I recently read a fantastic personal finance book that really had me convicted about tithing. Some people prefer to call it giving, donations or (my, ahem, personal favorite) “income redistribution.”
While I don’t always talk about faith on here, I thought I would offer a disclaimer– even though I’ve certainly had my issues with the Church, I am a Catholic with a bit of an evangelical twist. What does this mean? I go to Catholic Mass on Sundays but I also love reading books and doing Bible studies with evangelical authors (Lysa TerKeurst is a personal favorite). I also loooove The Chosen, which is a non-cheesy and beautifully depicted TV show about the Gospels (from an evangelical producer). Many of my issues with the Church are from the people in it; we had a pervy priest in my hometown and I’m still rattled by it. But, I do adhere the its teachings, including that on tithing.
Teaching on Tithing
Even though 1 Corinthians 16:2 explicitly says that we as Christians should give, it does not specify how much and I appreciate that it’s left up to the individual’s discernment. For me, I find that tithing is most helpful to me if it hurts *just* a little. It keeps me grounded.
Why it Makes Sense To Me
Greediness is something that I’m very tempted by. I’ll be the first to admit that I love lavish dinners, decedent vacations, designer purses and fancy cars–all of which are good things when they’re in the proper place! However, I am reminded by my finite time on earth and that fancy things are passing when I tithe. It also reminds me to appreciate what I do have, making what I have earned that much more special.
Where I Choose to Donate
I don’t like to get in to specifics here, but my general rule is: a nonprofit whose mission I like; church and someone in need. When donating to a nonprofit, I ALWAYS look up how their money is spent to ensure that my donation is going to a good place. When it comes to individuals, it’s amazing how being attuned to need, it’s everywhere.
Giving While in Debt
Full disclosure: I’ve never really been in debt, with the exception of my mortgages, so I don’t feel overly qualified to talk about this. However, the people I know who give while in debt are very joyful givers, and I always find that encouraging.
Financial Freedom in Giving?
It might sound counterintuitive, but I know I’m not alone in saying that I never worry about money when I’m tithing. It’s crazy, but giving money away begets better finances for the people who give and I’ve seen it happen firsthand several times!
Do you tithe? How do you find causes to give? I would love to know in the comments below!
