The tithe, is a component of the Mosaic Law which was never restated as part of the law of Christ, does not apply to Christians. While not requiring a tithe of believers today, the New Testament does speak of God’s blessing on those who give generously to the needs of the church and especially to those who labor in the Word.
The absence of a command for tithing does not relieve Christians of the responsibility to give. Rather, Christians are held to the higher law of stewardship acknowledging that everything we have is a gift from God and being willing to give it all up at any moment that Christ commands (Matthew 19:21). The Bible specifies two main reasons for Christian giving.
First, Christians should provide for the needs of fellow Christians who are experiencing financial hardships. For example, while Barnabas and Saul were ministering in Antioch, “…some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) The disciples, each according to his own ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.” (Acts 11:27-30) Later in Paul’s ministry, he gave instruction to other churches that they also should give to the poor Christians in Jerusalem. To the Christians in Corinth he wrote: “Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2) Later, he explained to the Christians in Rome, “…Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.” (Romans 15:26) Today’s Christians should follow these examples and provide for the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ who are in financial distress.
A second reason for Christian giving is to support Christian leaders. Paul wrote to the Corinthians that “…those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 9:14) To the Galatians, he wrote: “Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.” (Galatians 6:6)
The final question remains – how much should Christians give? **“Each Christian…should give what he has decided in his own heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” **
**(2 Corinthians 9:7) **No set amount or percentage of income is dictated, rather, “…if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.” (2 Corinthians 8:12)
In summary, Christians should not subject themselves to the Old Testament law of the tithe. Instead, they should give according to the following four New Testament guidelines. Christian giving should be:
· Proportional to one’s income (1 Corinthians 16:2, 2 Corinthians 8:12)
· Consistent (1 Corinthians 16:2)
· Sacrificial (Mark 12:43-44, 2 Corinthians 8:2-3)
· Cheerful (2 Corinthians 9:7)
Christians should live their lives open-handed acknowledging that they are merely stewards of God’s possessions. They should always be willing to give 100% of that which they steward at any time required by the Lord (Matthew 19:21). Indeed, they should even be willing to offer their very “…bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God…” (Romans 12:1)
