Tithing may be one of the most contentious issues in the church today. Some people use the Bible in order to get rich by extorting money from believers. Others use verses to justify themselves and not contribute anything. But what does the Bible teach?
In the Old Testament the tithe was a clear rule that left no room for doubt. Every Jew was required to give a tithe of his earnings plus a variety of additional obligatory offerings. But what does the New Testament tell us? Christians today, should we tithe? The answer is broader than it seems…
Jesus did not nullify the tithe
The New Testament does not prohibit tithing anywhere. In his teachings, Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of his day, not because they tithed but because they did not obey God’s other laws at the same time.
On the other hand, Jesus does not impose the tithe either. The New Testament does not have any specific rule that requires giving the tithe. However, he does have much to say about offering to the Lord…
No one is forced to give
The New Testament does not stipulate percentages, but it does assume that every Christian will want to contribute generously. Every church and every missionary organization has expenses and needs resources. Tithes and offerings help keep the church going and that is why they are very important for the expansion of the Kingdom of God.
Whether you contribute 10%, 5% or 60%, the important thing is that you give with joy knowing that you are contributing in a practical way to the salvation of more people, the spiritual growth of believers and helping to meet the needs of the people. of God. If you don’t know where the money is going, ask your church leadership team. And remember that the contribution that pleases God comes from the heart…
a matter of love
When we look at the early church we see that there was no controversy about the tithe. Why? Because they gave much more than that and they did it with joy!
All the believers were together and had everything in common: they sold their properties and possessions, and shared their goods among themselves according to each one’s need. They did not stop meeting in the temple for a single day. From house to house they broke bread and shared food with joy and generosity, praising God and enjoying the general esteem of the people. And each day the Lord added to the group those who were being saved.
— Acts 2:44-47
The early Christians were renowned for their generosity to the church and to other people even though many of those same generous Christians were poor.
The biblical concept of generosity
Much of the abuse in tithing, both by those who demand a lot of money and those who do not want to give anything, comes from the love of money. And that is very dangerous! If your money is more important than the Kingdom of God, you are worshiping money and not God. 10% of your earnings is a reasonable amount that is not beyond possibility and avoids abuse from both sides. We can give more or we can give less. But more important than quantity is that we love God more than we love money.
Honor God with your offerings!
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