Giving Back

As Catholics, we are called and asked by the Church to give of our time, talent, and treasure. We probably think of this most directly in relation to our local parish: what we tithe, how we volunteer, how we use our talents for the good of the Church.

But there’s a misconception here. We think we are giving.

That’s not the full picture.

We’re actually giving back.

The gift of our time, talent, and treasure is a reciprocal action in response to God’s gift to us of that same time, talent, and treasure. Everything we have came from Him first. As the saints say, “His hand was the first.”

Think about that for a minute. Your ability to earn money? That’s God-given intelligence, opportunity, health, and providence. Your talents—whether it’s teaching, organizing, fixing things, making music? Those are gifts you’ve been given. Your time? Every breath is a gift you didn’t earn.

We don’t possess these things independently. We’re stewards of what’s already His.

So when we “give” to the Church or to the poor or to someone in need, we’re not being generous benefactors bestowing our own resources. We’re simply returning a portion of what was never really ours to begin with.

This changes everything about generosity.

It shifts from “How much can I afford to give?” to “How much am I keeping of what was given to me?” It moves from a transaction to a relationship. From duty to gratitude.

In matters of generosity, it comes down to giving back, not just giving.

And that small change might change everything.