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Email: office@olgcchurchpc.org
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April 6, 2018A TAX TIME TEST
By Bernadette V. Cabe, Stewardship Committee Chairperson
T he story is told of a wise pastor who went to get a hair cut . The barber, who also happened to be a parishioner, took the opportunity to tell the pastor all the reasons why the barber was not going tocomplete his stewardship pledge card.“I don’t think we should have to promise to give money to God. We should give what our heart tells us at the time. I like to be able to just put in the collection whatever I have that week.”
The pastor listened carefully and after his haircut he handed the barber $1 for the $10 haircut, saying, “I like to give what my heart tells me – just whatever I have in my pocket at the time.”“Father,” the barber protested, “I can’t pay my rent, take care of my expenses and run my business successfully if everyone would do that.”
“Neither can God,” the pastor replied.
Before you file your tax return away for the year, you might want to take a minute to determine what percentage you are giving away. Jesus told us, “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” (Luke 12:48)Your tax return tells you not only how much income God has entrusted to you last year, but also what portion you gave away. Simply take your total charitable contribution and divide by your total gross income. Move the decimal point over two places. This is the percentage you gave away last year. Are you pleased with that number?
Example: Total income is $42,653. Charitable contributions are $1,250. $1,250 divided by $42,653 equals .0293. Move the decimal and see that the percent that was given to charity was 2.9%.
So how close are you to returning 10% of your treasure to God? If you are not happy with the number, we encourage you to plan ways to increase your giving.
(reprinted with permission of Archdiocese of St. Louis)
