righteousness on this matter.

When all else fails ----attack the attitude of the person -----God's word says what it says ---my attitude is that we should trust God to do as He Promises in His word when it comes to our sowing in His Kingdom and be good Stewards of what God gives us back so we can resow His Spiritual Blessing back into His Kingdom -----

Verse 8 tells you flat out what God will do for people who have Faith in Him to reap what they sow into His Kingdom -----

8 And God is able to make all grace (every favor and [c]earthly blessing) come to you in abundance,
so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need [d]be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation

God will Bless in abundance God those who trust in Him for their giving -----
so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need [d]be self-sufficient

We either have faith and Trust in this or we don't ----Personally I trust God in this and I have never been disappointed --

Blessings to you

 

[Billyd]

What we have here is a misunderstanding of what a tax refund is. Simply put. It is the amount that you over paid (from your paycheck) to the IRS to cover your annual income tax. Due to some tax credits you may not have a tax due, and the IRS pays you for those credits.

Deductions are items that the IRS doesn't consider income and thus your total income is reduced by them. By reducing the amount of your total income, you also reduce your total tax due.

 

[KohenMatt]

Any sort of tax benefit you receive from giving to a church or charity shouldn't be viewed as a blessing or reward from the government. It should be viewed as an opportunity for the government to keep less of what God has given you through the labor you've given to Him and hopefully His people.

A tax reduction isn't a return on your "investment." It's a means of keeping a man-made government from as much of your profit as possible.

 

[KohenMatt]

As an example, my 16-year old daughter recently donated $X to a good cause thinking that it would reduce her taxes by $X. She mistankingly thought she would get an $X refund on her taxes because she gave. We used it as an opportunity to teach her that she wasn't getting any profit from the government, but rather keeping the government from taxing her on $X of what she'd worked for.

When you give and report it, you're not getting an increase from the government. You're keeping more of what God has given you, so you can reinvest it in the Kingdom.