The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-12-06
For the Central Presbyterian.
How Much Should I Give :?

Christian people recognize the neces-
sity and the duty resting upon them to
contribute of their substance to the sup
port of the ministry and the benevolent
objects fostered by the Church. They
feel it incumbent upon them also to adj
minister to the wants of those in pecu-
mary distress In their own neighborhood.
There are many calls made upon theil
generosity, which they cannot ignore,
aside from the amounts they are called
upon to contribute toward the support
OF their pastor and the benevolent oh
iects of the Church. 1t is therefore diff
cult for many to decide how much they
ought to give or can give, and how to
divide their contributions among SO many
objects. A great deal has been written
and said in regard to the Jewish tithing
system as being a good guide in this par
ticular. But it is doubtful whether this
system is fully understood by those who
refer to it, or by the greater number Of
church members. Some understand that
the gross income is to be tithed, 4. G., if
a mechanic earns six hundred dollars a
year he ought to contribute sixty dollars
of that amount to the Church 1t is need
less to remark that if this mode of tith-
ing were in successful operation that the
Church mould be the richest institution
in the country. My idea of the 1.-THE is
that the net increase or income is that on
which the 1.-THE should be computed and
not upon the gross income, for it is very
often the case that a mans gross income
will barely support his family. A great
many laborers do not receive more than
three hundred dollars per year for their
work. How could they support them
selves and large family on two hundred
and seventy dollars a year? All the
wages earned by an ordinary laboring man
IS not sufficient to property support even
a small family, so that the laboring man
could not possibly 1.-THE his income.
Whatever amount such an one contrib
utes must be in the nature of free will
offering. He gives it out of his living.
Every member of the Lords kingdom
ought to cultivate spirit of benevolence,
whether they have anything to 1.-THE or
not. If they cannot give much they can
give something, even if the doing so ne
cessitates their doing without some actual
comforts of life. Let man deny him
self, etc., etc. Now if the poor would
all thus do what they could and those in
better circumstances would even 1.-THE
their net income or increase, after taking
out their living, there would always be
enough money in the Lords treasury to
meet all demands upon it, and some to
spare. The truth is, many who have a
considerable income over and above their
actual necessary living expenses, do not
contribute accordingly. Take man
whose income is perhaps two thousand
dollars year; allow that it takes one
thousand dollars year to support his
family. Tithing his net income he could
contribute one hundred dollars without
making any great sacrifice or depriving
himself Of any Of the actual necessities
and comforts Of life. Yea, how much
better give twice one-hundred dollars,
rather than ALLOW the good and great
work Of converting the world from wick
edness and heathenism to lag for want Of
funds. Let Christian people deal con-
scientiously in this matter. Let their in
quiry be, How much can / give, not How
much must ] give. ELDER.