“And the King Will Take a Tenth…”

48 Responses to ““And the King Will Take a Tenth…””

1. Tony on April 27th, 2009 9:11 am

   Please consider this: Take your last W2 form and add up all of the taxes that were taken out of your pay. Then add up the taxes you paid on your property. Don’t forget to take in account state sales tax and any tax I did not mention. Once this is done, take the total amount of taxes that was paid last year and divide it by your hour hourly wage. A salaried person can divide her / his weekly salary, before any deductions are applied, by 40 to determine his / her hourly wage. You will now have the number of hours you were required to work last year to support the state. Whatever is left over is the disposable income that is available for you, your family, and your tithes & offerings to our Creator.

2. Matt on April 27th, 2009 9:26 am

   Dr. Tackett,

   Thanks for another great article. Our Truth Project group went over this in our class last week, so it is good to hear it reiterated on your blog.

   I want to comment on your aside: “By the way, it has always irritated me that we cannot give our “first fruits” to God in our country because the civil magistrate takes them in the withholdings. By the time I get the fruit of my labor, he has already taken the first fruits out. I wonder if God is happy with the “second” fruits?”

   My wife and I have decided that our giving will be based upon the money we make before taxes, not our take-home pay. I don’t see why this couldn’t be considered “first-fruits.” Unlike the Israelites who actually had real first-fruits from their harvest or a first-born lamb or ox, we are paid in currency. Any given twenty dollar bill is identical in function to any other twenty dollar bill. It seems then, in the case of money, that the amount is the important part, not that it is actually the first or last twenty dollar bill paid as wages.

   I would be interested to hear what you think.

   In Christ,

   Matt

3. Robert on April 27th, 2009 9:58 am

   Excellent warnings. I just wonder if these warnings are too late for the United States. As you have said the government has been taking the “first fruits” and more then 10% for a long time.

4. Dan H. on April 27th, 2009 10:46 am

   Del,

   I too have been annoyed that I cannot give to the Lord before giving tribute unto Caesar. By virtue of the fact that we now earn our living and pay our taxes in the form of money rather than cattle, grain, and wine; the concept of “first fruits” becomes less clear and perhaps less important. In the past, when giving to the Lord was done in the currency of agricultural commodities, it made perfect sense to give first to the Lord the best of what you have produced. Doing this before any other tribute or salary is taken from the whole.

   Tax withholding is a relatively recent concept and I think that the way it should work (in my dreams) would be for me to gift or tithe from my pretax income; before any tax is computed and deducted. In doing this I have done my best to give first to God and then all other considerations are based upon the residual alone. I would be happy to give up the tax deduction for my gift to the Lord if it could be done in this way. Because if you think about it, isn’t the charitable tax deduction simply the government refunding the tax you paid on the donated portion of your income? I hope I’m thinking about this clearly…?

   Also, this IRS slave must humbly confess that my financial contributions to my church are no where near the level that they should be. But I might be doing a bit better if my employer was allowed to make my church contribution on a pretax basis like we can do today with an IRA!

5. Kelly on April 27th, 2009 12:17 pm

   In the New Covenant, God doesn’t care about our 10% and not even our first fruits. He wants it ALL! Reading through Acts will reveal this and of course the story of the widow’s copper coins.

   What we need to realize is that none of our “hard earned” money is ours – it’s His. To many of us, this is in our heads, but not in our wallets. If the state takes 50% then our responsibility is to obey God – would He have you steal from the state? God is our provider – He gave us that money to give to the state – we are only stewards. I think that grumbling about taxes is putting a fist in God’s face challenging His authority as our provider. God can provide for the wealthy just as He does for the poor!

   I don’t agree with our taxation system, but I also don’t like to have this country I love so much in debt. I wonder how much would be given if our tax forms had a box labeled “Amount given to reduce the national debt”? How much would I trust God as my Provider?

   Brothers and sisters – we have learned the difference between secular and biblical worldviews thanks to the Truth Project. Now its time to move that from our heads to our hearts and act it out. When Jesus was tested by the Pharisees about paying taxes – He didn’t complain that they were asking too much, He trusted God to provide.

