Giving More Than I Can Spare

“I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc, is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them.”

– C. S. Lewis

Although this quote from C.S. Lewis is loaded with thou should’s and ought’s, it presents a new matrix for evaluating personal philanthropy. (A priest friend of mine said we need to eliminate the “you should’s” from or vocabulary because people have been “should” on enough in church.) For centuries, the concept of tithing, giving 10% of the first and best fruits has been both our spiritual discipline and generosity guideline. In an agricultural society this tradition makes sense; but for an industrial and information based economy this guideline may be outdated and un-relatable. And for many, the hard 10% number provides an easy answer to the young man’s question to Jesus, “What do I need to do to inherit eternal life?”

But the uncomfortable Jesus answer to the young man – “sell all that you own, give it to the poor, then come follow me” turns the tables on tithing. That is, in our affluent society, a fixed percentage giving formula may be limiting my giving, limiting my spiritual growth, and limiting my joy. I have heard, and been part of, discussions about whether or not a tithe is before or after tax. These are legalistic discussions that block and divert us away from spiritual growth. I believe the answer to the before or after-tax question is – which one deepens my relationship with Jesus. Too often a fixed percentage does not define and or promote sacrifice.

For people in debt, living beyond their means, the tithing formula would be a true burden. For higher income folk, and owning a house mortgage free, the tithing formula maybe a real comfortable place to be. But Jesus calls us to the uncomfortable place of sacrifice; a place that leads to spiritual growth. C. S. Lewis does not say, as Jesus did, go and sell all we have and give it the poor. Rather I hear him asking me is my giving sacrificial, is it making me Holy, is it leading me to eternal life.

I have also heard, and been part of discussions, where a finance or stewardship committee dreamed of a time when everyone tithed. This discussion was institution focused. The idea of moving people to be tithing was to balance the budget, to be in a comfortable place financially. I invite us, the corporate church community, to ponder this quote from C.S. Lewis as it relates to living as the Body of Christ in the world.