Should People Tithe Investment Gains?

[rlvaughn]

This afternoon, I ran across this (to me) very unusual blog post, Tithe on Investment Gains! If I understand the author correctly, he is suggesting Christians should give 10% of their investment gains to their churches -- which, in my understanding, is money that only exists on paper or in prospect.

If your IRA or other investment vehicle now has $190,000 in it when a year ago it had $100,000, you have gotten $90,000 in “increase” (-1.7% for yearly inflation, so actually $88,000 in real gain) and you are to “tithe” on your “increase” (Deut 14:22, 28; 26:12; 2 Chr 31:5)–and do so cheerfully and with thanks to the Lord who has blessed you, not just tithe on your weekly or bi-weekly employment income.

What think ye?

 

[Reynolds]

This afternoon, I ran across this (to me) very unusual blog post, Tithe on Investment Gains! If I understand the author correctly, he is suggesting Christians should give 10% of their investment gains to their churches -- which, in my understanding, is money that only exists on paper or in prospect. What think ye?

I tithe based on my paycheck each week. When I file my tax return,vI settle up on the rest. In the long run I guess I tithe on my gains and negatively tithe on my losses.

 

[Alcott]

If you lost money in a particular period, can you grab 10% of that loss out of the collection plate?

No, if you do tithe, you wouldn't be obligated to tithe on an increase in the value of a retirement account, as it is not income until you withdraw it; any more than the Israelites had to tithe on their crops that had grown well but not yet been harvested. But if you tithe that increase anyway, then you would not be obligated to tithe on a withdrawal thereof as income, as it will have already been tithed. Of course, if you don't deduct the income you put away for retirement funds from the basis of you tithe of income, then that has already been tithed on.

I say all this with the supposition that some posters on this board remember my explanation of why tithing of money-- not taught as a scriptural requirement to NT Christians-- can be disproven with a statistical test of hypothesis.

 

[Van]

Yes, I agree with Mr. Reynolds, we give regularly out of what we have received and been taxed on, then "settle up" after we file our tax return on variable income from other sources, like dividends, or refunds.

For example, say be receive an inheritance comprised of post tax dollars and pre-tax dollars. Only when we "cash in" the pre-tax funds do we then give our church God's share. This may not be applicable to others, but is simply one person's understanding.

And to be clear, we do not tithe, but give according to the New Testament requirement.

 

[Paul from Antioch]

Yes, I agree with Mr. Reynolds, we give regularly out of what we have received and been taxed on, then "settle up" after we file our tax return on variable income from other sources, like dividends, or refunds.

For example, say be receive an inheritance comprised of post tax dollars and pre-tax dollars. Only when we "cash in" the pre-tax funds do we then give our church God's share. This may not be applicable to others, but is simply one person's understanding.

And to be clear, we do not tithe, but give according to the New Testament requirement.

"Jesus paid IT ALL .... ALL to Him we owe!"? Please explain this NT "requirement" when it comes time here on earth when it comes to our financial obligation(s) to one's church, etc. Thanks in advance for your very intricate explanation(s).

 

[AustinC]

This afternoon, I ran across this (to me) very unusual blog post, Tithe on Investment Gains! If I understand the author correctly, he is suggesting Christians should give 10% of their investment gains to their churches -- which, in my understanding, is money that only exists on paper or in prospect. What think ye?

I think you are asking a legal question for people who live under the law rather than grace.
There are some churches (ie Joel Osteen) that should never receive any money from anyone. Paul encouraged believers to give as they are led to give.

 

[37818]

Two things. Such an investment, not yet cashed out can yet become less. Secondly, Christian giving should, as I understand, is best according to 2 Corinthians 9:7, ". . . God loveth a cheerful giver."

 

[rlvaughn]

I think you are asking a legal question for people who live under the law rather than grace.

Yes, I think you are correct, but as for me, I am only asking a question of what people think about what was written.

Two things. Such an investment, not yet cashed out can yet become less. Secondly, Christian giving should, as I understand, is best according to 2 Corinthians 9:7, ". . . God loveth a cheerful giver."

Yes, that and 2 Corinthians 8:12 "For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not."

 

[Yeshua1]

This afternoon, I ran across this (to me) very unusual blog post, Tithe on Investment Gains! If I understand the author correctly, he is suggesting Christians should give 10% of their investment gains to their churches -- which, in my understanding, is money that only exists on paper or in prospect. What think ye?

Tithe off it once the actual money is received!

 

[MB]

It's not how you give or how much you give. Even who you give it to It's the motivation behind it that counts. I give directly to those who need it. Charitable organizations tend to take there cut long before those in need get anything. I don't believe God intended for us to spend multi millions of our tithes to the building fund while there are homeless on the street.Some say they are just bums looking for a hand out. So they get real stingy with them.Not giving them the help they really need. Churches do not give out what they take in. They keep a big helping of it.
MB

 

[Squire Robertsson]

I look at the matter from a farmer's or herdsman's POV. IOW, I base my giving on the harvest (dividend or realized capital gain), not on unrealized capital gain.

 

[Van]

"Jesus paid IT ALL .... ALL to Him we owe!"? Please explain this NT "requirement" when it comes time here on earth when it comes to our financial obligation(s) to one's church, etc. Thanks in advance for your very intricate explanation(s).

2 Corinthians 9:7

 

[Dave G]

What think ye?

Just about this subject, or Old Testament tithing in general?

God's loves a cheerful giver...
But someone who is made to feel guilty and compelled to give something out of obligation?
Is that what believers are about?

No.
We give according to 2 Corinthians 9.

 

[Paul from Antioch]

How does "Jesus Paid It ALL? ALL to HIM I OWE" factor in to the specific amount each person, young or old, should give, and, also, is that specific amount go ONLY to one's local church, or can it be given to other Christian ministries? Please supply VERY SPECIFIC NT Scriptures for your answer(s). Thank you in advance for helping me sort out the Bible's teaching(s) on this matter since I've heard of all sorts of "DEFINITE" answers, most of which fail to supply very specific NT verse(s) to support their viewpoint(s) on this very crucial matter of Christian Stewardship. (All I've ever read on this matter seems to be "I THINK this is what God's Word means.,i.e., "This is my PERSONAL preference & I'M 10,000+% right on this, and the rest of you are COMPLETELY & TOTALLY W R O N G!!!")

 

[Paul from Antioch]

It's not how you give or how much you give. Even who you give it to It's the motivation behind it that counts. I give directly to those who need it. Charitable organizations tend to take there cut long before those in need get anything. I don't believe God intended for us to spend multi millions of our tithes to the building fund while there are homeless on the street.Some say they are just bums looking for a hand out. So they get real stingy with them.Not giving them the help they really need. Churches do not give out what they take in. They keep a big helping of it.
MB

I usually not only give a tithe + an additional %'age to my local church's missions program + other reputable (Usually ECFA approved ones) charitable ministries or otherwise helpful (eg the Red Cross or the Am Legion or the DAV [Since I be one .... Disabled American Veterans]. Where one gives & in what attitude one gives IMHO is primarily between that person & God.