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Tithing and wiving

SonoLumen

SonoLumen

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So, I realized I haven't found a good thread on tithing on here. I am Working on a spreadsheet designed to show how the addition of a second and/or third wife can significantly benefit family economics and savings, and I'm adding on a tithing formula. As I began to play with the various outcomes to my formula, it hit me, that with the addition of a second wife, the benefits to family economics greatly improves and thus extra expendable income improves.

Isn't the families ability to tithe a significantly healthier amount a natural economic argument for polygyny in the Church? It seems to me that Yahweh is indeed interested in economics.

How does your family handle tithing? Would you give a higher percentage if you had plenty of excess income? Can't this be another virtuous outcome to pursuing a second wife?

Anyway, I am just looking for general thoughts on poly and tithing as I really can't recall reading much about it anywhere, but it seems a "poly" friendly church would at least have the opportunity to be economically healthier as family economics would be better.
 
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Are you presupposing that a family with three wives would have three incomes? I think this could easily go both ways, you can just as readily have one working man providing for two non-income-earning wives, and with less free cash. In fact, the second wife could even be in a situation where she essentially is the legitimate recipient of what tithe is available - the family's current ministry being helping her. And every situation between is possible too. So I'm not so sure a mathematical formula will be very useful.

I see no command for financial tithing in scripture. Rather, our entire lives and everything we have should be dedicated to YHWH. Having said that, a tithe is a useful minimum guideline value that ensures we actually do this, and I have always found that when you are faithful with that YHWH blesses you with what you need.

Not sure how helpful that is...
 
We try to be very conscientious with our tithe. It comes off the top and it comes first.

I have the same question Samuel does though, why does an additional wife necessarily make the economic picture better?

It seems like the assumption there is that she would work outside the home?
 
Additionally, even if she is working outside the home, presumably she would *already* be tithing. In that case the net change for the "church income" would be zero.

Frankly there seem to be too many permutations for any sort of accurate formula. I mean, even assuming she works outside the home the variance in income from person to person is staggering.

Now, I can totally see a decently accurate and useful formula for the "upkeep cost" of an additional wife. Factor in extra utilities and food, clothing, dates, probably Birthday and Christmas, any home renovations expected, things like that. That would be useful for determining whether you could support another wife, at least one that stays at home.
 
Yeah I agree the extra income can't be counted on, but I'm in a situation where my first wife has said she wants to work but doesn't because right now she has to keep up the home. Also, women rights are taking off and the Job market should be great for women for many years to come. She turned down an offer for a decent job because we figured out that after childcare / expenses its not worth it. Not really worth it, but take childcare out of that and all of a sudden most of it is bottom line income. So a even a second wife offers incredible flexibility in family options, which equates to economic decision making power.

Anyway, economics often doesn't leave a choice. I think a poly family would have to make decisions that the economy forced on them. Many households out there have two working parents and they pay for childcare because its necessary, or perhaps the woman just wants to work. Real median incomes have been fairly stagnant for years. This might be at least partially why this family structure is reemerging, because a home with 2 working incomes and 1 person dedicated to childcare at any given time is an a far superior position to raise a larger family without going into debt.
 
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SonoLumen said:
How does your family handle tithing? Would you give a higher percentage if you had plenty of excess income? Can't this be another virtuous outcome to pursuing a second wife?
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I don't 'tithe' so much as I give charitably an amount that satisfies my conscience. (Who would I even tithe to?)

Yes, I would theoretically give a higher percentage if I had more excess income. I usually contest this kind of sentiment, though, by pointing out that Jesus' favorite giver was an impoverished widow who gave the highest possible percentage and had no excess income. My suspicion is that the more excess income a person has, the greater temptation there is to give nothing at all, or at least nothing that Jesus is impressed with, (Proverbs 30:8)

It could be a virtuous outcome indeed. I am always deeply suspicious of tomorrow's virtues, however. My mom has great plans for what she'll do when publisher's clearing house shows up at her front door with that big check. I believe God is more interested in her present management of her present money than He is in her future charity that costs her nothing now, and nothing important in the future.

SonoLumen said:
It seems to me that Yahweh is indeed interested in economics.
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I believe it! I think His idea of economics is different than ours, though. He feeds a stadium with a kid who is willing to share his whole lunch, not with the generous donation from a wealthy benefactor. I think His economy is based around how much of your heart you spend with your charity, not how many zeroes there are on the check.

I don't mean to dub your anime here, because I think the same way. If I was even MORE comfortable and had even MORE income, just think of all the neat things I could do for people. I just think God wants to see what I'm doing with what I've already been given. How much of a hit I'm already willing to take to m finances for His sake, before He decides how to bless me later.
 
Slumberfreeze said:
I don't 'tithe' so much as I give charitably an amount that satisfies my conscience. (Who would I even tithe to?)
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I do something similar, but use a tithe as a good guideline. My income is rather irregular, so I have a "tithe" bank account. Every time I receive payments I drop a tenth into that account. That money then is passed on to whatever cause we feel needs it at the time.
 
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