08.06. How Can I Figure My Tithe?

6. HOW CAN I FIGURE MY TITHE?

I have often heard people say, "My business is such, the way I make my living is so complicated, that I do not know just how to figure my tithe."

I fear that this attitude is a flimsy excuse for not tithing. I venture to say that if I were in any kind of business, regardless of how unusual or how complicated or how mysterious, if one-tenth of all I made belonged to you, even if you had never been to school and could not read or write, you could and would find a way to figure it. If we want to, we can find a way to figure God’s tenth and see that He gets what is due Him.

Tithe the Little Things

I know people who have a few chickens, a cow, a garden, or something else, who believe in tithing and who are so careful that God should get all His due that they tithe their eggs, their chickens, and their gardens.

Many of them give this tenth to their pastor, which, I think, is a very helpful and generous thing to do. Others who have these things on a larger scale sell their produce and give a tenth to the church.

Be Generous

If I had any difficulty figuring my tithe, if I had a question as to whether I was paying my full tithe or not, I would so figure it that I would be sure that God had His tenth. If you run over, you will never lose anything by it. One never loses by being generous with God. The old colored fellow said, "God doesn’t mind being overpaid a little once in a while." "The Lord loveth a cheerful giver."

Keeping Account

Often people say, "I do not keep account but I am sure I give more than the tithe."

Again I would venture, if you do not keep account you do not pay your tithe. I have met too many people who thought they tithed, but once they began keeping a strict account they confessed that they had never paid a tenth before.

It is surprising and it is wonderful how the tithe builds up and how often you have money to put into the church when you rigidly, faithfully, and consistently tithe your income.