Writhing.
Tithing.
Those two words; they mean a lot.
To each and every one of us, who breathes on this earth.
As they carry forward, either pain or gain, if not both!
"Writhing in pain" is a very common phrase and we are quite familiar with it.
We want to avoid that state too, as far as possible.
But do we get to avoid it?
No!
As: "No pain No Gain" is yet another well propagated phrase, that makes us slither into that mind state.
Every now and then.
Therefore, we continue to slog,slog, slog, in order to lesson the pain or delay the onset of pain, as far as possible.
Both to/on us and to/on,our near and dear ones.
In the Now's...to begin with,later for the future too.
The well heeled ensure that pains are kept away from them in the future too.
With the help of their monetary rich(s). (Please read as 'reaches' too)
As they hate to be "well helled."
A whole life/lives get spent in this vicious circle.
Look around you and you will see several examples.
Do you mind if they do?
Isn't that a modern grind?
A familiar ground?
A sane approach to keep away the pain?
Accepted the world over?
Though the logical answer to most of the questions above is a No!...but the weakened human psychology will force the answer to be a Yes!
Well don't worry...instead...lets get to the next word.
Tithing.
"Tithing to gain, as a sane" is a phrase I have coined and am sharing it here with one an all, as a "Tickle Tickle' effort.
Through this 'Artickle'
Tithing is derived from the word:TITHE
The definition of tithe is derived from the Hebrew word, asair , which means:
To give the tenth part of.
Further:What is a tithe?
I quote an answer to that question, here,with some religious leanings.
("The word “tithe” is simply an old English word meaning “tenth.” It refers to the giving of a “tenth” of one’s income to God or for other charitable purposes. And Almighty God directs that this tenth be given to Him—to His true ministers to do His Work—not just to be handed out anywhere.The law of tithing simply means that the Great God who made us—who gave us our life, our talents, our minds, the strength with which we work and the very land and materials which we employ in our work—requires us to pay Him the first tenth of our increase or income" ).
Now that you know the meaning as well as its strong roots, please sit back and do a self analysis,in the wake of the global melt down.
An eerie sickening recession! that all of us are now experiencing, which is indeed the direct result of compounded greed, on the part of entire humanity.
Come let us mull and decide; did we do justice to tithing?
In these recent past years?
As individuals, as well as societies?
Let us contemplate and mull over the recent past we have just completed living.
Do some mathematics too...simple mathematics.
How much did I earn?
How much did I share/give out, out of that amount?
How often?
Try to, and get to too, understand, this way, in the wake of the current global debacle:
Was more less? or, is Less more?
While we are at it,let us ask ourselves the following questions.
- Do I tithe?
- Did I tithe...in the past?
- Will I tithe in the future?
- Am I writhing in pain...as on date?
If the answer to the question No 1 is: No...then please learn to tithe as it is never too late.Tithe for your children's sake...instead of stashing it away for them.
If the answer to the question No 2 is: "Yes I did" then please continue to do so now and in the future too, as it is indeed a blessing in disguise.The returns will be incalculable, that's for sure, in times to come.
If the answer to the question No 3: is No! then please contemplate why would you not like to do so.
In 9 out of 10 cases the answer to question No 4:is Yes!
That Yes! should spur is on.
To make a conscientious effort to understand the pros and cons and then take a sound decision.
To get rid of the global pain once and for all.
And to keep it at bay...perpetually.
Wouldn't you like to keep the present global pain at bay too?
From you?
From the future generations too?
Why not?
Tithing from a larger perspective,is all about giving and sharing our joys.
Our success.
Monetarily it requires that we give away a portion of what we earn, willingly and devotingly, to Humanity, for a good cause.
To those who are not as lucky as we were/are.
As they are all Gods creations too.
He expects us to lend him a 'helping-hand' in that task of his...through the equation of tithing.
Its a kind of an understanding to, "To give it back to the society" that helped you get where you are.
Its like helping the others climb up the rungs of a ladder that you have successfully scaled.
As a sense of gratitude.
As a humane human.
For ours as well as the over-all Humanity's well being.
In the long run.
Ask any successful man/woman/person...after a certain point, money and materialistic gains have little or no meaning.
Most of them reached that stage and asked this question to themselves.
After money what?
A stage which helped them realise; its all about "earning and sharing" and not "earning and burning".
On self and near and dear ones.
Ultimately, every one gets to that stage which I have now got to phrase as:
" The more you give the more you get" stage, in life.
Giving, whole hearted, without any sense of attachment.
Without being told to.
As by then, one gets to understand the deep meaning hidden within the simple phrase:
"More is less and Less is more".
Some do it silently, some boisterously...to each his own style.
Some do it as philanthropist's, some for causes of religion and some for Humane reasons like charity, etc.
But most of us do get to do that stage...at one some point of time or other, for no cause what so ever.
We give away as we feel that we must.
Minus any attachment...whatsoever.
That's true tithing.
Once you get to do it...the next challenge is to make it a habit.
A life long habit.
Those who get to learn this art,from those who do, and that to early in life, are indeed the luckier ones.
Smart ones too, as they don't get to repeat others' mistakes.
They get to avoid conflicts and resultant pains, as a result.
In other words, they get to getting detached.
From attached.
And that is the beginning of bliss.
Perpetual bliss...if sustained through tithing; as a habit.
While we are on tithing, here is one book on tithing that's well respected.
"Let Your Money Do The Talking," 1987 American Publishing Company, Askov, Minnesota.By Knudsen, Rayond B.,
It covers most of the heads that get qualified for tithe values as may be decided by any individual.
Ideally written for the western society as such, but can be universally applied to, too.
"Special Considerations For Determining Your Tithe".
1) The gross salary or total wage
2) The employer's share of Social Security
3) Workman's Compensation & Unemployment Insurance
4) Union dues made by the employer
5) Compensation Packages
- Hospitalization Insurance
- Medical Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Paid Prescriptions
- Health & Physical Fitness Memberships
- Bonuses
- Stock Options
- Country Club Memberships
- Association Memberships
- Meals
- Transportation provided not used for business purposes
- Expense accounts - expenditures for personal needs
7) Income from investments
- Interest on passbook savings & credit union accounts
- Interest on Certificates of Deposit
- Interest on Money Market Accounts
- Interest & dividends on Life Insurance Policies
- Interest on bonds
- Dividends from stocks
- Capital Gains on all investments
8) Income from investments in Real & Personal Property
- Profits from the rental of properties
- Profits from the sale of properties
9) Winnings, Gifts, Inheritances
Further: in case you would like to continue to pass on this good habit to the future generations through your children; here are some more inputs.
"Suggestions For Training Children To Tithe" Ibid
"Begin early to train your children the importance of tithing and giving. If your children are taught in their childhood the blessings of tithing they will have very little problems giving as an adult.
Teach them to set aside 20% of their allowance, gifts from parents, earnings to first of all, tithe and then give 10% to other special needs such as missions.
Teach your children that as their incomes increase so should their giving".
"Suggestions For Training Children To Tithe" Ibid
"Begin early to train your children the importance of tithing and giving. If your children are taught in their childhood the blessings of tithing they will have very little problems giving as an adult.
Teach them to set aside 20% of their allowance, gifts from parents, earnings to first of all, tithe and then give 10% to other special needs such as missions.
Teach your children that as their incomes increase so should their giving".
Having said/explained and referred to the above; I leave it to you now, to decide...
To Tithe or Not to Tithe!!!
Axee
Alias
Arun
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