Guest Column / Richard Etienne

Practice of tithing reminds us God cannot be outdone in generosity

I am not a development director. But, I have been influenced by the Dave Ramsey model in my understanding of personal finance and was always known to having been quite frugal with my spending habits.

But many years ago, I decided to tithe. I do not share this to brag, but so that I can tell of my personal experience from this practice.

My mother always said, “God will not be outdone in generosity.” And now, I feel personally that it is true.

Additionally, I was also very blessed with income during my professional career. And when it first began to flow, I could not imagine giving 10% away.

Our family was not blessed with many financial riches at the time that I was born. So with my parents having lived through the Depression—at very young ages—I was taught early in life about “the value of a dollar.”

It was not easy for me to imagine “giving up” such a large percentage. (I know, I know— it all belongs to God—that I am just a temporary steward of these assets with which I am blessed. But I digress.]

So, I have been surprised throughout my life as I have tithed—to my parish, diocese and various charities—that I not only didn’t experience a feeling of poverty when I gave funds away, but rather, the polar opposite.

I have been blessed to a point that I could never have dreamed at one time in my life: God’s gifts just continue to pour back upon me and my family!

This now allows me to continue to give generously after my professional career has ended.

In St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians, we read, “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:7).

In the Gospel according to Luke, we see, “Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap” (Lk 6:38).

Lastly, in Psalm 65, we read, “May we be filled with the good things of your house, the blessings of your holy temple” (Ps 65:5).

And this is what I have experienced, again, an overflowing of gifts back to me and my family.

An image that stays with me continually is that of the cornucopia—often seen at Thanksgiving—with gords, corn, fruits and other things tumbling out of it.

So it has become my experience that our God won’t be outdone in generosity.

How are you doing with your spirit of giving? Any time is a wonderful time to review your current practice and decide if there is further room to pass along more of what the Lord has given you.
 

(Richard Etienne has a degree in theology from Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad and resides in Newburgh, Ind.) †