Live Like there’s Heaven on Earth

We continue our conversations about money with a simple question.  Does God really need our money? Our tithe is our response to our need to give, not God’s need to receive. We have read many times that the tithe is the place to start our conversations about our giving. A tithe is ten percent of our income which seems like a lot. Who can afford to tithe?  It is a big commitment considering some people don’t even save ten percent of their income. How are we expected to give ten percent to the church?

Our tithe is not about what we can afford, rather it is an expression of our deep gratitude for God’s grace in giving us more than we deserve.  If we received in income what we deserved, how much would that be? If you believe that your money comes from God—not from the business or company you work for—how much would God pay you for the work you do?

If you believe that your income is a fair representation of what you deserve, can you see yourself giving back a tenth of what God gives you in the form of a tithe to the church?  If that is too steep of an ask maybe you should start with a half tithe—five percent.

You see, God doesn’t need our money—God can take care of God’s self. We, however, need to give in order to avoid being mastered by our own money.  We need to give to show our gratitude for the gifts God has given us. We give to show we trust in God’s plan for our gifts.

More importantly, by giving our time, talent, and treasure to the church we are participating in God’s plan to heal the world by giving God the resources necessary to do His work and make it like Heaven on Earth—Here and Now.

Peace,
Father Mark