Let Your Home Be A Witness

[John81]

Let Your Home Be A Witness



If you and your household, were raptured today

Or removed from this earth, In some accidental way.

Who would be there to wonder and roam,

To sort through your belongings, and clean out your home.

Would your home be a witness, to the Lord whom you claim,

Or, would the stash in your cabinets, dishonor His Name.

What's on your calendar, Is the evidence clear,

That you gave time to others, not just your career.

Would your CD collection, If weighed in a balance,

Bring Glory to Jesus, or praise earthly talents.

Are your priorities evident, by the way your home looks

Would Jesus be comfortable, reading your books.

Do your magazines reveal unwholesome desires

Do your video's glorify murderers and liars

Do your tax records show, your tithing was sparse,

That the trust you proclaimed, was all just a farce.

What's in your garage, do your possessions reflect,

Your greatest desire is earthly respect.

Will all those people, who enter your space,

Feel the presence of Jesus, or the world in that place.

Will they want to know more about the God who forgives.

Will they reject Him completely, because of the way you lived.

Clean out your closets, sweep out your shame.

Let your home be a witness, to the life you proclaim.

"author unknown"

[John81]

The tax record part doesn't, or shouldn't, really be a consideration.

It's none of the governments business who we give our money to or how much. It also doesn't seem right to claim a tax break for giving to the Lord's work.

Our tax records would show no claims for charitible giving; even though we give a far higher percentage than what Al Gore claimed on his tax returns.

[war_eagle]

The tax record part doesn't, or shouldn't, really be a consideration.

It's none of the governments business who we give our money to or how much. It also doesn't seem right to claim a tax break for giving to the Lord's work.

That's an issue I wonder about myself. On the one hand, it does seem odd to receive a tax break for giving to the Lord's work and I have to wonder how many people see the year drawing to a close and give just to get that deduction, but still consider themselves cheerful givers.

On the other hand, the Bible is very clear that we're to be subject to our government and those in authority over us so if we're responsible to be obedient to the government and to honor the law, then wouldn't that include accepting benefits that come from the law, such as deductions for charitable giving?

I do claim my giving with a clean conscience, but I recognize that the deduction should never be the reason we give.

Besides, it's my money the government is taking in the first place.

[John81]

That's an issue I wonder about myself. On the one hand, it does seem odd to receive a tax break for giving to the Lord's work and I have to wonder how many people see the year drawing to a close and give just to get that deduction, but still consider themselves cheerful givers.

On the other hand, the Bible is very clear that we're to be subject to our government and those in authority over us so if we're responsible to be obedient to the government and to honor the law, then wouldn't that include accepting benefits that come from the law, such as deductions for charitable giving?

I do claim my giving with a clean conscience, but I recognize that the deduction should never be the reason we give.

Besides, it's my money the government is taking in the first place.

Just because the government offers a benefit doesn't mean we have to take it or even should take it. Such are optional and not a requirement under any law.

There are many who do indeed make sure they give a certain amount in order to receive the full tax break. Many ministries recognize this fact and go to great lengths to remind folks to donate again before the year is out. One bad thing about this is that for some, their giving is based upon the tax break. They will give the maximum amount they can get a tax break for and no more.

Why let the government know what should be between you and God only?

[trc123]

Just because the government offers a benefit doesn't mean we have to take it or even should take it. Such are optional and not a requirement under any law.

There are many who do indeed make sure they give a certain amount in order to receive the full tax break. Many ministries recognize this fact and go to great lengths to remind folks to donate again before the year is out. One bad thing about this is that for some, their giving is based upon the tax break. They will give the maximum amount they can get a tax break for and no more.

Why let the government know what should be between you and God only?

Agreed. Giving anonymously would be the ticket, no envelope needed.

[JerryNumbers]

I don't claim a penny, should I even desire a deduction for giving to God? I think not. Besides that which has already been brought up, its suppose to be between me and God.

I talk to a tax prepare about this, now I did not ask for any names and made it know right quick I did not want any names. I asked her, of the Christians she knows of, do a lot of them make sure to claim anything given to God. Her answer was yes, and that I would be surprised at the number who will give as long as its a deduction for them. Think about that, when they do not benefit from it, they want give to God. Is that sacrificial giving? No. Will they rightly be blessed for their giving? I don't believe they will.

1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
Matt 6:1-4 (KJV)

I believe that is something that many let worldly influence overcome them on and fail to follow God's way

And I can help but think of the mite.

42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

Mark 12:42-44 (KJV)

Now that was true sacrificial giving.

And in my time of this earth I have seen a few that seemed to be looking down on some of the poorer people who were placing money in the collection plate, when the true fact was the poor was actually giving sacrificial, that is in order to put any money in the collection plate they had to go without some needs, not just a small want like those looking down on them.

Back to the topic, sad thing is many Christians don't have the least idea of what might be found in their house that would be a bad witness for Jesus, furthermore, many don't care.

[1Timothy115]

I don't put my name on the envelope. I'm sure some within the church know it was my offering. At the end of the tax year I don't get an envelope back from the church for tax deductions.

