Tithing.
Something I don't know much about.
It's come up several times in recent weeks, so I want to learn more about it.
I'm trying desperately to get control of our finances (this is gradually happening, praise God!), and a book I've just read on managing your money talked a lot about tithing. The author is a Baptist, I think, and she advocates tithing on your gross income and every financial gain that you make. I realized that I have no idea what is deemed appropriate or desirable giving for Catholics.
Are Catholics are called to tithe in the literal "first tenth" sense?
How do you approach financial giving to the Church?
And on a personal note, if you have experience with this, we're kind of not really making ends meet without dipping into our savings a bit every month, but if tithing is important, is it something we should do and try to adjust down even more?
Talk to me, people! I'm very curious about this.
Thanks,
January
I don't have good advice, but a book "Faith Finances" was written by Tom Zordani and it's Catholic! I have two copies in my office, I'll bring one to you this weekend :).
ReplyDeleteYou are so thoughtful, Rebecca. Thank you! I've gotten pretty far through it now, and while it's got similar advice to other books I've read on the subject, the author's personal story of getting out of debt is pretty inspirational. -Jan
DeleteWe talked a lot about tithing before we got married, we went to a evangelical Christian seminar that brought it up when we were engaged. So we decided that for us we would tithe 10% on our net income, tax return and my husband's vacation fund that we get twice a year. We tithe on the net income so that we have more to live off of during the year but we still make sure we give it back at taxes which is easier for us. When my husband is not working we do not tithe on the unemployment check but we tithe on whatever I make. I heard it a good rule that if you are in debt maybe you shouldn't do the full on 10% until you are out of debt, so tithing 5% and having the other 5% going to paying off your debt. I know at certain times it has been difficult to for us to tithe but it has really never put us into debt, we have always had what we needed even with my part time work and when my husband's been out of work for 7+months. It really is a matter of sitting down looking at what you have and what you are realistically able to do.
ReplyDeleteWe pick different places to give to, which has been the fun part, usually it goes to our parish or a specific ministry at our parish but sometimes we pick our fav. religious order or pregnancy help center. Tithing has really showed us that all that we have we give to God, it may not be much but it's what we have. It has given us a better level of detachment from material things. I think tithing whether it's the 10% or another % is up to what each couple can realistically do and still have the necessities to support their family.
Wow, Kat, that's really awesome. It didn't really occur to me that tithing is "allowed" to go to somewhere specific other than just your regular parish collection. (It sounds like there might be debate about that by different people, but whatevs.) I think it would be really fun to choose a ministry or other group you might want to give to. -Jan
DeleteI've heard a lot about people budgeting in their 10% even though they think they can't afford it, and somehow it always works out fine (ie, God rewarding their trust in Him). For whatever that's worth.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, we aim for 10% on the gross income--I've heard that is what Catholics ought to do, but I've never actually sat down to calculate if we're hitting that or not (I don't really budget). We have a set amount we give at church every week, a few organizations that receive monthly automatic donations (a Catholic school, and some FOCUS missionaries). And we occasionally make a bigger one-time donation to a religious order. I'm pretty sure that all falls somewhere around the 10% of gross income. We're going to have to cut back and actually make a budget when I stop working though, and I know we'll really be feeling that 10% at that point...
Katie, I keep coming across that too, budgeting in the tithe and trusting in God that it will come out well. Definitely something for Husband and me to discuss and pray about! -Jan
DeleteI think that the goal is supposed to be 10% gross, but it's absolutely acceptable to begin with something smaller and try to work towards that. Also, that's total giving. It's not 10% to your parish and more elsewhere. You know what, though? Just like I have heard (like Katie) that people find things working out better than expected giving 10%, I have also heard of people having things work out better than expected when they just start giving what they have to give. That may be $10 to start with for some, but God has a way of blessing that for anyone who is trying.
ReplyDeleteDH and I have been giving 10% of our after tax income to the church. I don't know if you are supposed to be giving more to other organizations, but we're sticking with the church right now. It has been a penny-pinching last year for us with mostly one income (mine), while DH does odd/side jobs, but we still gave 10% of whatever income we had. And people are absolutely right ... God blesses you with enough to sustain yourselves! We have not regretted tithing. It takes a big leap of faith in the beginning, but in the last year to year and a half, my trust is built so much stronger now that God will provide.
ReplyDeleteGreat question and discussion! How's little Jan doing? :-)