How much do you tithe?

[opdsgt]

I didn’t want to address this in a thread I started elsewhere (LINK), but since a fellow forumite broached the subject of tithing, I figured I’d ask.

What does everyone think of the 10 Percent Rule for tithing? Too much? Too little? Depend on what you make? How about your situation at any given time in life (student loans, medical bills, etc.)?

Personally, I think 10% is a lofty goal and is easier to accomplish for the wealthy than it is for a family firmly ensconced in the middle class. Here’s why.

Just as a for instance, Tiger Woods is a mega-millionaire. He can literally buy any worldly possession he desires. Were he to tithe 10% of his income each year, he’d remain a mega-millionaire who is able to afford anything he wants. In other words, 10% would be virtually meaningless in terms of impacting his day-in, day-out life.

Not so with, say, a family of four earning $70,000 a year. Seven grand in tithing could be the difference between parochial and public school, between a great family vacation and staying home this summer, between some much needed home improvements versus letting that leaking roof go another year.

My wife and I tithe what we feel is a fairly generous amount of money, not just to the Church, but to other charities. We also tithe our time, but we don’t give anywhere near 10 percent.

What say you?

Cheers,

Jeff

 

[puzzleannie]

the concept of tithing and the 10% was a biblical rule for biblical times in the economy and social system of that time. bear in mind that in a country with taxation, we are already being “tithed” to pay for some of the social needs that were covered by tithing. also in some countries there is a government tax that goes toward schools and even the support of priest and religious. you have to first judge by your own time and place and situation.

the key element is the attitude behind tithing, and stewardship in general, a spirituality of stewardship in which we recognize all our material gifts are just that, gifts, we did not earn them, we are not judged by them, they are given for a purpose. As heads of families our primary purpose is to take care of our family, but we also recognize our duty as citizens to contribute to the care of the less fortunate and to civic needs, and as members of the church to obey the law of support to the church. If we begin by fostering right attitude toward money and possessions, then we can discuss the practicalities of when and how much to give, to whom.

some other guidelines that might work
one hour’s weekly wage to the Church, one hour to the poor
a percentage of take-home pay, half that amount to the Church, half to the poor
the gift to the poor is usually in the form of donations to organizations that assist the poor.

we tithed 10% when we were dirt poor (we did not even own the dirt we were living on) and 10% when we were well off, and 10% now in retirement. works for us. as a practical matter, since we both worked, DH gave his to the Church, I gave mine to various charities usually church-based.

 

[cheeto1]

Ten percent, bringing the whole tithe into the church.
It says in the bible that you’re robbing God if you don’t
bring the whole tithe into the church. (malachi 3:8-10)
However, since we are living in New Testament times,
some may argue that we should instead of tithing, give
half of what we own to the poor, like Zacacchaeus did in
Luke 19:8, after which Jesus said “salvation has come
to this house”.

The truth is, since Jesus came and laid down His life for
us, we owe Him everything we “own”. Even our very selves
are not our own. How much money should we give to the
church or the poor? Everyone has to find their own way,
by asking God, but let everything we do be done for the Lord. There is no amount too lofty to give back to Him. He does
not owe us vacations or parochial school, we owe Him
everything.

 

[StevenFrancis]

(From the Gospel of St. Matthew, Chapter 6:

1"Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

 

[mommyof4]

**I found this article on a site called www.pauseforprayer.com

Although it does not directly address tithing, I think it makes us take a good look at our greedy attitudes. I know it did for me:
**
Building a school

A few years ago, when I was living and working in Zambia, some of
the people from a small, isolated, village asked me if I would help
them to build a school. Nobody in that village had ever had the
chance of attending school and of learning to read and write.

I agreed to help the villagers, but as I had never before had
anything to do with building and had no money in any case, I really
did not know where to start.

Eventually my enquiries led me to the office of one of the senior
Provincial civil servants. He had a huge office. The furnishings
were beautiful and luxurious, far beyond anything some of the
villagers I was representing had ever seen. The man himself was
extremely fat and only just managed to fit between the arms of his
chair. He was very courteous and friendly. He listened to me so
politely as I described the problems being faced by the villagers.

The civil servant then leaned forward. He folded his arms on his
desk and looked very sad. “I really do sympathise with you,
Sister”, he moaned. “I certainly understand the problem of poverty
and I long to do something about it. I would do anything in my
power to help the people of that village build a school, but there
is nothing I can do.”

I looked at the civil servant’s comfortable office and his
expensive suit. I looked at his excessive weight and knew that, at
best, man was fooling himself. At worst, he was a liar. I had come
from a very poor village where people were surviving by making
charcoal. Nobody had a car. A few families had bicycles. Nobody had
ever had the chance of going to school. Shoes were only worn on
Sundays…and that civil servant could sit in his office and
say
that he was doing everything in his power to help the poor. Not
true.

After a great deal of begging and hard work, I managed to obtain
funding for the school that the villagers had wanted so much. I was
transferred somewhere else soon after they began making the bricks.

