The Poor Widow gave out of her neediness. Can we?
Jesus did not mince words. In one of his eviscerations of the Pharisees, he said:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.” (Matthew 23:23)
Jesus frequently attacked the Pharisees for being legalistic and jumping through only those hoops that the Law proscribed without seeking out the spirit of the Law. Apparently, the Pharisees were good about tithing but failed in other urgent moral matters.
Jesus, however, does not absolve the Pharisees of their tithing obligations. He insisted that they needed to continue the tithe without neglecting the rest of their spiritual life.
What is the duty of a Catholic?
A Catholic must go to Mass on Sundays and go to Confession once a year. Those are the legalistic requirements of Catholicism.
But it was exactly this kind of legalism that Jesus condemned. The Church’s obligations are miniscule compared to those of the Jewish law. However, this is by design, not by accident. Catholic obligations are a floor not a ceiling. He says of those who seek the bare minimum: “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”
Catholics — like so many others — tend to experience spiritual highs and lows. During the highs, it seems that God is all around us and supporting our every step. During the lows, it seems that he is distant and allowing us to suffer (which, of course, can be redemptive).
It is wise for Catholics to make resolutions when they are at the highs. The commitments they make at the highs will be most difficult to follow through on during the lows. But this is when following through on those resolutions is most important. During the highs, God is holding our hand. During the lows, we began to walk (or fall) on our own.
Of the many resolutions that must be set, one of those is how much to give to the Church.
As Jesus indicated, tithing (10%) remains the Biblical ideal for giving. Make the decision.
I was never told to tithe. Until I read Dave Ramsey. Dave is a fantastic Evangelical personal finance expert who wrote The Total Money Makeover, Financial Peace University, and EntreLeadership. He suggests reflecting on the Biblical verses that highlight the tithe as the ideal gift.
Through some mistakes in his early career in business, Dave had to declare bankruptcy. He tithed all the way into bankruptcy court and all the way back out again.
If an Evangelical like Dave can do it, I thought, why couldn’t I?
There is never a good time to start tithing. You have student loans on the books. You just recently bought a car. Your mortgage payments are so high. You have to save for your children to go to school. Then, after you get those things squared away, you will get to it.
That is simply the wrong way to think about it.
Our entire income and even our entire existence comes from God. It is time to give even though it may hurt and trust Him to help take care of you.
Give God 10%. 10% before taxes are taken out.
This may call for a big sacrifice and a more conscientious approach to how you spend your remaining money (if so, I recommend the Total Money Makeover). And that may be good for you. The vast majority of Americans can afford to tithe and should do so.
The way to think about a tithe is something that you never had a right to. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. The federal government allows you to deduct tithes. In essence, the money you give to God is recognized federally as money that was not part of your income at all. If the Federal government can recognize this, can you?
Tithing for a Catholic is rewarding. It gives a sense of ownership that can enrich a person’s entire spiritual life.
Tithing for a Catholic is also fun because it helps people to determine their charism.
The general rule of thumb is:
5% to the local Parish.
1% to the Diocese (Bishop’s Lenten Appeal, usually).
4% to the Catholic Charities, Institutions, and Organizations of your choice. Some of the classic charities are CatholicsComeHome.org, FOCUS, EWTN, and Catholic Charities. There are so many more. These dollars send a message that Catholics are still focused on the spiritual and corporeal works of mercy. They build and preserve the Church.
The Church that our children receive will be the one we leave them.
God is calling all of us to imitate the poor widow, give, trust God, and find joy and fulfillment.
Give the money and you will never regret it.