Smart Giving

Are you above average? The principle of tithing 10% of income was in place during the time of Moses. The Levites were priests in charge of taking care of the temple and leading worship-the tithe allowed the Levites to focus on these important responsibilities. During the time of Malachi, people were neglecting the tithe. Look at Malachi 3:10:

 

“’Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.’”

Crown Financial Ministries reports that, on average, Christians today give at a rate of 2 ½%. What would the world be like if we changed that, and began tithing 10% like the Bible instructs? Wouldn’t it be exciting to experience the windows of heaven opening with blessings?

Practical help

The 1% solution-all of us like to feel like we are making progress toward an area in which God is speaking to us. Try increasing your giving 1% -you’ll be making progress-you can try another 1% later!

A gift of appreciated stock to your favorite church/ministry/charity is smart giving. Consider this example: Tom purchased $5,000 worth of stock in 1980. Today, it is worth $100,000. A gift would impact an organization with values important to Tom. In addition to emotional satisfaction, Tom would receive the following benefits:

• A current income tax deduction based on the fair market value ($100,000), not the original purchase price
• Avoidance of capital gains tax on the $95,000 growth
• Removal of the asset from his estate

This technique can be used with other types of appreciated property (for example, raw land).

 

*Note: Your church may have already established a special, tax-advantaged fund to receive these types of gifts.