Both the Old and New Testaments teach that God’s people should give away some of what they have earned.

In the Old Testament, God required the people of Israel to give “a tenth” (i.e., one-tenth) of their crops each year:

Every year you shall pay a tithe of the entire produce of your seed that comes out of the field. (Deuteronomy 14:22)

From what we read, it was assumed that this tithe also applied to domestic animals.
In Leviticus:

And every tithe of herds and flocks, every tenth beast everything that passes under
shepherd staff, will be holy to the Lord. (Lev. 27:32; cf. Deut. 14:23)

In this law, the Lord claimed that 10 percent of the agricultural produce he provided to his people belonged to him. This amount did not belong to them; “It was holy to the Lord.” These tithes were to be given to support the Levites, who provided for the tent/temple and sacrificial system (see Numbers 18:21–24; Deut. 26:12–14; Neh. 10:37). –38; 13:5, 12) and were also used to support “the sojourner, the orphan, and the widow” (Deuteronomy 26:13; see also Deuteronomy 14:28–29)—in other words, the poor of Israel, those least able to support themselves . In addition, a portion of each person’s tithe was offered as a sacrifice and later eaten on the annual journey to God’s temple, where additional sacrifices were made (see Deut. 14:22-26).

Some translators argue that the different instructions regarding tithes in Leviticus 27:30–32, Numbers 18:21–28, and Deuteronomy 12:5–19; Deuteronomy 14:22–28; and Deuteronomy 26:12-14 refer to different tithes, with the result that the people of Israel were expected to tithe perhaps 20 percent or even 30 percent of their income. Evangelical scholars are divided on this issue.¹

However, even if we do not decide how much tithe God required of the Israelites, it is clear that God only expected them to give more than 10 percent of their income, as there were numerous other sacrifices he commanded of them (see Lev. 1–7) and also “voluntary offerings” made by the people (see Lev. 22:18–23). Therefore, we can easily summarize this material by saying that the Lord expected the people of Israel to give “10 percent plus something” of their increase each year.

In the New Testament, a certain percentage of donations is not required for Christians in the new covenant. (Jesus’ words to the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42 were directed at people still living under the old covenant law.) But Paul clearly expected each Christian to set aside something to give to his or her own needs. others and the work of the Lord:

Now as for the assembly of the saints: Just as I gave instructions to the churches of Galatia, so you also must do. On the first day of every week, each of you put something aside and let him accumulate until he becomes rich, so that when I come there will be no gathering. (1 Corinthians 16:1–2)

Every one should to give Not reluctantly or under compulsion, but as he decided in his heart; for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

How much should we give?

As I explained above, the Old Testament required the Israelites to pay a regular tithe of 10 percent, as well as a host of other sacrifices and voluntary offerings. So the expectation was at least “10 percent plus something.”

There is no command in the New Testament for Christians to give 10 percent of their income. But this certainly seems like a wise guideline; It provides a significant donation and is not overly burdensome for people.

There are thousands of people throughout the history of the church who have faithfully given 10 percent of their income throughout their lives and who have witnessed countless examples of God’s faithfulness to meet their needs and who have had the joy of participating in this ministry. They enjoy the privilege of regularly participating in the Lord’s work throughout their lives.

One of my earliest childhood memories was receiving a weekly allowance of 50 cents and being taught by my parents to put nickels into the offerings at church on Sunday; So I did so faithfully, imitating my father’s lifelong habit of talking about it often. From the first day he started earning money in his youth, he began to tithe regularly.

Margaret and I have finally reached a point where we can give more than we can give.
10 percent of our revenue and we agreed at the beginning for many years
What percentage of our income for the year will we give to the work of our Lord? Afterwards,
I don’t see this money I earn as “my own”.
God bless you.

We All Need Reminders!

In the busyness of life, it is easy to forget who God is, what he has done for us, and who we are because of him. Crossway wants to help! Sign up today to receive short, Scripture-filled, gospel-filled reminders that will encourage you and strengthen your walk with Jesus.

