Tithing, quite simply, is giving a portion of the gifts which God has given us back to Him in thanksgiving for them. These gifts usually fall under the categories of Time, Talent, and Treasure.
We give of our time and talents in service to the needs of Christ and the Church by participating in the ministry of the Church, ministries which can be as diverse as teaching children or adults on the way to conversion, building and grounds maintenance, or helping the less fortunate, especially the poor, the sick, and the grieving.
We also give of our treasure in the same service as our time and talent, but our treasure is given as financial support of the ministry of the Church. Christians are called to "give whatever [they] can afford." (1 Corinthians 16:2) Thus, we are not bound by the ten percent of the Old Covenant.
The rule is to give according to your realistic financial ability and your conscience.
"Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you." (Luke 6:38)
As you consider your generous contribution to our work in serving the Body of Christ, our community would ask that you would please meditate on the following verses from the Gospel according to Mark:
"[Jesus] sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them," 'Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.' " (Mark 12:41-44)