To tithe or not to tithe?
During a recent Bible study, a person in our group mentioned she had never been taught about tithing. Although her church encouraged people to tithe, she lacked a biblical understanding of its significance.
You may be coming from a similar place. Or conversely, you may be coming from a church that emphasized tithing too much, to the extent the word “tithe” is synonymous with legalism and guilt.
Wherever it is you’re coming from, I invite you into a gentle discussion of tithing. My aim is not to persuade or argue, but rather to inform and enlighten. Let’s take a look at the history of the tithe, where it came from, what does Jesus say, and how can tithing strengthen or hinder your spiritual walk.
What is tithing?
In the Old Testament, ancient Israelites were required under law to give 10% of their earnings to the Lord. This is referred to as tithing. People not only tithed on monetary income, they tithed on all wealth and possessions including livestock and vegetation. The act of tithing is introduced as early as Genesis 14:20 with Abram and again on Mount Sinai when the Lord commanded Moses, “Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord” (Leviticus 27:30).
It's a little-known fact that the Israelites actually paid three tithes, not one. Each tithe had a specific purpose – one supported the priests and Levites, one provided for holy festivals, and the third tithe supported the marginalized (such as widows and orphans). The tithes for the priests and festivals were ongoing, while the tithe for the poor was collected every 3 years. This averages out to 23% per year. (See Numbers 18 and Deuteronomy 12, 14, 26 for more details.)
For the Israelites, tithing symbolized a reminder in which God came first in their life. They lived to serve God, not the other way around. Tithing also distinguished God’s people from the surrounding nations, because it showed they cared for the poor. In many neighboring societies, there were a few elite who held most of the wealth while the rest of the people lived in extreme poverty. God’s economy operated differently.
Now hold onto your hats, because not only did the average Israelite give 23% of their income, but they also gave offerings. Offerings were a voluntary act and not required under law (contrary to the tithe). Offerings were considered a “true gift” while tithing was looked at as repaying a debt (giving to the Lord what was rightfully His).
You would think that the Israelites would be tight with their money after giving nearly a quarter of it back, but in Exodus we see a different narrative.
So all the skilled workers who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left what they were doing and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.”
Then Moses gave an order, and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work. (Ex. 36: 4-7)
The Israelites got caught up in the excitement of giving. Despite being a poor nation, they gave until they were asked to give no more.
Tithing and the New Testament
Because Jesus came from a devout Jewish family, it is safe to say that Jesus and his family tithed. Although Jesus speaks often about money, he only references the tithe once.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former” (Matthew 23:23; see another translation in Luke 11:42).
In this context Jesus is condemning the religious leaders for placing emphasis on the tiniest details of the law while neglecting the much more important matters of the heart – such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness to God. He does not denounce the act of tithing, but rather criticizes the unchanged hearts of those performing the act.
Here's where the controversy sets in… In the New Testament a new covenant is established through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus acts as our advocate and henceforth a new relationship between God and humans is born. If this is sounding too Bible-jargony for you, let’s put it like this: there is a new rule book in play.
This is great news, especially if you’re like me and hate getting your hands dirty. The new covenant says we no longer have to make sacrifices (referencing animals, not humans… this isn’t Hunger Games) to atone for our sins. Anyone is free to accept the gift of Christ and receive everlasting life (John 3:16).
Many scholars believe tithing is not included in the new covenant, and instead “grace giving” has taken its place.
Just as you excel in everything-- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-- see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
2 Corinthians 8:7
Grace giving does not set any parameters on how much we ought to give. Instead, each person is encouraged to give “what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). The big idea here is, we no longer live under the laws of ancient Israel. We are saved by grace and therefore we can give from the radical outpouring of grace and generosity which we have received through Jesus Christ.
Not everyone agrees with the notion of grace giving. Still many scholars support the tithe, arguing that the New Testament does not specifically state that we should stop tithing.
And here’s where the tension remains. Is the tithe an out-of-date custom intended only for the ancient Israelites? Or is the tithe an overarching principle that carried into the new covenant?
I’m not a theologian, and chances are you aren’t either. So instead of trying to argue the legitimacy of tithing, let’s explore how the tithe could benefit or hinder your relationship with God.
How tithing can improve your relationship with God
Tithing can lead to spiritual growth. As a 90’s kid, I have fond childhood memories spent at the bowling alley. Friday evenings, birthday parties, and school trips all seemed to revolve around eight-pound balls and disco lights. The trick to bowling (for those who have never been), you must roll the ball straight to reach your destination. If you angle your throw too far to the left or right, your ball will end up in the gutter. Fortunately for me, bumpers were invented. Bumpers are magical guardrails that save your ball from landing in the gutter. If you bowl with bumpers, your ball is practically guaranteed to reach the end of the lane.