I have never had the chance to return to the village to see the
completed school. However, I heard that, as soon as the money was
obtained, some of the villagers began to demand that they share the
cash amongst themselves and forget about the school. Someone else
would build it. The children were not really important after all.
Some of the villagers had merely used the children as an excuse for
putting their hands on some money.

It seems that greed and selfishness can be found amongst the poor
as well as amongst the affluent members of society. Jesus had
nowhere to rest his head. He talked about the birds of the air
having nests and the foxes having their lairs, but he had nowhere.
Are we not supposed to be following a Christ who was poor and
humble? If Jesus had been as greedy and selfish as some of the
people who call themselves Christians, there would be nobody
wanting to follow his example.

Dearest Jesus, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve you as
you deserve to be served: to give and not to count the cost; to
fight and not to notice the wounds; to work and not to look for
rest; to work and to ask only for the reward of loving you. Amen

May God bless you and yours.
Sr. Janet

 

[cheeto1]

Your story makes me wish hard for something that I don’t
even know what it is. It’s in my power by the grace of God,
yet I can’t find it…

 

[mommyof4]

Your story makes me wish hard for something that I don’t
even know what it is. It’s in my power by the grace of God,
yet I can’t find it…

It makes me want to stop thinking of ME and MY WANTS and NEEDS and get up off my middle class butt and DO something for other people.

 

[InLight247]

I used to think this too, until we tried it.

I say that tithing is** more** than just writing checks and giving away…it opens you up to miracles beyond measure. It is a spiritual journey. It is taking risks you are afraid to take and trusting in God. We are a family of five living off of $50,000 give or take and have been giving 10% for only 2-3 years. I thought we would never make it but it has been amazing. Our old cars have lasted much longer than we anticipated, rarely needing repair. Money has come in the form of tax rebates we didn’t have before, insurance premiums were suddenly lowered, suddenly I was going to the grocery store and the things I wanted were buy-one-get-one free, a friend gave us boxes/bags full of clothes, we needed furniture and someone just happened to have what we wanted. I hope you get the idea.

When I was holding my money tighter it seemed the rest of my life didn’t go as well. Pay raises didn’t come as we wanted, the furnace broke down, the car was always in the shop. I thought I would never be able to give so much, boy was I wrong.

What you said is so true!
The Bible says “Give it shall be given to you.” There is no way to out give God.
God set the natural law of sowing and reaping. If we sow nothing, we reap nothing.
If we sow randomly, we reap randomly. If we sow regularly, we reap regularly. If we sow generously, we reap generously.
This is not even supernatural, this is the natural law.

However, there is definitely a supernatural part in tithing.
According to God’s own word of Mal 3:10
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."

You can find the Bible verses to do with tithe as following:

Le 27:30
Le 27:31
Le 27:32
Nu 18:26
De 12:17
De 14:23
De 14:25
De 26:12
2Ch 31:5
2Ch 31:6
Ne 10:37
Mal 3:10

 

[Kendy]

too little

 

[Kendy]

the concept of tithing and the 10% was a biblical rule for biblical times in the economy and social system of that time. bear in mind that in a country with taxation, we are already being “tithed” to pay for some of the social needs that were covered by tithing. also in some countries there is a government tax that goes toward schools and even the support of priest and religious. you have to first judge by your own time and place and situation.

I often think it would be better if everyone did give that 10%, and then the church could guarantee a catholic education to all catholic kids.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

And let us not forget Jesus in Mark:
He went on to say, "How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘Whoever curses father or mother shall die.’ Yet you say, ‘If a person says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban”’ 4 (meaning, dedicated to God), *you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things." *Or the widow’s mite in Luke:
*When he looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury *
*and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. **He said, "I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; *for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood." And don’t forget Jesus and taxes.

So, what you give- we have to also make sure you meet your obligations, and not brush them off in favor of redirecting the money “elsewhere” and looking pious about it in the bargain. And what we give, we have to give out of need, with no strings other than those of pleasing God.

So- If everything you have is God’s, then we have to meet our true expenses, and see to those who need it.

 

[puzzleannie]

I often think it would be better if everyone did give that 10%, and then the church could guarantee a catholic education to all catholic kids.

when we did a study on tithing and stewardship programs in former diocese we found hundreds of Catholic parishes who promote a tithing stewardship mentality, most in urban rust belt, working class areas, who tithe at 5% for the parish 5% other needs, and all of them either had free or very low cost parish schools or paid tuition for parishioners to area Catholic schools.

 

[Larry1700]

Coming from a Baptist background, I tithed 10%. When I married my wife ( a cradle Catholic), we continued until we had kids. I want to return to the 10%, but my wife (the major breadwinner) gives to kids in her kindergarten class. Several years ago I told her I’d continue to take care of the bill-paying, but she’d be in charge of contributions.

 

[Sheeniac]

Not enough, as others have said. I will point out that donations are tax deductible (at least in the US), so that 10% you give will work out to be less than 10% (unless you don’t itemize) after taxes.

