money and nakedness

In a recent conversation regarding financial matters of a parish, I brought up the idea of tithing.  My example was: let’s say the parish has 200 dues-paying members, and the average household income is (very conservatively in this case) $30,000, then if every member contributed 10% of the gross income (only $3,000 per family per year, $250 per month), the parish would receive $600,000 per year.  The response was that this is certainly not an Armenian mindset.

My response: yes, it is a paradigm shift, that what we have is not ours to begin with.  We come into the world naked, and we leave naked (cf. Job 1:21; Ecc. 5:15).  I may live until I am 80 years old, I may live until I am 28—what matters is what I do during those years with what I have.  This, as you might imagine, made them (who are older than I) rather uncomfortable.

I went on to explain that the ultimate purpose of tithing really is not for the church’s benefit alone—though $600,000 would certainly aid any parish (and its ministries to the poor, the sick, the elderly?)—but for our own as well.  There is a lot of discussion about whether or not we ought to tithe as Christians (Abraham did it (Gen. 14:18), and it is in the Law (Lev. 27:30; Num. 18:26; Deut. 14:24; 2 Chron. 31:5)), if we should tithe our gross or net income, and other weird things which may or may not be important, but generally we do not discuss why we ought to tithe.  Tithing, in fact, is more to train us for something with which I think we all might struggle: what we have is not ours.  We are merely stewards of gifts which God gives us (cf. Ps. 24:1; 1 Cor. 4:7; Lk 19:11-27; Mt. 15:14-30; contrast with Acts 5:1-11).  If we consider even living is a gift, does it not follow that everything in this life is a gift?

What are we doing with that which Christ has entrusted to us?  In the parable of the minas (or pounds) in the Gospel according to St Luke, Jesus uses rather strong (and even violent) language, “But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them before me” (Lk. 19:27).

To be honest, God does not want simply 10% of our income, but he wants all of us.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  (Rom 12:1f.)

We tip waiter/waitresses 15% (at least, hopefully) of what
they bring us, but do we give God 10% of what he gives us,
let alone 100%?

How much better off would our parishes (and their ministries?) be if I thought less like an Armenian and more like a Christian?  How much better would my life be if I realized that what I have is not mine, and actually lived that out?  How much do I, in all honesty, trust God?


My challenge to everyone who reads this: no matter what you make, decide on a percentage to give and try it for a year. (10% is a good start, but it could be 5%, or even 1%.)  See if you do not notice a change in your way of seeing your money, your possessions, your life.  My guess is it will not take nearly a year to see change.

Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. (Job 1:21)

One of the multitude said to him, "Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me." But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?" And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?'And he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat, nor about your body, what you shall put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! (Lk. 12:13-24)