Charity is defined by Merriam-Webster as “generosity or helpfulness… a gift… benevolent goodwill.”

A tithe, on the other hand, is “a… part paid… as a tax.” “obligation… small tax or levy.”

The Sufi teachings say this: to give generously in charity is a great thing. But before charity comes an obligation. If you receive abundantly, you owe some of what you received to those less fortunate. Why do you owe this? Why can’t you just keep it? After all, you worked hard to get it.

The tithe is a recognition that we are all interconnected, that none of us is independent. It is impossible to amass any amount of wealth solely on your own efforts. Tithing is recognizing the contributions that others have made to your success. By paying this obligation, you recognize that you aren’t the source at the beginning of wealth, and you aren’t the stopping point at the end of wealth. You are in the middle. Letting some of the wealth you receive flow downstream is the best way to assure that you stay in the flow.

Didn’t quite understand what you meant by obligation. You kinda lost me there

Tony Isaac´s last blog post..Study to show thyself – Do firstfruits refer to tithes?

@Tony- I love that it resonated so strongly with you- and I’m honored that you felt drawn back to it over and over.

The only reason your words don’t resonate with me is that I do feel there is a sense of obligation present in this. My parents made it clear to me, when I was young, that sharing was not optional. My sheikh has made the same point. While it’s true that we have a choice as to whether we participate in that, the obligation is one that I think it nourishing to the heart when taken on sincerely.

@Anne- Great wisdom to share from your past. And, I agree, giving when one feels needy or stuck is not the moment to give. An opportunity to face neediness!

I got caught in the 80s trying to tithe to get… didn’t work.

Later when I began to experience more abundance but also some real dips in income, a spiritual teacher of mine told me “tithe only if you can do so from gratitude.” So that’s been my guide. If I’m grateful I give, if I’m afraid or needy around money in that moment I don’t.

Mostly now I give and tithing or giving on a regular basis does seem to be part of keeping the flow open for me – not magic, I don’t mean that, but part of what works.

Love and blessings,
A

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I just couldn’t stay away from what you’ve written and I have read it over and over again.

Something you said escaped my attention the first time I read this post and I just spotted it now – I am not the source of wealth, God is! That is so very true. I can’t give what I don’t have. God gives me and does not expect it to end with me. The way I have received, I should give likewise. This is brilliant.

I thought of a word you could use instead of tithe – Freewill Giving or Love Offering! What do you think?

Tony Isaac´s last blog post..Study to show thyself – Personal Gain Christianity

Mark, I love this post, which is so filled with wisdom about the true nature of our relationship to giving and receiving. We receive what we need because we belong to the family of God. We give for the same reason.

Thank you.

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@Michelle- That is such an important distinction, isn’t it? It struck me, too, when I first heard of it. I’m glad you jumped in to highlight that piont.

@Tony- Nope, though I have a deep reverence and love for Jesus. I was born Jewish and still consider myself Jewish. My daily practice, my current teachers, and my orientation spiritually is through Islamic Sufism. Muslim.

It’s been an interesting journey for me, and it’s been one of the deepest and most beautiful moments in my life when I saw/felt/experienced the teachings and presence of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as the same exact pathway.

I don’t mean to dismiss the theological differences, but for me it’s really clear that the Qur’an, Torah, and Gospels are all in agreement. Which makes all the strife in the world all the more puzzling.

Out of curiosity though, which religion do you belong to?

Tony Isaac´s last blog post..Study to show thyself – Tithing and the parable of the talents

“Why do you owe this? Why can’t you just keep it? After all, you worked hard to get it. The tithe is a recognition that we are all interconnected, that none of us is independent. It is impossible to amass any amount of wealth solely on your own efforts. Tithing is recognizing the contributions that others have made to your success.”

I’d never considered that there is a difference between tithing (or zakah, or whichever term you want to use) and charity before, but I like the thought that it’s not (or should not be) a sort of high-handed giving but a humble acknowledgement that we are all interconnected. I think we need as many reminders of that as possible. )

Thanks for making me consider a distinction I’d never seen before!

I loved your post’s message … “give willinging, give without obligation” or at least that’s what I read

As a Two on the Enneagram I often too easily give with ’stickies’ unconsciously attached. That is, I give hoping inside that ‘abundance’ or love or something will karmically come back.

When I am able to give authentically, from the heart, whether that be 2.25% or 25%, then abundance does flow back.

It also occurs to me that I sometimes get back what I really need but fail to recognize it as the abundance that it really is.

Thanks for the provocative conversation, LL

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