How Does Stewardship Differ From Tithing? Should I Bother Giving at All?

Dear Catholic Exchange:

Please tell me what the Church teaches about tithing. I can’t find a reference to tithing in the Catechism. Also, what Scripture verses support the idea of tithing?

Thanks,

Joan Raines

Dear Joan,

Peace in Christ! There are both practical and spiritual components of tithing. Practically, tithing provides for the growth of the Church and help of the poor. It also provides a paradigm for personal finance. Spiritually, tithing is an exercise in generosity and trust in God.

Deuteronomy 14:29 shows that tithing is the model provided by God for supporting divine worship and meeting the needs of the poor:

and the Levite [priest], because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled; that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.

Malachi 3:10 lays down the economic principle for tithing—how we can tithe and provide for the needs of our families. The Lord says first to tithe, then to count the blessings (“overflowing”):

Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.

The Church expresses giving in terms of need and support. In the Code of Canon Law, canon 222, we read:

Christ’s faithful have the obligation to provide for the needs of the Church, so that the Church has available to it those things which are necessary for divine worship, for apostolic and charitable work and for the worthy support of its ministers.

Furthermore, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (Catechism) states that “the faithful also have the duty of providing for the material needs of the Church, each according to his abilities” (no. 2043).

Instead of an amount, the rule is “according to his abilities.” This brings up the concept of stewardship, which, it can be argued, is the New Testament manifestation of the principles of tithing. Stewardship is the giving of our time, talent, and treasure to our church in recognition that all we have is really a gift from God. Stewardship takes us from “10 percent off the top” to “what can I do?”

Second century apologist Justin Martyr seems to be describing stewardship, not tithing, when he describes the offertory of the Mass:

Those who are wealthy and who wish to do so, contribute whatever they themselves care to give; and the collection is placed with the president, who aids the orphans and the widows, and those who through sickness or any other cause are in need, and those who are imprisoned, and the strangers who are sojourning with us—and in short, he takes care of all who are in need (First Apology, 67).

While the Church does not mandate a strict tithe, 10 percent is a good rule of thumb. Prayerful stewardship might lead us to give more, especially if one were to quantify the value of time and talent, but without a standard we might fall into less-than-generous habits of giving. Currently, giving among Catholics is at less than two percent, according to most surveys. Until the faithful adopt an attitude of stewardship, the tithe is a good practice.

I hope this answers your question. If you have further questions on this or would like more information about Catholics United for the Faith, please contact us at 1-800-MY-FAITH (693-2484). Please keep us in your prayers as we endeavor to “support, defend, and advance the efforts of the teaching Church.”

United in the Faith,

Amy Barragree

Information Specialist

Catholics United for the Faith

827 North Fourth Street

Steubenville, OH 43952

800-MY-FAITH (800-693-2484)