The Truth About Tithing Part 3

Our subject is tithing. This will be the third and final post on this subject and I feel confident I can answer the questions I closed with on my last post: How much do I give? Where do I give? Are there any guidelines in the Bible for a specific amount now that we’re under the New Covenant? Are there any guidelines in the Bible for where to give my money? What’s wrong with me NOT giving?

We’ll start with how much and where do I give. Under the new covenant in Jesus we are no longer told how much to give or commanded to give it to a specific place. However, if we look at where money was given throughout the New Testament we find three places: the local congregation, missionaries (like Paul), and the poor. I’ve already explained in the past two blogs on this subject that we are now to give “what we’ve decided in our hearts to give.” (2 Corinthians 9:7) We are to do this rather than give 10% “under compulsion” as we were directed to do in the Old Testament. So, the amount we give should be decided in prayer with God. The place we give should now be decided in the same fashion! Our prayer life becomes paramount to our ability to rightly give to and for the purposes of God.

When deciding where to give however, our local congregation should be seen as a primary recipient of our giving for several reasons. The most important reason we should give to our local congregation is that God has called each one of us to a specific local community of believers to fulfill His vision through that community. Much of our time, talents, and moneys should be poured out for that vision. We are also called to give money to missionaries and to the needy. We should look carefully at how our local congregation is giving to missionaries and to the poor before giving to other Christian organizations simply because our local community may very well be giving and serving missionaries and the poor.

Finally, we may feel that God is directing us to give to a needy family member or a specific missionary that is not supported by our local community of faith. These acts of giving, if done as a result of prayerful appeal to God and direction from God, are acts of giving that are done in Christ’s name and adhere fully to the New Testament concept of giving.

So, for example, a Christ follower may pray diligently to God for direction about how much and where to give. The person may then feel led to give $500 in a given month to his or her local congregation, sponsor three children through World Vision ($105/mo), pay his or her cousins electricity bill ($120/mo) and support a friend who is going into full time international mission work ($400/mo). All of this money comes out of a $70,000 annual salary. The amount of money this person is giving monthly is just over 19% of the annual salary. Only 8.5% of the moneys given are given directly to the local congregation. The point is that the amounts or the percentages are irrelevant! This person has sought God in the process and has “given what he (or she) has decided in his (or her) heart to give.”

As for the question, “Is it okay NOT to give.” Paul would say that “it is not beneficial” for any believer to not give. Giving is at the very essence of the spiritual DNA of every believer whether giving time, prayer, talents, or possessions. We are blessed, matured, and shaped to be more like Christ in every act of giving. So, it IS okay NOT to give in the same way that it is okay for any Christian NOT to live an abundant life.

Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)
Todd Phillips
www.toddphillips.net

For those of you are reading Colossians with me:
Colossians 3:12-25
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.