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Friend X owns a rental property which is<br />
negatively geared, meaning that friend X makes a<br />
loss on the property each year. Some might say in this case<br />
there is no tithe to return.<br />
However, friend X has chosen to return tithe on the total<br />
rent received and ignore the costs associated with<br />
owning the property. Has friend X been blessed?<br />
Absolutely! Where property values have decreased in<br />
the area, friend X’s has increased. Where rental values<br />
have stayed the same or been reduced, friend X’s rental<br />
income has increased by $50.00 per week<br />
I am not suggesting that this is the right answer for<br />
everyone but I am reminded of another text found in<br />
Malachi 3:10 “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there<br />
will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of<br />
Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I<br />
will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to<br />
take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!” (New Living Translation)<br />
I am not sure about you but I find this inspirational. When<br />
our focus is on God nothing else matters.<br />
Q5: Is tithe tax deductable?<br />
A: NO! tithe is not tax deductable. Tithe in Australia<br />
does not have Deductable Gift Recipient status. While it is<br />
true that in other countries, such as New Zealand individuals<br />
can claim Tithe as a tax deduction, this is not the case<br />
in Australia and heavy penalties apply should individuals<br />
make false claims in respect to donations.<br />
Q6: Can I use my tithe for other projects that I think<br />
will benefit more?<br />
A: Tithe is a specific amount for a specific purpose,<br />
mission and ministry. Offerings however are your<br />
opportunity to give whatever amount, whatever<br />
frequency to whatever project of your choice.<br />
Q7: When does returning tithe cease to be my<br />
responsibility?<br />
A: The returning of tithe is an expression of your<br />
relationship with God and is between you and God.<br />
Once you have returned tithe it is no longer your<br />
responsibility but becomes the responsibility of the<br />
local church treasurer. Once the local church treasurer has<br />
reported the total church’s tithe to the conference it is no<br />
longer their responsibility but becomes the responsibility of<br />
the conference treasurer and so on.<br />
Each step of the way is an expression of a relationship between<br />
God and those responsible.<br />
Q8: Can the Conference use tithe for other purposes<br />
other than mission and ministry?<br />
A: No! they cannot. Tithe must only be used for mission<br />
and ministry. It cannot be used to purchase equipment or<br />
property. Each year the local conference is audited and as<br />
part of the audit the auditors check to see if tithe is being<br />
used appropriately.<br />
Q9: How does the conference purchase assets if they do<br />
not use tithe?<br />
A: Assets are purchased as a result of depreciation<br />
funding, donations, bequests, investments etc.<br />
The matter of tithing does not need to be complex. When<br />
we include God in the process we will always know<br />
the answer to the questions that are raised. We need to<br />
acknowledge that it is not a hardship to return tithe, after<br />
all what we have was never ours to begin with. Everything<br />
ultimately belongs to God. He says, ‘trust me and return<br />
10% of what belongs to Me and in return not only can you<br />
keep the other 90% but I will bless you in the process.’<br />
<strong>September</strong> <strong>2018</strong> | IMPRINTmagazine 9
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