By Father Carl Deitchman, Adviser
Development Services

To know what your priorities really are, just look at your calendar and checkbook to see where you spend your time and money. They reveal what is truly important to us.

A new year offers an opportunity to review where one’s priorities have been and to make deliberate efforts to shift priorities if necessary. The many little decisions we make about the use of our time and money end up drawing the big, basic direction of our lives. If we don’t like the way we’re headed, then maybe it’s time to change the many little decisions that move us along the road of life.

Since you are reading The Montana Catholic, your priorities probably already include serving God through the Church. Thank you for offering your time, talent and treasure to the mission of your parish and to the larger diocesan Church. No doubt you realize that all is gift from God and to give back first fruits is a way of offering gratitude to God for his many blessings. It’s not a duty but a privilege. It’s not painful but a joy.

Yet, each new year, each new day invites us to ask the question anew, “God, what are you asking me to do now for the advancement of your Church, your people, your world?” Do not be afraid of the question. Sit and pray with it. Listen and respond in faith.

Stewardship Tip

The biblical tithe of 10 percent of one’s time and treasure can seem an impossible amount to give when one is already facing so many demands for one’s resources. Without losing sight of this ideal, one can take measured steps to get there over time. If 10 percent of income is four hours of wages a week, strive now to give at least one hour’s wage a week. Doing that? Now up the goal to two hours’ wages, and so on.

The same method can be used for sharing one’s time. Plan to give on average an hour a week to church and charitable works and keep upping the goal until you reach four hours per week. And remember, we want God to receive cheerfully our best: the first fruits of our labors, not what might happen to be left over at the end of the paycheck or the day. So always give your best; give off the top!


Published in The Montana Catholic Online, Volume 24, No. 1, January 18, 2008.