The short answer to this question is because Jesus talked about money often. Our relationship with wealth is without question one of, if not, THE most predominant subjects found in our scriptures and a central topic in most other mainline religions as well. There are over 2,400 verses in the Bible concerning finances. Jesus talked about money more than anything else except the Kingdom of God. Over half of Jesus' parables and 1 of every 7 verses in the Gospel of Luke talk about money or wealth. So, it's obviously important to our living out our faith and therefore more than fair game to talk about in church. In fact, we would be remiss if we didn't.
However, tithing is really not about money at all. God doesn't need our money. ALL things belong to God. All that we have and own is just on lend for a few years. Tithing is an issue of trust.
Most of us believe that we have right to possess whatever comes to us honestly, either through our own work or through legitimate inheritance as we didn't cheat anyone along the way. Partly this is true, but in light of the values we hold as followers of Jesus, it needs a lot of qualification.
Catholic Social Teaching (our body of doctrine on poverty, wealth and social justice) tells us that God intended the earth and everything in it for the sake of ALL human beings, so created goods should flow fairly to all. All other rights are secondary to this principle. No person (or nation) may have a surplus if others do not have the basic necessities for life. Period. And yet those of us who make $34,000 a year or more are part of a very elite economic class, the wealthiest of the wealthy, the top 1% of humanity’s 7 billion people. Sorry folks, globally speaking WE are the 1%.
We know that we are all connected. We know we are a part of what is broken. But what can we do? Our budget is lean! Our kids have to go to college, right? My husband and I sweat bullets every time we even think of the tuition bills coming our way in a few years…not to mention the non-existent retirement fund. Without question, it is hard to trust…
There is one place in scripture where we are not only encouraged to trust God with our finances, but God actually invites us to put him to the test! In a very direct, personal challenge God says through the prophet Malachi (3:10) - “Try me in this! TRY to out do me in generosity! Put me to the test (like God saying, 'I dare ya!'), and see if I do not open the floodgates of heaven for you, and pour down upon you blessing without measure!” Sounds just like Jesus In Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you. A good portion—packed down, firmly shaken, and overflowing—will fall into your lap."
So, maybe we can give tithing a shot. Word has it that Jesus is pretty honest and trustworthy. Maybe God isn't asking us to give 10% but rather letting us keep 90% and asking us to trust and see what happens through this practice…certainly a challenge worth seriously pondering.
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