6. John on April 27th, 2009 1:33 pm

   During the “State” tour in the Truth Project, I remember reflecting on what you have said about the civil magistrate taking what God asks for: the first fruits. In 1 Samuel, the people of Israel were still under the Law of the old covenant, when a tithe was required, and were warned that the king they asked for would take the best; a tenth.

   I wonder to what extent the analogy of the civil magistrate acting as if he is God might be expanded and applied today, now that Jesus has asked not just for a tenth, but for everything?

7. Catherine on April 27th, 2009 3:35 pm

   The taxes we pay are just one of the ways God refines my character, as He teaches me to get and hold onto His value for me as His Steward.

   I appreciate the opportunity to see the true conditions in which I live in the fallen world. I am grateful I am no longer of the fallen world.

8. ed on April 27th, 2009 5:06 pm

   Perhaps our taxes are of great use — in revealing the thoughts of our heart. If the government is taking food from the mouth of my children, I would claim an injustice many would agree to.

   But if I complain the government is taking money from my wallet, perhaps I need to consider what my priorities are. Is my heart with my money and the pleasures it can buy? Or am I really frustrated I can’t give more to the needy.

   I fear most of us actually resent our gods being taken out of our pocket and use that to justify giving less to God.

9. Melody on April 28th, 2009 9:17 am

   I don’t think that the complaint about the amount of taxes we pay in the country is because we are materialistic and just want to splurge on ourselves. As sinners that will of course happen, but it is so much more about the use of those tax dollars that is the problem. The government is not only spending that money to make themselves rich, they are spending it on things that are abhorrent to Christians. Planned Parenthood and public schools come to mind. (not wishing to debate school choices, just the indoctrination into post-modern philosophies) As they spend and spend and take our country further into debt they not only enslave us, but they also enslave our children and grandchildren. Certainly God is in control but we aren’t called to sit idly by and not use the democracy we have been given.

10. Jeff on April 28th, 2009 10:26 am

    Del,

    Maybe you can answer something that I have been struggling with for some time. If we are to sumbit to the civil magistrate because God has put him in charge then does it not follow that the founding fathers were sinners for rejecting the then British civil magistrate?

    Thanks,
    Jeff

11. Al on April 28th, 2009 5:15 pm

    First. If we believe that we are under one law (the tithe) Paul says we must obey them all. The concept of the tithe may be used as a guide but not as Christian giving. We are to give according to our heart as the Spirit leads us. God’s plans and purposes would be more than adequately funded if we would listen to the New Covenant way of giving rather than the law.
    Second: We no longer have a government of, by and for. The tyranny over us is as wicked and vile as that of the King when our forefathers followed God’s higher laws and rebelled. When will WE gain the courage and conviction to take back what God had granted us. The effort will probably be futile but the testimony of God’s people standing for the “natural law” would have great power.

12. Linda on April 28th, 2009 7:18 pm

    Hi Del,
    First let me say, “Thank you for the Truth Project”… I just completed it and admit that I am being transformed.

    Now, about the first fruits…. not long after I was instructed on tithing, I made the decision to tithe on my gross income and not the net – before taxes and witholding were taken out. Since then, God has provided miraculously in my life. I have never been without a job(39 years) or a roof over my head. All my needs have been met superabundantly. He is faithful if we trust and obey!

13. diane on April 28th, 2009 7:52 pm

    Shame on the government for taking the first fruits. Needless to say, after we get our pay we should pay 10% before taxes then the rest goes for family,bills etc…The government may take the firstfruits, nevertheless don’t forget according to Revelations we win!!! Glory for that day!

14. Jo on April 28th, 2009 7:54 pm

    Del,

    This formula is one God helped me with, I’m not a math major so it pretty basic, but it makes one think. Thank God he is willing to help one think through things. Please, see if it makes sense to you.

    In order to spend one dollar, one has to make what amount of money?

