Tithing is an Old Testament concept. There were three tithes the Israelites were required to set aside money for: the Levitical tithe (Numbers 18:21), the Festival tithe (Deuteronomy 12:5-7), and the Poor tithe (Deuteronomy 14:28-29). There’s debate about the amounts, but some scholars believe the Israelites were required to set aside 10% each year for each tithe. That would make the total tithe 30%.
That’s what God’s chosen people living in a God-ordained theocratic nation were required to give. Since God’s chosen people now includes the worldwide church living in many different nations, giving will look different. The New Testament still assumes God’s people will give, but offers no set percentage. Instead, we’re instructed to give generously, cheerfully, and expectantly:
The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. Each person should do as he has decided in his heart — not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)
1. Give generously. As Paul says, “The person who sows sparingly will reap sparingly. Sparingly means holding back. If I take my wife out to dinner, and I say “Order anything you want, babe. I’m sparing no expense tonight!” That means I’m not holding anything back. There’s nothing on the menu that’s off limits, because I’ll spend whatever it takes to make the meal enjoyable.
Many Christians hold back in their giving. They say, “God, I’ll give you 10 percent, but that’s 10 percent of my income after taxes, and it doesn’t include Christmas bonuses. Or birthday money. Oh, and it doesn’t include my tax refund either. That’s my play money.”
We often sow sparingly, but Paul says “The person who sows generously will also reap generously.” We’ll have more if we give more. Not more to spend on ourselves, more to invest in his kingdom.
2. Give cheerfully. As Paul says, “Each person should do as he has decided in his heart — not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.” Some Christians give reluctantly and out of compulsion, because they feel like they owe God something. But the reality is, we don’t owe God anything. We owe him everything!
If you put your faith in Jesus Christ, then he brought you from death to life. How could you ever repay someone for saving your life? How could you ever put a dollar amount on the value of your life? When you’re living in the mercy, grace, love of Jesus, you don’t feel indebted. You feel freed. And so you freely and cheerfully give what your heart leads you to give. It’s not a payment on a loan that someday you’ll finally pay off. It’s a free and cheerful gift.
3. Give expectantly. As Paul says, “God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, at all times having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.” That’s a lot of unconditional statements! Every grace. Every way. At all times. In every good work. In other words, God will give you everything you need to do everything he asks. If he wants you to give away 10 percent of your income, or 20 percent, or 80 percent, he’ll give you what you need to make that happen.
At all times, you’ll have everything you need. So you can give with the confidence that God will take care of you.