Giving

Money and possessions are the most talked about subjects in the Bible — more than prayer, faith or salvation.

Begin with acknowledging that everything belongs to God:

¹ The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
    the world, and all who live in it;

Psalm 24:1

The LORD takes care of those who honor Him:

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.

Proverbs 3:9-10

What about tithing?

Abraham was the first to give 10%

¹⁷ After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Shaveh Valley (that is, the King’s Valley). ¹⁸ Melchizedek, king of Salem,^{[= Jerusalem]} brought out bread and wine; he was a priest to God Most High. ¹⁹ He blessed him and said:

Abram is blessed by God Most High,
Creator^{[Or Possessor]} of heaven and earth,
²⁰ and blessed be God Most High
who has handed over your enemies to you.

And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Genesis 14:17-20 CSB

I

Tithing commanded under the old covenant

In Old Testament times, tithes were to be given to God from the proceeds of land, herd and flock. The Israelites were to give a percentage of their belongings to God, recognizing God as both the source and owner of all material blessings. Tithes were to be given to God from the proceeds of land, herd and flock. The tithe (Hebrew maaser, meaning “the tenth”) was originally 10 percent of every Israelite’s property (Leviticus 27:30 – 33), given to God from the proceeds of land, herd and flock. It was given as a type of tax to support the priests and Levites (Numbers 18:21 – 24). However, greed discouraged many Israelites from paying it, and eventually it became a duty that replaced true worship.

Are Christians Required to Tithe?

Since Christ’s sacrifice of himself removed the need for a Levitical priesthood, the principal purpose for the Old Testament tithe is gone and furthermore Christians aren’t required to tithe since they are not under the law. The Law of Moses mandated the tithe to support the Levites in their priestly service and those in need among the foreigners, orphans and widows (Deuteronomy 14:28 – 29). In the same way, Christians have the responsibility to support the leaders and teachers in the church by their giving (1 Corinthians 9:1-14)

Believers are to give in the following manner:

Generously, cheerfully, without compulsion

The principle is: what we reap is a reflection of what we sow.

He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one should give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to us, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, we may abound in every good work. As it is written: “He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase our seed and will increase the fruits of our righteousness.

2 Corinthians 9:6–10

Humbly

There is danger in thinking that if we follow a specific rule, we have done everything that God requires. Jesus chastised the Pharisees for giving a tenth of their spices while neglecting more important matters of the law — justice, mercy and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23). To suppose that God demands 10 percent — and nothing more — can foster an attitude that says, “This bit is for God, and the rest is mine.”

With the Proper Attitude

Using a strictly legal principle of giving prompts wrangling over questions like: Is it 10 percent of gross income or net income? Of take-home pay only? Before or after insurance and retirement deductions? Instead, we are to give what we decide in our hearts to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). Therefore some better questions might be: How can I better manage my affairs so that I can give more? Where can I give that will best serve God’s purposes? Now that I’ve given what money I can, what else can I give?

The advice from scripture:

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Corinthians 9:6 – 7 

New Testament admonitions about giving.

• Giving should be an act of stewardship since God is the source and true owner of everything (John 3:27; 1 Corinthians 4:7; 12:7 – 11; 1 Peter 4:10)
• Giving should be an act of worship (Romans 12:1)
• Giving should be proportionate (1 Corinthians 16:1 – 2)
• Giving should be voluntary (2 Corinthians 8:1 – 5, 11 – 12; 9:2)
• Giving should be planned (2 Corinthians 9:3 – 5)
• Giving should be cheerful (2 Corinthians 9:7)
• Giving should be generous (2 Corinthians 8:2; 9:5, 11, 13)
• Giving should be to support those who pastor or teach (1 Corinthians 9:11)

Giving by the poor

^{14 Each man who is registered, twenty years old or more, must give this contribution to the Lord. 15 The wealthy may not give more and the poor may not give less than half a shekel when giving the contribution to the Lord to atone for[Or to ransom] your lives.}

Exodus 30:14-15 CSB

The LORD recognizes the high value of the poor’s giving

⁴¹ Sitting across from the temple treasury, he watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich people were putting in large sums. ⁴² Then a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little. ⁴³ Summoning his disciples, he said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. ⁴⁴ For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had —all she had to live on.”

Mark 12:41-44 CSB

8 We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that was given to the churches of Macedonia: ² During a severe trial brought about by affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. ³ I can testify that, according to their ability and even beyond their ability, of their own accord, ⁴ they begged us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints, ⁵ and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us by God’s will. ⁶ So we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so he should also complete among you this act of grace.

⁷ Now as you excel in everything—in faith, speech, knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us^{[Other mss read in our love for you]}—excel also in this act of grace.

2 Corinthians 8:1-7

The amount to give should be determined by our heart.

When we feel compelled to give based on an external standard, the heart is cut out of the gift. Such giving is a matter of works, not grace.

¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,^{[Or and songs prompted by the Spirit]} singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:16-17 CSB

Limiting ourselves to a rigid 10 percent standard of tithing can cause us to miss the fundamental principle behind biblical generosity. God’s liberality is the basis for his people’s openhanded, bighearted responses. In fact, we are called to willingly offer 20, 30 or even 100 percent (Luke 18:22) if that is what the Lord should require of us.

⁷ Now as you excel in everything—in faith, speech, knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us^[a]—excel also in this act of grace. ⁸ I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love. ⁹ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. ¹⁰ And in this matter I am giving advice because it is profitable for you, who began last year not only to do something but also to want to do it. ¹¹ Now also finish the task, so that just as there was an eager desire, there may also be a completion, according to what you have. ¹² For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. ¹³ It is not that there should be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality.^[b] 14 At the present time your surplus is available for their need, so that their abundance may in turn meet your need, in order that there may be equality. ¹⁵ As it is written: The person who had much did not have too much, and the person who had little did not have too little.^{[Ex 16:18]}

2 Corinthians 8:7-15

General Principle

Many Christians have adopted a system called 10 – 10 – 80, which is to give 10 percent of their total income, save 10 percent and live on 80 percent. These percentages aren’t mandated in the Bible, but the principle as a whole is both biblical and practical.

Setting a standard of giving, such as tithing, can help us do what we believe in our hearts to be right even if our feelings should waver. But if a Christian decides to tithe, it should be a free and joyous decision, not a legalistic one.

For Reflection

Are you giving humbly, generously, and with the proper attitude? Ask God to speak to your heart regarding your giving habits. Then listen and obey.

This post is based on an article edited from study features in the NIV Quest Study Bible.