    $1.00 + (sales tax in state for the items purchased) = X + (100% – federal tax rate, + state tax rate + local or city tax rate of the purchaser).*

    After working this formula out one begins to ponder other questions for example:

    What kind of financial system will the young people inherit from us?

    Do these financial conditions relate to the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ?

    The real question is what would God have us do when we see the tax rate is so destructive to the individual, the church and the nation?

    Is it seek him, love him, and depend on him in all things?

    *Tax rates are based on percentages.

    Respectfully,
    Jo

15. Maureen on April 28th, 2009 8:09 pm

    I agree with Matt. God loves a cheerful giver. I believe that the attitude in which we return to God what is rightfully His is much more important than the amount.

16. Neil on April 28th, 2009 8:28 pm

    If we believe that God owns it all, then tithing is a demonstration of our heart condition. It’s not a matter of what the government does, all be it less than ethical or bright most of the time. Our actions demonstrate our faith. I choose to give 10% of the gross, and more when I can, without trying to find some logical way to rationalize my way out of it. God has been faithful for the last 50 years.

17. Russ on April 28th, 2009 9:55 pm

    It will be against all history if the USA does not experience solicalization, and then economic collapse. Reference Cambridge University, Cambridge England study on “Why Nations Fail Ecomomically” around 1963.
    The study created a modelthat fits all nations that have ever existed, including our nation. Our destiny is already determined, and there is nothing we, as a people, will do about it as this would be against all history.

18. Deborah on April 28th, 2009 10:02 pm

    Thanks for reminding us of this “design” verse for government! I choose to give all to God and not be a slave to a government of man!

19. Cari on April 28th, 2009 10:35 pm

    Del always gets us thinking! I’m not too concerned about the government getting my “firstfruits” because I don’t think they do. Yes witholding appears to come directly out of my paycheck before I get it – but when has my God ever been locked into time? I feel that anything that comes into my hands is His. So from that come the firstfruits of my heart. Those I joyfully give back to Him and then I pray for the government.

20. Sharon on April 29th, 2009 1:38 am

    I would be happy to give only 10 percent to the government and the percentage they get, to GOD. If he can be satisfied with the 10 percent why can’t they? We have given away our power and are paying for it.

21. jen on April 29th, 2009 2:26 am

    This is partly due to our education system not teaching people how to think but rather WHAT TO THINK. It is the responsibility of the population or citizens to hold the government officials accountable. If we are wrongly informed we can not clearly steer our nation. This was a slow process while their job included keeping us too busy and involved in wasting our time. What we watch on tv begins to influences us either directly or through others around us who have been programed. I think personally one major action we could take is demonstrating how taking prayer away is not separating but worst it is removing the very foundation of why this nation was founded. To be able to with freedom express your faith. It was the state who crossed the separation line and entered into our area of freedom. They overstepped their boundary. We just have not awaken fully to claim our right back. We should not waste too much time because there can come a point where it will be too late to turn back. In my humble opinion we are to peacefully assemble to express our solutions along with our grievances. We should express positive ideas instead of criticizes. Imagine our founding fathers knew the dangers, they were clear minded that is what we need. Our minds are polluted by so much junk from all avenues to include the chemical and hormonal changes to our brain functions. It is no wonder it is written in the Word that time will be cut short because it will be nearly impossible for anyone to remain on the narrow path.

22. Mark on April 29th, 2009 3:14 am

    Many today believe that Jesus did away with the old testament truth and I believe that is error He came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it, to fill it with the meaning that was lost.
    Also when Jesus said to give unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s and to God that which is God’s people automatically think that Caesar was due what he was demanding, in truth Caesar usurped and lorded over with that which God owns, he was a despot sent to punish an unbelieving chosen race. Jesus brought liberty and freedom.

