Let's Talk About Cash*

Money reflects a lot of things about how and what we think

The Tribute Money Titian, 1560 – 1568

Money is a hard thing for us to talk about. When I kicked around writing this article about tithing Husband recoiled, “Ick! It always feels scrungey when pastors talk about tithing. It gives me, ‘Plant-a-mustard-seed-and-get-a-huge-reward’ vibes!”

What I heard was, ‘It’s probably a good thing to talk about, and maybe we don’t talk about it enough’. Hopefully I can avoid “Give-me-seed-investment-and-watch-your-gifts-multiply-beyond-your-wildest-dreams” tones!

By “tithing”, I mean the practice of giving 10% of your income away. There are various passages about it in the Old Testament, but not so much in the New. I would assume that there are some things that were so “obvious” to the early church that they barely recognized the need to talk about them at all, and this is sad because little did this early church realize that here we’d be - thousands of years later - still trying to shuffle through life, wondering how best it should all be done.

You probably have heard pastors or icky tel-evangelists (or maybe just jokes about such) asking for money. I had a person tell me that it was because of offering calls in churches that they got up, walked out, and haven’t darkened the door of the Church since. The generall consensus in that situation was, “How dare they try to jump in my wallet?!”

We know money is a tricky subject, and it’s usually tricky not because of money itself, but because of all that money represents — our fears about the future, our realization that we lack really any control, and our ability to care for ourselves and our families — money is super emotional!

Last week I wrote about our treck into Leviticus at St. Jacob’s’ Bible study. I think it’s vital as we read any part of the Bible, but especially Leviticus, to remember that the goal is not about changing God’s mind about us, but changing our minds about Him. He’s already close; already near. And I would argue that this is true with most of our religious practice and life, including our finances. We are the ones who need adjusting and turning back to the right things.

I think human beings have a bad tendency of falling into tit for tat relationships - we turn everything into a transaction, from our friendships, to our marriages to our relationship with God. You do this, I’ll do that — and if I do, then I will expect something equal or even better from you. At first it might almost seem like this method works, but soon we find that we’re resentful and always keeping score. This attitude creeps in and ruins things because it’s not at all based in love and selfless service - it’s based on selfishness. So quickly we’re only using each other.

This view of relgion (a fast track way to get what you need from God) is often found in the Church, and frequently in those who profess to follow Christ. I think when people moan and groan about the church being full of hypocrites this is often at the heart of that complaint. We know the Church should be something else, but too often we don’t find it.

But there is another way — and if you give me $20,000 I’d be happy to share!

JUST KIDDING! (I had to throw this in there for Husband!)

God’s goal is to move us from this legal tit-for-tat kind of operation in life, to a life healed and renewed by love, and in that healing we begin to see everything in a new light. Suddenly we realize, actually we’re on the same team (hopefully) as our friends and relatives, and instead of keeping score we can work together to support each other and love each other. We no longer operate from a place of starving for scraps but realizing that God’s love fills us to overflowing and we share the overflow from Him all around. We don’t worry about running out and getting what we need, because we have plenty, and will never run dry!

A discussion about tithing should always start there — this isn’t about giving “God” or the “Church” a portion of your finances so you can be receiving dividends later. God doesn’t need your money — He has plenty of resources we don’t understand anything about. The real person who’s attitude about money that needs to change isn’t Gods — it’s mine!

And oh boy, doesn’t it.

Money is a short cut to see what I really beleive about living in God’s abundant Kingdom. Do I really understand that I have all I need? (Shockingly, no!) Do I really believe He’ll take care of future needs? (Again, it’s a daily practice of choosing to trust Him.) Do I really understand what’s the most important thing in this life? (I need a lot of reminding….)

For me, when Husband and I tithe, I find that we are realigning our relationship with money. I’m taking away the power money has over my emotions and life. I’m showing it who’s boss! My whole attitude about resources (not just money) begins to shift (it’s a long slow process) and I realize that I have much more than I understand, and plenty to give away.

It’s an amazing thing as I put together my taxes each year and realize just how generous we’ve been able to be. I don’t say that in a horn-tooty way, but as a real moment of awe about what God has done in my heart and mind! I begin to see that I actually can and do get to live with His abundant mindset more and more! And what fun that actually is. God doesn’t want you to live in His kingdom to suffer and deprive yourself, but to really understand what truly brings joy and happiness.

It’s not an easy thing to pay 10% of your income. In fact, it’s very hard, especially if you’ve never attempted it. But I would challenge you, to try it. Test it out, see what happens to your heart and mind and attitude for a few months? What needs to happen for your to be able to do this?

Doing this challenging thing has forced me to budget better, it’s forced me to tackle the problem of money and wrangle my finances in ways I probably would avoid if I didn’t tithe. I don’t give all my money to one thing, and sometimes the things I give money to shift. It’s so fun to be able to have a pot that I can support the causes and organizations that are important to me. I can’t do all things, but I can support and empower a lot more than I have time to physically do.

That person who walked out of church because they asked for money saddens me, but I doubt the real issue was the money. Churches do need money, they have expenses (insurance has gone up in almost catastrophic ways for churches in the last few years), and churches have overhead just like any group of people doing any task. It’s not icky for churches to ask for money, it’s actually a way that we get to participate in what the Church is doing. Being able to participate in what God is doing is a super important part of what going to church is about — so it’s actually a special part of the worship service. The offering is a time when we can turn again towards God and His active presence in our lifes — a time to Trust Him in new and fresh ways with every corner of our being.

Do you pay tithe? Do you not pay tithe? How has it shifted in your mind? How do you think this practice could be less about changing God’s mind and more about changing our minds? You can leave a comment (on Substack) or reply right to this email, I’d love to hear your experience!

with love,

sierra

*This title is a play on the title of a famous song, “Let’s Talk about Sex” — Money's not sex, but it might as well be - it's just as dirty and difficult to talk about.

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Bits & Bobs

I’m a little late putting the Christmas decorations away, and I’m still only mid-way through but wow, am I loving the look of a bare bannister and clean kitchen! This week the routine was further compromised by teacher sickness, snow days off school and Jimmy Carter’s funeral federal day off, but it was a good week. Glad to be getting back to the routines.

If you live where it snows then you might identify this - when the parking lots are full of dirty slush the consistency of creamed butter and brown sugar. I delight in considering what a charming but messy nightmare this could be.

You know you’ve reached a new point when you’re dating someone new and they introduce you as “girlfriend/boyfriend”. It’s also surprising when people introduce me as their “pastor” which speaks to the kind of relationship they have with me. I’m still not quite used to it, but it feels very humbling and special. I hope I never take people’s trust for granted, and that they see me a spiritual guide in their lives.

Winter is a time for novels, and I’ve got two I’m cruising through, “The Angle of Repose” by Wallace Stegner (listening) and “Far from the Madding Crowd” by Thomas Hardy (reading). I read the first one way way back in college, and find it funny that my name is now Ward (the main characters), but couldn’t have known that when I first read it. What are you reading?

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Last year I wrote:

Two years ago I wrote: