What does the Bible say about Christian tithing? Should a Christian tithe?

Is tithing a Christian way of giving?

Tithing (giving 10% of one's income) was definitely part of the Old Testament law and the religious life of the Jews. In Malachi 3:8-9 the people of Israel were charged with robbing God by not paying tithes. God made it clear in no uncertain terms that they were not prospering materially because they were selfish. God promised them blessing if they would pay their tithes. Is tithing still the way of Christian giving, as some teach? It is noticeable that in the New Testament Christian converts were never asked to tithe anything to the church. Tithing in the church first appears centuries after completion of the Bible.

Is tithing a Christian way of giving?

Tithing (giving 10% of one’s income) was definitely part of the Old Testament law and the religious life of the Jews. In Malachi 3:8–9 the people of Israel were charged with robbing God by not paying tithes. God made it clear in no uncertain terms that they were not prospering materially because they were selfish. God promised them blessing if they would pay their tithes. Is tithing still the way of Christian giving, as some teach? It is noticeable that in the New Testament Christian converts were never asked to tithe anything to the church. Tithing in the church first appears centuries after the completion of the Bible.

Some argue that even Abraham gave 10 percent to Melchizedek and that was before the law. Generally speaking the ‘law of first mention’ — that is, to find out where in the Bible a thing is mentioned for the first time — is often helpful — so long as we draw the right conclusions. Let us take a closer look at the incident in Genesis 14. In this passage, the first reference to tithing in the Bible, Abram gives to Melchizedek (a priest of God) a tithe of the best of the booty taken in war. Notice that this was not from Abram’s personal possessions, but rather booty taken from conquered nations. Abraham went to war on behalf of Sodom to rescue his nephew, Lot. He then gave 10 percent of these spoils of war to Melchizedek, and allowed Sodom to keep the rest, while he himself kept nothing! And this single, unparalleled and never- to-be-repeated event shall be scriptural proof that Christians should give 10 percent of their annual salaries (not the spoils of war, but their salaries) not once, but year after year after year?

In New Testament Christianity we are ‘not under law but under grace’ (Rom. 6:14). Does that mean we give less, or nothing at all? We may say with the Apostle Paul: ‘Far be the thought’! But it is necessary that we see that the principle of Christian giving is completely different and on a higher level. A Christian does not give out of a sense of lawful obligation but out of a grateful response to the grace of God, according as God has prospered him (1 Cor. 16:2).

However in New Testament Christianity we are ‘not under law but under grace' (Rom. 6:14 ). Does that mean we give less or nothing at all? We may say with the apostle Paul: ‘Far be the thought!' But it is necessary that we see, that the principle of Christian giving is completely different and on a higher level. A Christian does not give out of a sense of lawful obligation, but out of a grateful response to the grace of God, according as God has prospered him (1 Cor. 13:2).

Let us summarize some of the ways and motives that should guide a Christian in his giving according to the teachings of the Bible (A prayerful study of the following passages will be helpful: 1 Cor. 16:1.2; 2 Cor. 8 and 9):

Whatever our possessions are, our first thought should be as to how to honor the Lord in the use of them. For all that we have comes from Him, and in regard to the first fruits of crops, our first thought is to be of Christ, the Giver. We do not need to wait for the proceeds of all our labor for the year, then give a tenth. Rather, though we are not commanded (as Israel was) to give one-tenth of our income to God, yet we are encouraged in 1 Corinthians 16:2, "on the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper." No exact amount is even suggested, but "as he may prosper" leaves this to the individual's faith. Yet, 2 Corinthians 9:6 tells us, "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, but he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." This beautifully confirms the fact that believers are not under law, but under grace. This is individual too in Proverbs 3:10.

However, their providing for the Levites was to be every third year, when they were to store up the tenth of their produce. The Levites were entitled to this, along with strangers, fatherless and widows who might be with them. When comparing this with Numbers 18:21-24, we may not clearly see the exact way in which all this was done, but Numbers 18:24 speaks of the tithes the children of Israel "offered as a heave offering to the Lord" as being given to the Levites. This may explain why there seems to be a contradiction in these accounts. For we know God never contradicts Himself.

In the New Testament, rather than being commanded to give tithes, believers are encouraged to give only as they may purpose in their hearts, in appreciation of the pure grace of God. How good to be reminded that "God loves a cheerful give" (2 Cor.9:7).

However, in receiving tithes, the Levites were not exempted from paying tithes. When the tithes were brought in from the other tribes, then the Levites were to offer to God a heave offering of one tenth of the tithes (v.26). In our present day of grace no law is given as to tithing. Instead the measure of our giving is "as he may prosper" (1 Cor.16:2) or "as he purposes in his heart" (2 Cor.9:7). The amount is left to the spiritual exercises of each individual. Support may he given, as to the Lord, from the people of God, to the need of the Lord's servants. The servant is to be just as exercised as they in reference to his using funds for the sake of the Lord, and be glad to give as the Lord prospers him.

The people had apparently not been taught that the Levites depended on their support for the service they performed in the temple. Hezekiah therefore took notice of this and commanded the people of Jerusalem to contribute to the support of the Levites, so that they could devote themselves to their proper service. When this order was circulated the people were quick to respond, for Hezekiah's personal devotion to the Lord had very real influence on them. They brought in grain, wine, oil and honey and other produce in abundance (v. 5). When people's hearts were affected by the truth of God, tithes were not considered a hardship. Under grace there is no commandment given to tithe, but since we are infinitely blessed by the sacrifice of Christ for us, our giving is to be voluntary and spontaneous. "Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7).

Far be the thought that it is a matter of law now with us. Never in the New Testament as far as we are aware is there any suggestion that we must give one tenth of our income. No, it is essentially a "voluntary offering", given entirely of our own free will, given at the time when we are remembering how the Lord gave Himself, gave all, for us, and my gift is the mark of my appreciation of His gift, and is the overflow of my heart in thanksgiving to Him. Mr. J. G. Bellett remarks: "The world will give what it can spare, the Lord gives what cost Him everything. John 14:27." Our giving is in reality just as true worship as our hymns of praise or thanksgiving. Indeed we get them connected in Heb. 13:15-16, "By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise … But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."

In New Testament times many were punctilious in paying tithes of small things, while they neglected the weightier matters of the law — judgement, mercy, and faith. Matt. 23:23. A definite tenth or fifth is not enforced in the N.T., but liberality is enjoined. "God loveth a cheerful giver:" he that soweth sparingly will reap sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully will reap bountifully: "he that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord." Paul told the saints to lay by for the special collection he was making for the poor 'as God had prospered' each. God required of them according to what they had, and not according to what they had not. The poor widow who cast in the two mites cast in more than the rich, for it was her whole living. At the commencement of the church many gave up their possessions and the saints had 'all things common;' but failure soon came in, and we may learn from the general tenour of the epistles that such a state of things would not continue, though the principle abides that we do not call any of the things we possess our own.