23. Becky on April 29th, 2009 6:38 am

    I feelthat the taxation system is now a necessary evil, though not the one God implemented. The poor and the widow were supposed to be provided for by the church….. now the government takes care of them. The children were supposed to be trained up in the way they should go by their parents, now the government does that. Christians/Jews and the church alike were suppose to be wise with their money and owe no debt, now the government has to bail the people out. the Church was supposed to help each other out of disasters, now the government has to do that. Somehow, I wonder if the government taking the first % is not really a reflection (in part) of the failure of the people to obey God? It is replacing our role, maybe it should take the first fruits? Hence, God’s warning about the king; He knew we, His people, would stop doing what we were supposed to be doing all along. Which is why Jesus did not come to change the economic system of His time, but to change our hearts again to Him. Now, we must suffer the tyranny of “Big Government” if you will which now includes all those things that God is against! (abortion, gay marriages, etc.) HMMM…. He gave to each man on the cross beside Him, what each asked for!!! Just as He gave the Isrealites what they asked for.

24. Mike on April 29th, 2009 6:54 am

    The Truth Project is so timely that it must be the hand of God . . .

    In America we the people are Caesar. Sadly, we have gradually abdicated because we have been occupied by food and circuses. Our first action once we have returned to our duty as self governors would be to enact the FairTax. Our first fruits would again be ours to distribute as we are led. Getting our federal government back into its constitutional box where it belongs would be our next challenge. No King but Jesus!

25. Brian on April 29th, 2009 7:00 am

    Bible Explorerrender AND that
    KJV
    Mt 22:21

    21 They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.

    ———————————————————————-

26. Mary Lou on April 29th, 2009 7:09 am

    I heard a pastor teach once that for some of us 10% is an insult to God. I agree. Some of us have been incredibly blessed and have the power to give much more generously than we do. In Deuteronomy 8:18 God tells us that “It is the Lord who gives us the ability to produce wealth.” It is ALL His – every good and perfect gift.

    Twenty-five years ago, as a new believer, I heard my first message on tithing. I went home, prayed for guidance and though my husband was not prepared to tithe, we agreed that I would tithe my salary alone. I was a social worker at the time and my salary was quite low. My husband and I were living on a pretty disciplined budget. Within two months the organization I worked for came under new management and with it a reworking of the salary structure and I received a 45% raise! Unbelievable!!! I hadn’t even asked! I am in NO WAY promoting any kind of prosperity doctrine here, but it taught me and my husband that HE alone is the One who provides for our needs – and we can never outgive God.

27. Rick on April 29th, 2009 7:27 am

    I’m surprised no one here mentions the issue brought up by the Truth Project, “Can the state steal?” I ran the numbers Tony mentions, and for me it came in over 65%. How could I tithe my first fruits (gross earnings) when its getting close to where a tenth is all that the state leaves me?

    We should remember the Bible patriarchs and our country’s founding fathers became wealthy, not by speculating in stock markets or winning the lottery, but directly by the profits of their own labors. This possibility has become the past and faded American Dream.

    Can anyone today imagine their church funding and founding a hospital, university, or disaster relief agency? These are the glories given to God by the church in days past. Bemoaned or not, the simple fact is the state has stolen the ability of individuals to give to charity at the levels we once could.

    And the saddest part is, any “good” the state does with our money does not glorify God, but serves to glorify an increasingly humanist, secular state.

28. Frank on April 29th, 2009 7:50 am

    Hm! Israel wanted a “new” government because the Judges had become corrupt. Why do we want and seek for a change when the change we want is no different than the previous government? I suggest our trust is misplaced. Shall we trust in man? If therefore our trust is placed in the One that sets governments up and takes governments down than we can be assured that all will be well. Let us give back to the One that has given everything and pray for those He has put over us.

29. Doug on April 29th, 2009 8:48 am

    In the Old Testament, the king set himself up to protect the people with his army. Today, the government does the same. For that we pay taxes. There are other examples of why we pay taxes. However, the king did not provide the education, take care of the poor and widows, provide health care etc as is being done today. Much of that was done through the temple and the priests. We, have allowed our government to “take” and then provide those things in place of our religious institutions. We have abdicated our responsibilities as ministers because the government is doing it. We should ask ourselves a question, “How many widows, especially senior widows, do we have in your church?” Now, how many of them do w, through our church minister to in a way that meets their needs and allows them to not be receiving government welfare? Is it too late to reclaim our responsibilities?

