Yesterday I celebrated Presidents’ Day by preparing my tax return for the IRS. Without going into too much detail about my finances, the following formula seems an accurate description of taxes. After reading it you might be able to guess how I feel about our current tax code and the taxes you and I pay in this country.

1. What did you make this year      ________________________
2. Enter amount on line 1.              ____________________________
3. Enter amount on line 2,             _____________________ (this is what you owe).

With al that said, what I really want us to consider today is what we give God. As I reflect on the topic taxes and giving I am reminded that we can and should give so much more to God that what is in our wallets. I categorize what we owe God into three areas:

1) Finances. This is the easiest and most talked about area of our giving. We cannot ignore the simple fact that God’s business on earth requires money. It takes a fiscal budget to succeed in evangelism, to be benevolent, and to edify the church.

2) Abilities. We are to use our gifts to minister to each other and to God (1 Pet 4:10). How are we using our talents for God?

3) Time. We are blessed each day with a merciful new morning (Lam 3:22-23). I need to use the opportunities that I have to serve God and to lead others toward Him through Christ (Col 4:5; Eph 5;15-17).

Take the first letter of each of these points (Finances, Ability, Time) and you have FAT. I don’t know about you, but I am willing to lose some FAT for the Lord.

Scott