Tithing Time

Post Author: Rev. Michelle Bodle

When we speak of spiritual disciples, the list seems extensive. Richard Foster, in his book Celebration of Discipline, listed meditation, prayer, fasting, study, simplicity, solitude, submission, service, confession, worship, guidance, and celebration – and this is just a starting point. Other writings contain stewardship, journaling, and Sabbath. I have seen lists upon lists of spiritual disciplines as someone who teaches about spiritual formation. Yet, one spiritual discipline that has been critical to my life as a pastor seems to be lacking – tithing time. 

Regarding tithing as pastors, it can have different tenors depending on the season and circumstances. Perhaps you are a pastor who speaks about tithing during stewardship season when the congregation has the yearly opportunity to talk about how giving shapes us as individuals and as a community. Maybe you are someone who is told by your congregation to speak about tithing only if you are in danger of falling short of the budget, and then you get to send out letters asking people to be generous. 

Whether you adopt one of these approaches or an entirely different one, I often speak about tithing as a pastor in terms of financial giving. But when I was speaking with my own spiritual director about tithing, something completely different led the conversation—the tithing of time. 

As many seminars as I have attended about how no one controls our calendars but us, the truth is that part of the vocation of pastoral ministry is that things come up – funerals and critical hospitalizations are at least a monthly occurrence in my setting if not a weekly one. However, I have reclaimed control over my reaction to my calendar through tithing time. It’s a practice that empowers me and can empower you, too. 

When I began tithing time, it was connected to office hours, something that I did not relish. For every ten hours I was in the office, I had to have at least one where I was outside of the church building. For every ten work hours, I need at least one hour to pour my heart into my local community through volunteering at the local university or hospice. 

The spiritual discipline of tithing time serves as a reminder to me, and to my community as I share this practice, that my time does not really belong to my church. Instead, it belongs to God. If the spiritual discipline of tithing helps me to be a good steward of my income and to grow in trust of God, then the spiritual discipline of the tithing of time can help me grow in that same trust of God in areas well beyond finances. It’s a transformative practice that can bring hope and optimism to your life and ministry. 

When I think about what is most precious, it is not money—it’s time. Yet no one has ever told me what it looks like to dedicate my time to God in a life-giving way—even as someone who gives time to God through my vocation. Now I speak about tithing time with my spiritual directees, spiritual formation students and fellow students because it was so critical to my understanding of who I am in relationship to others, God, and yes, even my calendar. It became not about how much I could fit into my day or week, but instead joy about what I can give away in terms of time. 

What could tithing of time look like in your life? What new joy, understanding, or freedom could it bring for you?