30. Kim S. on April 29th, 2009 9:51 am

    Dear Del Tackett, do you not agree that the Spiritual meaning being conveyed by God in the more enlightening/complete New Testament Scriptures is that we, as professing born again believers, should realize Jehovah-Jesus is our Lord and King, not any government of any sort. For Christ Jesus’ Kingdom/our home is not of this world. That we be not conformed to this world…. This was, I believe, the same message conveyed to the Israelites in the Old Testament which they did not take to heart. I am so thankful for the full council of God, though I believe in the previous dispensations God was equally clear as Romans 3:24-26 reveals, as well as Romans 1-3, 4-5, Hebrews 11, etc., and throughout Scripture. In Christ, Kim S.

31. Seth on April 29th, 2009 11:25 am

    Although the procedure of paying taxes does not allow us to give our “first fruits” to the church, charities, etc… in practice we are allowed to deduct charitable donations, such as tithes, from our taxes and thus, the effective tax rate is a lot closer to “taxes after first fruits given to God”.

32. Janice on April 29th, 2009 1:50 pm

    I agree with Dr. Thackett. This is only the beginning. Our government tells us all the time what we can and cannot do not only with our money, but in our own homes. Why do you think the economy is like it is. If God was in control of it, it would not be in the shape it is in now. As long as man is governing it, it will continue to go down hill. Read Revelations. Taxes, for the United States, was only to be taxed until the expense of the “Boston Tea Party” was paid off. Our ancesters forgot about that and our government not only keep it going, but taxed us evev more.

    We would not be in economic debt neither as a people nor as a nation if our government was ran as God wanted and wants it to be.

33. Daniel on April 29th, 2009 5:07 pm

    Let us alleviate the current disparity between church and state through circumvention of it via electoral process. If Christians agree to engage the political arena by voting and running for elected office, our values will be represented and long overdue changes to our tax code will have the opportunity to be implemented.

    With that said, our economic system functions at a truly global level. The average American or church-goer really hasn’t the slightest understanding of the multiple-headed hydra that makes up the current world monetary order. Change is outside of our hands in more ways than I want to admit. (It goes beyond the domestic talking points of conservative and liberal pundits- much there is simply diatribe and distraction.)

    However, this is where our faith comes into play. We, the Church, need to band together and trust God for provision. In conjunction, the implementation of lifestyles that reflect sound economic and financial sense! The Body of Christ should have rejected the mindless consumerist ideology of America so long ago.

    We are witnessing the shaking of the world’s foundations. Massive geopolitical instability is surfacing and people’s fear will grow in many places. Our testimony, however, shall be of the selfless action and joy reflected in our lives, despite the climate around us. (reference the un-Americanized Church for inspiration)

    Where does our fulfillment and happiness come from anyways? please remember: we are in the world, but not of it!

    to the members of this forum, thank you for your concerned citizenship to this nation we love. grace and peace to you.

    -Daniel

34. Mike on April 29th, 2009 5:38 pm

    The American people are RESPONSIBLE as stewards of our country. Many of us have decided to relinquish control to our government(s)(municipality, county, state and federal) and no longer pay attention to the government(s) actions.
    I can tell you from first-hand experience that our government(s) and their burocracies are very inefficient and poorly managed. Hence, the POWER of the American people’s labor is being wasted on many non-productive initiatives, laws and programs. All great societies in the history of mankind have FAILED due to their constituencies passing on responsibilities to their POLITICIANS!!!!!! Will the USA be any different?

35. Tom on April 29th, 2009 8:24 pm

    I Samuel 8 is also the place we can conclude ‘be carefull what you [pray] VOTE for lest you receive it’ …he will takes… it is repeated many times. This present political system is about to set up ..government that takes.. your children. That was the first TAKE in 1 Samuel 8 chapter. Watch, there will come a reason to take our children by conscription (the Draft) to fight in thier war. Look at the other TAKEs and let the LORD show you the other ways the gov’t will REIGN over us. The LORD is on HIS throne.

