Christian-SOS-Giving

The Bible says all Christians must give. But how much should we give? Is there a set amount as some people claim, or does it really depend on the heart?

I so often hear churches quote the Book of Malachi to say we must "Tithe" ten percent or we're somehow falling short of what God wants from us.

Yet from what I understand, the New Testament never mentions the "Tithe" as the standard of giving. In fact, I don't think there's a single passage where it mentions any percentage at all.

The passages below remind me that we are to give joyfully. That giving is not about legalism, percentages and obligation, but about love, faith and the heart.

Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. {2 Cor 9:7 RSV}

Galatians 2:16 also says, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." And again in Galatians 2:21, "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."

I mention this because I too have beaten myself up for not giving my "Ten percent".

I suspect God wants some people to give way more than ten percent. But I also think God is pleased with many others who give less.

At the root of this struggle is a question:

Just what exactly is it that God wants from us? Is it our money or is it something else?

On one level I realize it can't be our money. If that were all God wanted from us, then Orthodox Jews and Mormons would have an equal share in His Kingdom. After all, they too give lots of money, and often in higher percentages than tithing Christians.

Besides, is this not the God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills? Surely the God who made the Universe, the stars and the planets wants more than our money?

So what is it that God wants from us?

I don't think the question can be answered until we truly realize what God has given us.

If we accept the Bible as true, we must also embrace the magnitude of God's gifts to us.

We must realize God has given us everything.
He has given us life. He has given us a personal relationship with Him.

And He has saved us from eternal suffering in Hell so we can love Him and enjoy Him forever.

This is God's grace. We never deserved it. We never earned it. And there's no way we can pay for it now. It's a gift. Nothing less.

As a Christian, I sometimes forget that. I think, "Well, now that I've got this gift, how must I earn it?"

And that's where the ten percent comes in.

How often do we say to ourselves, "Hey, you should be giving more you know. True, your heart sucks and you don't really want to do it, but God is an angry God and He may punish you if you don't give more."

But the Bible says we can do nothing apart from Christ Jesus. It is He who gives me my love. It is He who gives me my faith, and it is He who even gives me my money!

I wonder, if we truly believe in grace, why do we work so hard to earn God's approval?

It's one thing to do good things out of joy. But it's quite another matter to do the same things out of fear and obligation.

As a Christian, I must remind myself that the law of tithing is directly from the Old Testament. And that while the Old Testament is very instructive, it was also written in a time before Jesus Christ. A time of Pre-Grace. A time where the people had a very different relationship with God than we have today.

Back in Old Testament days, following God meant eating Kosher food, worshiping at designated places and making animal sacrifices. While there was more to it than that, a large part of it was obedience. And obedience had to do with following the 613 laws given to Moses at Mount Sinai.

We must remind ourselves that this all changed when Jesus came and died for us. Now we have grace. Now we are free from the law. Likewise, Christians no longer have to 'tithe" ten percent anymore than we have to eat Kosher food or celebrate the Jewish Festivals. As Christians we are free.

So where do we go from here?

As a Christian, God has put it into my heart to do good things. But I want these good things to come out of love and not from legalism.

So for now I'm going to forget the tithe. Ten percent is no longer the law and I choose not to give it.

I will ask God for the faith and love to give from my heart.
If He wants me to give ten percent, he's God. I'm sure he can motivate me!

NEW TESTAMENT PASSAGES MENTIONING TITHES

Matthew 23:23-25

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
24: Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
25: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

Luke 11:40-44

And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.

40: Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?
41: But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.
42: But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
43: Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.
44: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.

Luke 8:12 Luke 18 Luke 18:11-13

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11: The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12: I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13: And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14: I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Hebrews 7

1: For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2: To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3: Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
4: Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
5: And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
6: But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
7: And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
8: And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
9: And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10: For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
11: If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12: For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
13: For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
14: For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
15: And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
16: Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17: For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
18: For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
19: For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
20: And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
21: (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
22: By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
23: And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
24: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25: Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26: For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27: Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
28: For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

Do We Still Need To Tithe?

The Following Articles Say We No Longer Need To Tithe

Is Tithing Still Required After The Death & Resurrection Of Jesus?
Biblical arguments for and against tithing (mostly For).

No, We Don't Need To Tithe Anymore
Virtually all of the support for the idea of New Testament Christian tithing comes from the Hebrew Scriptures in the context of the Old Covenant Law. It is not from the New Covenant which arose after Jesus' death and resurrection.

We Don't Have To Tithe, But We're Still Commanded To Give
Yes, we're under grace and not law, but we're by no means off the hook!

The Following Articles Say We Are Still Required To Tithe

What Does God Say About The Tithe?
Uses Revelation and Hebrews to say tithing is still in force.

Should You Tithe?
Uses Corinthians 1 and 2 as well as Biblical principles to support the giving of tithes.

The Tithe Today
Uses the Book of Hebrews to show why tithing is still required today.

How God Sees You (Our True Value & Power)

I Am Loved, Valued and Protected In Spite Of My Failures

For I Am....

A CHILD OF GOD (ROMANS 8:16)
SAVED BY GRACE THOUGH FAITH (EPHESIANS 2:8)
FORGIVEN (COLOSSIANS 1:13-14)
JUSTIFIED (ROMANS 5:1)
A NEW CREATURE (II CORINTHIANS 5:17)
BLESSED WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS (EPH. 1:3)
KEPT IN SAFETY WHEREVER I GO (PSALM 91:11)
DELIVERED FROM THE POWERS OF DARKNESS (COL. 1:13)
A JOINT HEIR WITH JESUS (ROMANS 8:17)
BEING TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF MY MIND (ROM. 12:1-2)
HEIR TO THE BLESSINGS OF ABRAHAM (GALATIANS 3:13-14)
AN HEIR OF ETERNAL LIFE (I JOHN 5:11-12)
HEALED BY HIS WOUNDS (I PETER 2:24)
GOD'S WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST TO DO GOOD WORKS GOD PREPARED FOR ME IN ADVANCE TO DO.

The Power Of Christ Is In Me Because I'm
WALKING BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT (II CORINTHIANS 5:7)
CASTING ALL MY CARES ON JESUS (I PETER 5:7)
DOING ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST (PHILIPPIANS 4:13)
MORE THAN A CONQUEROR (ROMANS 8:37)
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD (MATTHEW 5:14)
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN CHRIST (II COR. 5:21)
BRINGING EVERY THOUGHT INTO CAPTIVITY (II COR. 10:5)
CASTING DOWN VAIN IMAGINATIONS (II COR. 10:4-5)
REDEEMED FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW (GALATIANS 3:13)