Giving
Our Belief on Giving
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
(II Cor. 9:7)
The idea about giving can be a touchy subject for many people. In some churches, giving can be an over-emphasized subject. While we don’t want our primary focus to be money, at the same time, Jesus talked a great deal about the ideas of giving. Giving, or tithing, is meant to be a blessing. Sadly, that is not always the case in churches today. Here’s what the Bible says about your giving:
Tithing is an Old Testament concept. The tithe was the requirement of the law in which the Israelites were to give 10 percent of the crops they grew and the livestock they raised to the temple. It was seen as the temple tax (Lev. 27:30; Num. 18:26: Deut. 14:24; II Chron. 31:5). In fact, there were multiple “tithes” that Israel was subject to. This is where you’ll find the common idea today that 10% of your income should be tithed.
However in the New Testament, after the law had been fulfilled by the blood of Jesus on the cross, we do not see the same commands around giving. But what is talked about is the importance of giving. We are to give as we are able. Sometimes that means we can give more than 10%, and sometimes that means giving less than 10%. It all depends on the ability and the desire of the Christian individual. Every follower of Christ should diligently pray and seek God’s wisdom in the matter of participating in tithing and/or how much to give (James 1:5). We should always be informed by the Word of God and led by the Holy Spirit in all ways, especially in our giving.
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
(Malachi 3:10)