36. John on April 29th, 2009 10:47 pm

    Call me crazy, but I don’t use any fancy formulas or calculations to figure out pre-tax/post-tax tithe; I try to give to God, via tithes and offering to my church, 10% of what I make weekly. It used to be a burden for me to tithe, but, thanks to God, my perspective has changed and I realize that it is simply another way for me to worship God, and give thanks for the richness of the life he has given me. I am not a wealthy man in terms of my debt to income ratio, or even my income, but in Christ, I have riches beyond any dollar amount, period. God is always faithful to bless me way beyond the dollar amount that I offer to my church. I heard it like this, “you can’t outgive God”…

    ~jg <

37. John on April 29th, 2009 11:27 pm

    addendum to my comment: as usual, in my haste to try to say what I want to say, I forget to say what I meant to say-say what? Just to clarify, “10% of what I make” that is my tithe, is 10% of my gross, and in that way, God get’s the firstfruit that He most assuredly deserves. Yes, “the state” (Feds, state, withholdings, blah, blah, blah…) get theirs, but I would be remiss if I tithed on what was left after the state’s cut. Just my opinion. I believe what anyone gives is between them and God, as it is with me…

    ~jg

38. John on April 30th, 2009 8:31 am

    Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior showed us that we are to be His hands and feet and act. I will pray for God to move in our country during these times of major apathy and dependency. BUT I will then be His hands and feet and help carry out His will. I pray Christians don’t sit back and allow government to enslave the people they were put in power to serve, and then think that God will part the seas for our escape from the corruption. He has given us the power of the Holy Spirit, not as a security blanket for slaves, but to mount up with and sore like the eagles on the air of His truth so that others may desire to know that same truth and learn to sore also.
    God’s speed everyone

39. pat on April 30th, 2009 9:25 am

    Del,
    As always, I appreciate your teaching and comments on world view application of Biblical teaching. As I read the comments here, I agree that we can tithe first fruits by basing our giving on gross income. But then the rest is God’s and we are to steward according to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. The thing that struck my heart, however, were Jesus words, “give unto Ceaser what is Ceaser’s.” Jesus respected the tax even though He was a citizen and not required to pay. We are under authority to be obedient to our civil government and pray for our leaders. That is all we will be held accountable for. There are millions of people in the world that would love to have the residual income we have and enjoy a governmental system that at least is trying to do what is best for us. Pray for your leaders so you will be innocent when they persecute you.

40. Melissa on April 30th, 2009 7:45 pm

    I think there is a much deeper issue here than whether the “government” gets 10% first or God does, or whether the king can take it all. The warning to the Israelites marks a great warning for us also, not just in the realm of government either. As Dr Tackett pointed out in the series, we can be taken captive. When Israel asked for a king so they could be like other nations, they were essentially telling God that He wasn’t good enough for them. They needed someone else, someone they could see, feel and touch. They wanted be like other nations in the very midst of God’s call to be different, separate, holy…to be His. He told them at that moment there is no one who will care for them, protect them, bless them, fulfill them, or LOVE them like He would. And yet they said, “We want to replace you!” I wonder, do you think we do that to God? Do we put something else (or try to put something else) in the place of God? I know unbelievers do this all the time, but do we? In my opinion, there is no greater lie in the world than the one where we rationalize that it’s ok to replace God with a desire of our flesh. It doesn’t matter if it’s lust, drugs, power, or the desire to be significant, as was the case with the Israelites. We lie to ourselves most of all, and despite the warnings the Holy Spirit gives us, we fall captive. The Israelites are no different than we are today. We’re all about “Save us, LORD” one moment, and in the next breath we say, “We want to see what the world is doing and be like that!” Just another perspective. Thanks for reading.

41. Celesta on May 1st, 2009 7:46 am

    If you want to give your “first fruits” what about having your employer pay your church directly as it might put money in your savings account or IRA at your direction?

42. bob on May 2nd, 2009 6:52 am

    This is fairly simple. God gets it of the top! What if we only had a sales tax … would you try to determine how much you bought and paid taxes on at the end of the year and adjust your donations accordingly? Me thinks we thinks too much sometimes. More importantly, what good is it if we don’t give it freely and happily?

