Preach This: The Difference Between Tithes And Offering? Series

iii. Davis vs IRS?:

1. In Davis v. United States, 495 U.S. 472 (1990), the Supreme Court

provided guidance for the first time on the issue of whether

payments made "to or for the use of" a qualified organization

were deductible as charitable contributions under IRC 170(c).

The taxpayers, who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of

Latter-day Saints (Church) claimed such deductions for funds

transferred to their sons while they were serving as full-time,

unpaid missionaries for the Church. The Church requested

payments, set their amounts, and, through written guidelines,

instructed that they be used exclusively for missionary work. In accordance with the guidelines, their sons used the money

primarily to pay for rent, food, transportation, and personal

needs while on their missions. The Supreme Court denied

deductability

http://pages.citebite.com/c1x0m7h3w8mdo

5. This is why we need to become good stewards of our finances. This means we have to learn to budget- God’s way.

ii. The first thing you need to do before you can formulate a budget is to get a realistic view of were you are at.

1. Here are some easy to fill out forms to discover your current financial condition.

a. Show handouts and overheads from Larry Burkett “More Than Finances:

i. Assessing your net worth.

ii. Assessing your spending history.

iii. Forming your budget worksheet.

b. See overhead from Larry Burkett on percentage guide for Family income.

iii. To evaluate if you are in financial bondage book.

1. Larry Burkett called “From Financial Bondage to Financial Freedom.”

iv. Then formulate a budget that is realistic and attainable- for help with this check out Larry Burkett’s book “More Than Finances.”

1. Show graphs and other insightful helps.

c. Live within your budget have the right mindset.

i. Contentment mindset verse consumerism mindset.

1. Farley states, “Opportunities to be a friend of the world abound. However, because love of the world separates us from God, every Christian who wants to be a friend of God must increasingly overcome the enticements of the world” (31).

2. I John 2:15: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

3. He adds, “We must grasp a simple truth to understand what Scripture means by loving the world. Whatever I trust to provide ultimate happiness is my real god, and I will love it and serve it” (32).

4. Titus says, “No amount of money can buy financial freedom.” I say, “No amount of stuff can bring fulfillment and happiness in life.”

a. Our society screams at us everyday “Buy this and you will have it all.” But you buy it and discover you are still not satisfied. It’s a ruthless circle to con people into debt to make other s rich who still are not happy in life.

5. He also adds, “Contentment is knowing that you are in the will of God and that you are using all your resources for His purposes.”

a. This is where true contentment and peace come from.

ii. Greed verse need

1. Farley notes, “Rather, it is the lust that makes me worldly, a lust that is energized by the lie that something other than God can satisfy” (32).