Phone: (916) 709-3784 Fax: (916) 772-9394

www.ourladyofperpetualhelpchurch.com

On behalf of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, we would like to thank you for all of your timely monthly pledges. Please continue to send your monthly pledges in time in order for us to be able to pay the large monthly expenses for your church.

For the last two months I’ve discussed with you the matter of “Tithing”. I hope that you’ve enjoyed the bible verses which I’ve referred you to for the last two months. I am sure that you’ve studied them and were blessed by them. This month I would like to continue and conclude the studies with the first question.

Q. Should we tithe on our gross income or our net income? A. We should tithe on our net income. If a builder spends $100,000 to construct an office complex and sells it for $120,000, he would only tithe on the net gain of $20,000. This is consistent with the command to “honor the Lord…with the first fruits of all thine increase” (Proverbs 3:9). On the other hand, the “net increase” is determined before taxes, social security, and other deductions, since we are to give Him the “first fruits” of all our increase. Q. Are there only eternal consequences for not tithing? A. No. There are also temporal consequences. If we fail to give tithes and offerings, God will not “rebuke the devourer,” and then we will suffer unnecessary financial loss. (See Malachai 3:8-11.) Q. If we increase our tithe, will God increase our financial reward? A. No. The tithe is only ten percent. Anything beyond this would be offerings. We should not give with the expectation of financial reward, even though God will often give it. Our motives should be advancing God’s kingdom, meeting needs, laying up treasures in heaven, and growing in personal faith.

This concludes the Q & A on the matter of tithing. I hope that you have been blessed by the knowledge and the words that I have been sharing with you for the past three months. May God bless you richly for all your tithing and offerings to your church.

Your Parish Council: Ninous Badal, Tom Simon, Sam Alkakos & Mark Khoshaba