43. Doug on May 4th, 2009 5:05 am

    Rick nailed it in my opinion.

    Let’s not confuse, “rendering to Caesar”, with what amounts to ever-increasing theft, which leads to statism. Furthermore, if we are supporting a State that controls all the spheres designed by God in the social realm we have indeed rendered unto Caesar what is God’s.

    This goes beyond taxation and money in my view. We spend so much time as Christians worrying about changing the culture and reclaiming or reforming what has been lost, but we fail to see the root cause. For example, instead of working towards changing public schools to teach the way we would like them to (although this IS a worthy cause), let us teach our children ourselves and/or send them to private Christian schools which emphasize the Christan world view. In doing so, we give to God what is His instead of casting our children into a secular wasteland controlled by the state five days a week. And if our excuse for not doing so is a lack of resources (whether it be time or money), would it be more feasible if our tax burden were not so heavy? And if our excuse is that we don’t have enough good private Christian schools, the same reasoning applies. The money allows the state to control this. We cannot escape this reality.

    Some may think it noble and obedient to give all to God, as it is His to begin with. This is true. But the State is NOT God! On the contrary, this is the threat statism poses in a nutshell – namely, to REPLACE God.

    The reality in today’s world is that we have dual citizenship. We are to pay taxes (within reason) and submit to our governing authorities. And yet we must also be aware that as God is pushed farther and farther out of these spheres, wolves can and will arise who would do harm to those who would allow it. Their sinful desires and lust for power and control MUST be held in check, and it starts be realizing that their chief means to that end is TAXATION or money. The only alternative is complete submission to the state (hopefully not merely by reading Romans 13:1-7) and I fear the majority have unwittingly reached this conclusion already. History has shown us that the governing authorities can and will become wrongdoers themselves.

    I believe the point that Jesus was making in giving his somewhat ambiguous answer to a trick question was simply asking where our allegiance lies – with the State or with God. If we have resigned ourselves and bought into the state’s system, then we should simply surrender what we have already purchased to them as they already own us.

44. Tim on May 4th, 2009 3:47 pm

    Good Stuff! When I got saved, I asked a man in the church about tithing. He explained it and said he always tithed from the gross, not the net. That was good enough for me and I’ve enjoyed doing that. A favorite saying I heard was “a tithe is 10% of the truth, and the truth is it’s all Gods.” Praise and glory to His name. God knows our heart and he enjoys a cheerful giver. And when we think a little deeper, can we outgive God?

45. Mike on May 11th, 2009 8:20 pm

    Someone once said, “If you want a net blessing, tithe on the net. If you want a gross blessing, tithe on the gross.”

    The first fruits included the first male ram, goat, etc., which was born to a female, referred to as “that which opens the womb.” That included the first son, which was redeemed by a sacrifice from the flock. In that sense, we are unable to give the first since the state takes theirs before we receive ours.

    As Del has pointed out, the king can make slaves of us, and it appears we are moving more in that direction. In that case, Paul told slaves to obey their masters. We may not be happy with what our slave-master requires, but unless we are commanded to violate God’s will, it seems to be we are bound by God’s Word to obey.

46. Josh on May 12th, 2009 4:54 pm

    Does this mean we can cheat on our taxes and ignore that tidbit about “Render unto Caesar…”?

    Just wishful thinking I guess

47. rita on May 19th, 2009 10:50 am

    it’s amazing to think that what the govt does is nothing to what God can do and His riches we have available and we aren’t limited.and we can give in ways that has no money value, but is priceless.our god is awesome.

48. Tom on May 22nd, 2009 11:31 pm

    Dr. Tackett,
    I’m getting into this a little late, but my belief is that tithing has as much to do with our attitude as it does with the amount. It all comes from our God and He blesses a generous heart.
    As for our government’s confiscated portion of our earnings, I suppose we should be grateful that they don’t take from us enough to cover what they spend, as they began running on borrowed money in early May.

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