For many years, whenever I received a significant book royalty check
mail (impossible to know the amount in advance), I wouldn’t have a heart
I’m fine until I write a check showing the percentage of the payment we gave.
I went on God’s work that year, then walked half a block from my house and put it on the toilet.
outgoing mailbox. To this day, this passage comes to mind every time I do this.
As soon as you drop the check in the mail:

When you have finished paying the tithe of your produce. . . then you will
Speak before the LORD your God: “I took out my sacred part
house . . .” (Deuteronomy 26:12–13)

And there is joy in my heart.

Some verses in the New Testament confirm that our donations should be generous:

Contributed by (make) in generosity. (Romans 12:8)

The point is that he who sows little also reaps little and no matter who
He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. (2 Corinthians 9:6)

You will become rich in every way to be generous in every waythrough which
We will give thanks to God. (2 Corinthians 9:11)

Let them (the rich) do good, Being rich in good deeds, being generous
and we are ready to share. (1 Tim. 6:18; see also Acts 2:46; 10:2)

Some verses in Old Testament Wisdom Literature also praised generosity
Among God’s people:

The wicked borrow but do not pay back,
but the honest ones is generous and gives. (Ps. 37:21; see also Psalm 37:26)

He’s good with the guy. generous and lends;
He is the one who carries out his affairs with justice. (Ps. 112:5)

He who despises his neighbor is a sinner,
However Blessed is the one who is generous to the poor. (Prov. 14:21)

Whoever oppresses a poor person insults his Creator.
However He who is generous to the needy will honor them. (Prov. 14:31)

Whoever is generous to the poor He lends to his Lord,
and he will repay him for what he has done. (Prov. 19:17)

However, a specific percentage is not specified in the verses about generosity, and this will of course vary from person to person and situation to situation. This brings us back to Paul’s advice: “Everyone should give according to what he has determined in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

I think that the money I earn is not “my own”, but my Lord’s.

Therefore, my conclusion about how much we should give is this: The New Testament does not specify a specific amount It’s like 10 percent, but tithing certainly seems like a wise guideline, at least when one is beginning to commit to the Lord’s work.

On the other hand, I don’t think the New Testament requires everyone to give everything they have, or to the point of living near poverty, because the standard of the New Testament is generosity, not “giving until one is poor.”

Some passages highlight its benefits sacrifice. This was precisely the point Jesus was teaching when He saw a poor widow putting two small copper coins into her offering box. Jesus said: “This poor widow put in more than all” because the rich contributed from their abundance, “but she from his poverty “He laid in everything for his livelihood” (Luke 21:1–4). Paul also praised the sacrifices of the Christians in Macedonia: “For in the face of severe tribulation, their joy and their extreme poverty They were overflowing with riches of generosity” (2 Corinthians 8:2). He even said they donated “beyond their means” (2 Corinthians 8:3). But we must also recognize that these passages were written with reference to a poor widow and to very poor Christians in Macedonia, people for whom forgiveness was truly a sacrifice.

Should these passages about sacrifices by very poor people also apply to rich Christians? Others may disagree with me on this, but I don’t think the Bible requires wealthy Christians to “sacrifice” giving nearly all of their income in the same way that the poor sacrifice. The widow in Luke 21 or the extremely poor Macedonians. The New Testament’s advice to the rich is not that they (like the poor widow) should give “all they have” or almost all of it, but that they should be “rich in good works” and “generous,” in Paul’s words. Commandment for “the rich of this age”:

They should do good, rich in good deedsto be generous and they are ready to share, thus laying up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may have what is true life. (1 Tim. 6:18–19)

The ability to enjoy the fruits of our labor is a big factor in motivating people to work hard at starting businesses or to succeed in highly specialized professions such as law or medicine. If we tell these people that God expects them to give almost all With their earnings, we would significantly remove their motivation to work, and I think that would be contrary to the expectation of God, who “richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment” (1 Tim. 6:17). In the case of wealthy people who already give generously, I want to consider the possibility that the Holy Spirit may lead different people to different conclusions about the actual percentage of assets they will donate and the degree of personal sacrifice God will donate. calling them.

This article is adapted from: Christian Ethics: Living a Life That Pleases God By Wayne Grudem.

Related Articles