Like bowling with guardrails, tithing is a way to steer our money which leads us closer to God. There are many different directions in which we can point our money, but if we put up buffers that continuously point us back to God, we ensure that He ultimately remains our target.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” If you want to grow spiritually closer to God, start by giving your money to God. Our hearts follow where our money leads.
Tithing can protect us from the dangers of money. Some people can get a little squirmy when we start talking about tithing. It’s legalism, I don’t want rules forced upon me. Trust me, I get it! But we should take care in remembering some rules are good for us. I don’t have teenage drivers yet, but when I do, I pray they use their seatbelts. It’s not because I want to be controlling. I love my kids and I want them to be safe.
God also put rules in place to keep us safe.
“For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
1 Timothy 6:10
Money stress can cause anxiety, depression, weight gain, sleep loss. Money can damage relationships (money fights/problems is a leading cause for divorce in America), and unhealthy coping of financial stress can lead to addictions.
The dangers of money are so great that Jesus calls it out as the number one competitor for our hearts. “You cannot serve both God and money,” Matthew 6:24.
The antidote is simple: if you don’t want to be burdened by money, give it away. Tithing is a natural first step to leading a generous life.
How tithing can hinder your relationship with God
Tithing can be twisted into trying to ‘earn’ God’s love. You may have grown up in a church or religious household that put too much emphasis on tithing. Tithing may feel like another ritual to perform to earn God’s favor, and if you don’t tithe, He will love you less.
This viewpoint can put a wedge between you and God because the emphasis is placed on the act of tithing itself and neglects one of the most important principles of Christianity – the God of the universe is crazy about you! His love for you cannot be earned (or for that matter, bought). Simply be you and be with Him.
Tithing can lead to complacency. In Western societies we tend to view tithing as the ceiling, the top rung of giving. Once you’ve started giving 10% of your income sit back and relax, you’ve made it.
Contrary to our modern perception, the ancient Israelites viewed tithing as the ground floor, the first step of giving. Tithing was not something to strive for but was expected from everyone.
I’ve talked to many people who tithe yet receive no joy from giving. It feels more like checking a box than experiencing an intimate moment with God. Why is that?
Let’s consider a common situation married couples encounter. When dating, everything is new and exciting. They work hard to build the relationship and establish a bond that leads to marriage. Once married, some people adopt the mindset of ‘I’m married! I’ve finished the race and now I can sit back and relax.’ Others take on the mindset of, ‘I’m married. The race has only just begun.’
Which mindset do you think leads to a deeper love and a deeper intimacy within the relationship? (Hint: choose door number two.) The same is true for our relationship with God.
Tithing can be used as a status symbol. If you’ve been in enough Christian circles, you’ve probably heard someone say, “I am a good Christian; I tithe!” The average Christian gives roughly 2.5% of their income to church, so those giving 10% or more may be tempted to feel a bit self-righteous. I don’t understand why everybody doesn’t tithe. It says to do so in the Bible! I must be more spiritual than these people…
When tithing is used as a tool to elevate yourself above others, it has once again missed the mark. Giving, when done in the proper mindset, should produce a spirit of humility, gratitude, and dependence on God.
What does Jesus say about giving?
In his famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus makes several references to the historical laws of ancient Israel.
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.” Matthew 5:21-22
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:27-28
Jesus seems to take each law and raise the bar. Should we be surprised he did the same with giving?
“Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:33-34
Throughout the New Testament we are given examples of outrageous generosity. Probably the best demonstration is found in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” God sacrificed his own son for you and me; we will never receive a more generous gift than this!
And hear me friends, God did not sacrifice his son so that you could live a life consumed by your possessions. He sacrificed his son so you could have an eternal relationship with Him! Our money and possessions should never stand in the way of pursuing a deeper relationship with our Father.
As you reflect on your current relationship with giving, I encourage you to pray on the following:
1) Am I viewing myself as a manager of what God has given me, or seeing myself as owner and controller of my own stuff? Are there things that God would have me manage differently if I acknowledged them as really being His?
2) If a stranger were to look at how I use my time, my energy and my resources, what would they learn about my priorities? Would that person see my time, energy, and resources being put primarily toward a hope and vision of renewal for our city and world?
3) What am I holding onto that’s robbing me of present joy and future reward? What do You want me to release that could restore me to a walk of faith?
Questions adopted from Generous Giving