If you have watched the presidential nominees’ debate recently, you know that providing their income tax information has become important.  With that information, it also provides how much they give to charitable organizations.  The Bible has made it very clear what God expects of His children: Abel brought a sacrifice to God that was acceptable but his brother Cain did not.  Apparently God had told them what he expected of each.  One obeyed and one did not.  The illustration of Abel’s giving teaches us the importance of worshiping God and as Christ teaches us, giving Him our very best.  Tithing and sacrificing has been a part of worshiping God from the very beginning.

Does giving to charities necessarily make a person better able to govern?  Not really, but does it not give us an idea of one’s character and where their heart toward others might be?  However, would we not prefer a politician who is more acceptable to God in this one area?  Providing you believe giving is important.

Having been on a number of church boards and a church treasurer, I have been told that about 25% of church members tithe and that could be correct but, I believe it is more of an estimate than an exact figure.  Those who have studied their Bible consistently realize the importance of tithing and God’s promises of blessings to those who do.

When you look at the charitable giving of the income tax of those reporting, last year Mitt Romney gave more than 16% to charity.  The Obama’s, under Rev. Wright, gave an average1%.  Later, they boosted it to 5%.  In 2010 they gave 14.2%.  Over the past ten years Vice-president Biden has averaged $369 per year.  In 2010, the Biden’s gave 1.4%.  Newt Gingrich donated 2.6% of his 2010 income.  The Clinton’s gave in 2002, 1.2% and in 2004, 12.57% according to the Tax Foundation.  For four years they averaged 8.26%.  Rick Santorum and Ron Paul’s 2010 tax reports were not available that I could locate.  Many Christians believe giving to Planned Parenthood is different from giving to a religious organization, but it still counts.

Many times we are told in the Bible that if we keep His commandments we will be blessed and prosperous.  The Jews were told if they disobeyed God they would be cursed.  Deuteronomy 28:15 – 19 – “However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you: You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country. Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed. The fruit of your womb will be cursed, and the crops of your land, and the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. You will be cursed when you come in and cursed when you go out.”

God does not list the things we are not to do as threats.  However, He was giving the Jews warnings that if they did not obey they would not receive His blessings.  The Israelites disobeyed God repeatedly and He withdrew His blessings which had brought them success and prosperity.  God allowed bad things to happen.

Wouldn’t it be great to have committed Christian politicians to lead our country; ones that are true leaders, plus putting Christ and others first?  For a couple hundred years America had been one of the most blessed and prosperous nation.  Approximately 60 years ago we became a self-centered nation and our prosperity has been gradually decreasing.  The Jewish nation has been an example of God’s blessings and curses but apparently, we have not learned from history.  We are following the same path they took and they have suffered for more than two thousand years.  They failed, as we, to obey God’s commandments.  One of those commandments has been to lovingly be willing to give to others on an individual basis through tithes and offerings and not become the welfare nation we are now, relying on government to meet our needs.