St. Barbara Orthodox Church - Stewardship Corner

     For the Third All American Council in 1972, His Eminence Archbishop Dmitri wrote an article which talked about the spiritual meaning of money. The following excerpt is from that article. “The 8th and 9th chapters of St. Paul’s Second Epistle to the Corinthians contain the whole theology of Christian giving. Although he is speaking about a collection of the relief of the Christians at Jerusalem, he reveals a number of universal truths about giving.

     “Giving represents the degree of a Christian’s devotion, and is a means of grace (8:1 and 8:8). It is part of the Christian life and even proof of one’s love (8:24 and 8:7). Christian giving is sacrificial (Mark 12:43-44), and our Lord’s emptying Himself and becoming poor for our sakes is the basis for the call to Christians to sacrifice (8:9). Giving must be in proportion to what one has, though the Macedonians had given even more than they were able (8:3). It must be voluntary (8:12) and cheerful (9:7). Giving provides a good example to others and is the occasion for thanksgiving (9:11-12).

     “In light of the clear teaching of the Gospel, each Christian must give according to his means. This implies that he must dedicate regularly a part of his income to God’s work (ideally a tithe, or even more if he is especially blessed, materially)…

     “When real Christian giving becomes general in our Churches then so much of the energy and time that is expended in parishes (in other pursuits) can be given over to knowing the saving faith of Christ, to preaching the Gospel, and to deepening the spiritual life.”

If giving back to God from the blessings we have received is indeed part of our spiritual life, then stewardship, like prayer, should begin at a young age. We can hear what one Christian writer has to say specifically about youth and tithing. “Tithing ought to begin in childhood. If boys and girls have the example of their parents to encourage them the decision to tithe will not be a difficult one to make. Even if parents do not tithe, children readily respond to the suggestion that God has given us so much that it is only right that we should set aside a portion of all we receive and bring it as an offering to the church, or use it to help those in need. ”Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

Although the tithe itself is mentioned sparingly in the New Testament, the subject of money is discussed directly and with great frequency. "Almost every one of the Gospels and the Epistles gives a prominent place to a discussion of the relationship between money and a vital (living) faith in God." A few key passages come to mind from the many that exist: The Widow's Mite in Luke 21 and Mark 21; "It is more blessed to give than to receive" in Acts 20:35; and "He who sows either sparingly or bountifully will reap accordingly for God loves a cheerful giver" in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8. For Christian living in what has been called a "materialistic society" the tithe and proper stewardship of God's gifts, "is an essential step in moving away from materialism to an abundant life in Christ." (Some of the above taken from the book, "Spiritual Life Through Tithing" by G. Ernest Thomas.)

Last month we began our stewardship entries with a definition of tithing and an explanation of the purpose and spiritual benefits of this practice.

Although many Christians tithe faithfully of their income every month, there is a belief among some that tithing is non-traditional, something that is stressed mainly in a Protestant context but not in Orthodoxy. For Orthodox Christians it would be helpful for us to hear the words of one of our beloved Saints: John Chrysostom (347 to 407 A.D.) His teaching serves to stress that tithing is strong in our own Tradition and is something toward which we should be striving. St. John says:

“For what, in dealing with this obligation (tithing) did the Jews not do? They contributed tithes, and tithed again for the orphans, widows and proselytes. Now, however, we are wont to hear such and such a one say with astonishment, ‘So and so gives tithes!’ How great a disgrace, I ask, is this: that what among the Jews was no matter of astonishment or celebrity has now among Christians become a matter of surprise. If it were a dangerous thing (spiritually) to fail in giving tithes then, to be sure, it is much more dangerous now” (i.e. for Christians, in the days following the coming of Christ).

We start with the question, “What is Tithing?” Tithing is the regular habit by which a Christian, who seeks to be faithful to what has been entrusted to him, sets aside and offers at least 10 percent of his income in thankful remembrance of God’s gifts, and to acknowledge God’s ownership of all earthly resources. Tithing is not practiced to buy favors from God, but to pay honor to the Heavenly Father Who is the source of every material blessing. Tithing is a God-given practice, reflected in Scripture, impressing upon man that he does not own the material world; he is merely a temporary steward, a care-taker of that which God ultimately possesses. (A portion taken from, Spiritual Life Through Tithing, by G. Earnest Thomas.)