Six fresh ways to look at tithing

One day long ago in graduate school, I (Richard) had a bright idea about tithing. We were struggling students who seemed to have less coming in than going out every month and I suggested to Linda that I had a new plan. "Let's do a 'deferred tithing," I said, "where we keep careful track of what we owe but defer the actual payment until we have more money — and of course we will pay the Lord good interest on it, a couple of percent over prime!"

I (Linda) nixed that proposal in a hurry. "Very bad idea," I said. "Why?" said Richard. "Because we need the blessings NOW," I replied.

We have thought a lot about tithing since then, and are grateful for the principle and the practice in so many ways. Let us suggest, as the year winds down and as we have our own personal "settlements," six new and perhaps fresh ways to view the law of tithing. Hopefully, some of these perspectives will help you see it and appreciate it in additional ways.

1. View tithing as a very high-yield investment. If you were to say to one of your kids, "I'll give you 10 dollars if you will give me back one dollar," do you think they would take you up on it? That is essentially what Heavenly Father says to us. He owns all, gives us much and expects only 10 percent back. The "yield" on that investment is very high.

2. View tithing as "equity" in God's kingdom. Every executive will tell you that equity is the best reward. Actually owning part of the company is the greatest motivator for better performance. Tithing essentially buys us a bit of equity in the kingdom of God and at least gets us an "option" in the kingdom of heaven.

3. View tithing as insurance. Both the Old Testament book of Malachi and Doctrine and Covenants 64 tell us in very clear language that those who pay an honest tithe "will not be burned at His coming." Where else would you get that kind of insurance?

4. View tithing as rent. We know that all belongs to God and that, with the possible exception of our agency, we own nothing. Like anyone who does not own, we need to rent. Our Father allows us use of so much of what he has, from his earth to his church, and the rent of 10 percent is not only reasonable, it is a bargain. And unlike other rent, it goes down in hard times and up in good times so it is always fair and so that, as we adjust our minds to it, it is always affordable.