Comments on: A tax deduction is not the only reason to give

By: Miss T

Miss T — Thu, 14 May 2009 22:25:06 +0000

We tithe 10% every month – it’s automatic and it is non-negotiable, even when the budget is tight. And God blesses us for it. Period. When we started to tithe we became more aware of our income and where it was going. We actually began to save more! How does that work?!? We hear this all the time. On those months where we wondered “Maybe we should not tithe since this bill is due,” we simply were obedient and the money would always come through.

God is good…all the time!!!

By: Roundup and Link Love - Dusk on the White River | The Wisdom Journal

Roundup and Link Love - Dusk on the White River | The Wisdom Journal — Fri, 01 May 2009 09:01:35 +0000

[...] A tax deduction is not the only reason to give [...]

By: DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad.com

DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad.com — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:51:50 +0000

Interesting point of view . . . people often lose sight of the proverbial forest through the trees.

By: Stew

Stew — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 22:10:21 +0000

MyJourney, you are correct about the income tax/deduction situation . . . but don’t get me started on taxes.

By: MyJourney

MyJourney — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:20:15 +0000

“It is important to remember that a tax deduction is not a right, we are not necessarily entitled to a charitable tax deduction in our country’s founding documents, but it is a wise benefit that our leaders have given to us.”

Just to be a pain I should point out that there was no income taxes (ignoring the civil war) until the early 20th century, so big George W couldn’t have offered the deduction – there was nothing to deduct from!

On a serious note, my office sets up A LOT of advanced and LARGE charitable planning (think CRATs, CLUTs, etc.) and the first thing we always tell the person you need to want to HELP the org.

By: Bri

Bri — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:55:55 +0000

@tom – As Christians my husband and I have always tithed. We do this by giving to a christian radio station that has been so beneficial to us since we moved to another state (we’ve yet to find a church in our new state). We have given continually to this station through many difficult times because we feel led to give – we feel that God called us to give to this cause for a reason and we don’t doubt that. We have given through my husbands layoff and pay cuts at my job. There have been months that we have struggled to be able to continue our gift, but God has always provided for us in ways we woulnd’t have been able to to on our own even it we hadn’t given.

It doesn’t make sense for everyone, but if you feel led to give…then you should give. You will be taken care of. My husband and I actually don’t take the tax deductions for our gifts either. We believe that we are blessed enough to give and God has called us to do so. Taking a deduction on taxes for something we were called to do seems to us like we are trying to benefit personally by following God’s call. But that’s just us.

By: The Almost Millionaire

The Almost Millionaire — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:23:46 +0000

Great article! I’m glad to have found your blog from a link over at doyoudaveramsey.com

You make a great case for giving, simply because you are blessed, and it is the right thing to do. Tax benefits are just a bonus.
Looking forward to reading more of you work.
Best,
Brandon@TAM

By: Jeff@StretchyDollar

Jeff@StretchyDollar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:50:46 +0000

You’re right – now is a critical time to give. Our church has conducted multiple food drives over the past 6 months to try and stave off some of the hardest times.

In response to tom’s comment – giving doesn’t always help you financially, and it shouldn’t. Sometimes giving is about making a sacrifice for someone else – making their comfort a higher priority than your own. Giving irresponsibly is definitely not wise, but even a little bit will help someone else.

By: tom

tom — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:21:02 +0000

I think people are still trying to adjust to the shock of the economy state and are fighting their own financial problems. Some are loosing homes, their jobs, getting their credit limits cut.

So is they can’t even help themselves, how can donating money be any good for them, from a financial standpoint?

By: Erika

Erika — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:12:15 +0000

My favorite charities are The Salvation Army and The Ronald McDonald House. Both personally helped my family when I was a teenager, following a house fire where we lost everything (and didn’t have rental insurance) and during my baby sister’s extensive medical care due to being a preemie.