The "Qualified" Tither Strikes Back

Further ruminations on this topic revealed that apparently the issue is not quite settled.

Let's say, hypothetically speaking, that a brother works and get paid every 2 weeks. He dutifully writes out the check paying his tithes and offerings. He then fills out a white tithing slip and places that along with the check in an envelope kept on the fridge by a ladybug magnet, with a company slogan, "If your plumbing bugs you, call Ladybug Plumbing." (OK, I made up the ladybug magnet part)

Four (4) months later, he seals the aforementioned envelope and brings it to a member of the bishopric to pay his tithing. A bishopric counselor would then, theoretically, open said envelope and count 12 white slips and 12 checks; 8 tithing checks and 4 fast offering checks. There is nothing wrong with that. I don't think there is any difference between doing this, and people that pay their tithes once a quarter or once a year.

So, maybe it's just the fussy obsessive-compulsive in me that is irked by this inefficiency and waste of 11 perfectly good "Tinkerbell" checks and dealing with checks dated 4 months earlier. Here's a tip: why not just write on a slip of paper the amount of tithing "paid" instead of the actual check and place that in the envelope? Then, in 4 months hence, add up the amount and write 1 grand check?

Back in the heady, good old financial days of 2007, a retired friend told me of a recent auto purchase he made. Since he was "paying cash in full" for his Cadillac Escalade, the dealer gave him a deal of 0%-down, 0%-required for the 1st year. So, he took his $65k or however much it cost, put it into a 1-year bank CD, and made money. Pretty slick deal.

Maybe it's the paranoid conspiracy-theorist in me, but I wonder if this theoretical donor may be holding his tithing, earning interest for the 4-months, and then paying the tithing. Granted, this is very small-scale we're talking here. But why else would you hold an envelope of 12 checks for 4-months?

And let's hope you don't die before the 4-months are up! Pretty awkward having to explain to St. Peter, "Well, you see it's right on my fridge. Send an angel-messenger down and tell him to look for a ladybug magnet."