Stewardship of Treasure
Putting God first in finances
At Immaculate Conception we are encouraging each other to be better stewards of our money, setting aside a generous offering to the parish each week. This is an important part of our Stewardship Renewal.
Talking about money in a church setting is distasteful to some people—but it shouldn’t be. Jesus himself spoke about money quite frequently, for the very simple reason that money plays a very large role in our lives. Precisely because of this, it needs to be aligned with our most deeply held beliefs. After all, Jesus asks us to give Him our hearts; why should it be harder to give Him our dollars?
Why Give a Percentage?
Why should we determine the amount of our gift based on a percentage of income? First, because the tithe (10%) is a scriptural benchmark which the Church has honored for centuries (see Malachi 3:10). Secondly, we give a percentage of income because it is a common-sense standard by which everyone can equitably support the parish, each according to his or her ability.
As a parish, Immaculate Conception breaks down the tithe as follows:
9% to the parish
1 % to the diocese
If the goals above seem difficult to attain, consider increasing your gift incrementally until you reach your goal. It may take some time (even several months) but eventually you can reach an amount that adequately reflects God’s generosity to you.
As you move toward your goal, the most important thing is to choose a regular amount to give each week or month, and be faithful to it. Families who have reached the tithe will tell you that it brings peace and blessing, because they know they have made God their top priority.