God knows and he knows it is what he placed on my heart.

[war_eagle]

Just because the government offers a benefit doesn't mean we have to take it or even should take it. Such are optional and not a requirement under any law.

If they're optional and there's nothing inherently sinful about it, what's the problem?

It's a conscience issue. My conscience is clean.

[JerryNumbers]

The thing is the Roman Catholic feels he has a clean conscience when he comes out of confession and has done that which the priest has told him to do. Can that really clear a person conscience or should they do as 1 John 1:9 states? I believe that that RCC member's conscience has been deceived by the RCC.

Also the person who is raised up being told there is nothing wrong with drinking has a clear conscience every time they take a drink, again, our conscience can deceive us.

The RCC who misses mass, has a guilty conscience, but is there a reason to have a guilty conscience when one misses mass? Not according to the Bible. So once again our conscience can deceive us.

[John81]

If they're optional and there's nothing inherently sinful about it, what's the problem?

It's a conscience issue. My conscience is clean.

Scripture is clear that our giving is to be between us and the Lord only. I believe it was Jerry who cited the verses so I won't repeat them here.

Part of the reason this was put in Scripture was pointing out that we are not to seek worldly benefits from our giving, but rather to give in private knowing the Lord knows what we have given and the Lord will reward us accordingly.

Telling the government what we give in order to reap benefits violates the privacy (between us and God only) apsect as well as the aspect of being content with the Lord's reward and not seeking one from the world.

[war_eagle]

Scripture is clear that our giving is to be between us and the Lord only.

Then only such verses I can find are in the context of not letting the right hand know what the left hand is doing. In other words, not to give just to appear pious or to gain favor with God.

Telling the government what we give in order to reap benefits violates the privacy (between us and God only) apsect as well as the aspect of being content with the Lord's reward and not seeking one from the world.

Then you definitely shouldn't do it.

[blossom]

John I really liked that poem, I'm going to read it our at our next family night. I don't know whether we are allowed to claim our tithes like that in Australia, however I wouldn't do it. Our blessings come from the Lord not from a tax return. The money is not ours to begin with. The government is taking the Lord's money off us not our money.

The tax issue wasn't the thing that caught my eye in this poem is was having our things in order. Having had a recent death in the family, it has brought home how important it is to have our things in order. It is so hard on loved ones when they know nothing about how things were set up, or what the person wants done with certain things.

Also it never occured to me that it could be my final testimony to my unsaved family. The Lord knows they desperately need saving. So thanks John for the reminder, I need to get cracking on orgainsing things.

God Bless

Blossom

[JerryNumbers]

1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
Matt 6:1-4 (KJV)

I have seen quite a few go about boasting of what they have given to charity, to help the needy, seems that according to God's Word they have already gotten their reward.

On television we can hear quite often about what a rick man has done to help those in need, obliviously they did not do so in secret. But if they did so in secret they would not receive much honor from men.

I hear of people giving much to some places and for doing so they will name a building or something after them, yes, they have already receive their glory.

Myself, I don't have much to give, but what I do give, I'm going to keep my trumpet quite, I'm not going to brag about it nor disclose it to the tax man, the government man, nor anyone else. I take God's Word to heart.

[John81]

John I really liked that poem, I'm going to read it our at our next family night. I don't know whether we are allowed to claim our tithes like that in Australia, however I wouldn't do it. Our blessings come from the Lord not from a tax return. The money is not ours to begin with. The government is taking the Lord's money off us not our money.

The tax issue wasn't the thing that caught my eye in this poem is was having our things in order. Having had a recent death in the family, it has brought home how important it is to have our things in order. It is so hard on loved ones when they know nothing about how things were set up, or what the person wants done with certain things.

Also it never occured to me that it could be my final testimony to my unsaved family. The Lord knows they desperately need saving. So thanks John for the reminder, I need to get cracking on orgainsing things.

God Bless

Blossom

The tax aspect was something I thought of afterwards and posted about while I was waiting for someone to show up here on OB. In never meant for the tax aspect to overshadow the rest of the story.

I agree, it's really something to consider that one of our final testimonies will be what people see left behind in our homes after we are gone. This reminds me of the story about finding Jesus knocking at your front door and then the question: Would you be able to open the door with joy or would you feel the need to rush through the house hiding things, rearranging, and changing things first.

[John81]

1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
Matt 6:1-4 (KJV)

I have seen quite a few go about boasting of what they have given to charity, to help the needy, seems that according to God's Word they have already gotten their reward.

On television we can hear quite often about what a rick man has done to help those in need, obliviously they did not do so in secret. But if they did so in secret they would not receive much honor from men.

I hear of people giving much to some places and for doing so they will name a building or something after them, yes, they have already receive their glory.

Myself, I don't have much to give, but what I do give, I'm going to keep my trumpet quite, I'm not going to brag about it nor disclose it to the tax man, the government man, nor anyone else. I take God's Word to heart.

The Scriptural principle is very clear. We are not to let others know what we give and we are to seek no other reward than what the Father determines to give us.