 

[Cristiano]

Not enough, as others have said. I will point out that donations are tax deductible (at least in the US), so that 10% you give will work out to be less than 10% (unless you don’t itemize) after taxes.

That is correct if you count 10% of the net income. A lot of people give 10% of their gross income and a tax exemption will just give them a little bit more of the net.

 

[Andruschak]

I didn’t want to address this in a thread I started elsewhere (LINK), but since a fellow forumite broached the subject of tithing, I figured I’d ask.

What does everyone think of the 10 Percent Rule for tithing? Too much? Too little? Depend on what you make? How about your situation at any given time in life (student loans, medical bills, etc.)?
Jeff

Correct me if I am wrong, but I understand that tithing was one of those old testament things that was abolished by The New Covenant?

In any case, Jesus told us to give money in secret, mainly to avoid spiritual pride. Tithing just to impress others is its own reward.

I believe that most Catholics are honest and do the best they can. In this day and age, poverty is spreading. The Catholic ban on birth control makes the situation much worse. Most people cannot afford to tithe. Period. I firmly believe that God sees, understands, and rejoices in Widow’s Mites.

Now, I am in formation with the Confraternity Of Penitents. We are encouraged to tithe, but realisticaly we have to pay off debts first (credit cards, mortgages, auto loans, etc.). Basic needs have to be provided for. This includes funding retirement. Medical bills. In my case, Vet bills due to my habit of adopting senior cats nobody else wants to adopt. Tithing is encouraged but NOT mandatory. And that is the way it should be.

OK, I do tithe. But NOT because I am a spiritual giant. Nor for public adulation. I simply have a high paying union job at the Post Office, live a comfortable life as a reclusive bachelor, and have no major expenses at this point in time. Not even vet bills at the moment. Should my financial situation change for the worse (and it could any day, without much notice), I will simply cut back as needed. All the way to zero if needed. God will understand.

 

[Veritas41]

I didn’t want to address this in a thread I started elsewhere (LINK), but since a fellow forumite broached the subject of tithing, I figured I’d ask.

What does everyone think of the 10 Percent Rule for tithing? Too much? Too little? Depend on what you make? How about your situation at any given time in life (student loans, medical bills, etc.)?

Personally, I think 10% is a lofty goal and is easier to accomplish for the wealthy than it is for a family firmly ensconced in the middle class. Here’s why.

Just as a for instance, Tiger Woods is a mega-millionaire. He can literally buy any worldly possession he desires. Were he to tithe 10% of his income each year, he’d remain a mega-millionaire who is able to afford anything he wants. In other words, 10% would be virtually meaningless in terms of impacting his day-in, day-out life.

Not so with, say, a family of four earning $70,000 a year. Seven grand in tithing could be the difference between parochial and public school, between a great family vacation and staying home this summer, between some much needed home improvements versus letting that leaking roof go another year.

My wife and I tithe what we feel is a fairly generous amount of money, not just to the Church, but to other charities. We also tithe our time, but we don’t give anywhere near 10 percent.

What say you?

Cheers,

Jeff

Although we’re not bound by the 10% rule of the Old Testament, I still think it’s a good guideline. We don’t tithe that much but we’re close. We have tithed 10% on less income – it can work. When my husband and I were Protestant, I think most of the people in our churches tithed at or near 10%, and our small churches were able to accomplish alot for their size, something I don’t see in the much larger Catholic parishes we have belonged to. Somewhere I read the average Catholic gives only about 2% of their income to the Church, which is very telling. That explains why we have had to pay for Vacation Bible School, Sunday School, Bible study, etc. in our Catholic parishes that were free in our Protestant churches. Maybe not everyone can give 10%, but I’m sure many Catholics can give alot more than they are currently.

 

[Andruschak]

OK, I do tithe. But NOT because I am a spiritual giant. Nor for public adulation. I simply have a high paying union job at the Post Office, live a comfortable life as a reclusive bachelor, and have no major expenses at this point in time. Not even vet bills at the moment. Should my financial situation change for the worse (and it could any day, without much notice), I will simply cut back as needed. All the way to zero if needed. God will understand.

Footnote: The most likely cause of my cutting back on tithing, all the way to zero, would be if my Mother’s Alzheimer’s got to the point that a substantial monthly contribution from me would be required for her care. I am of the opinion that the 4th Commandment trumps Mosaic Law, which we are not required to observe anyhow. My three cats have not endorsed nor opposed this opinion

 

[truthsilence]

Your story makes me wish hard for something that I don’t
even know what it is. It’s in my power by the grace of God,
yet I can’t find it…

Me too, cheeto. I think the answer was right there in this prayer:

Dearest Jesus, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve you as you deserve to be served: to give and not to count the cost; to
fight and not to notice the wounds; to work and not to look for
rest; to work and to ask only for the reward of loving you. Amen

Amen.

 

[Sheeniac]

I think that Catholics tend not to give as much due to anger about the way things have been handled over the priest abuse cases.

Of course, anger at Judas shouldn’t displace our loyalty towards Peter, but this issue has caused a lot of grief and anger.