Biblical Principles of Giving

Since this month is Stewardship Month, I wanted to re-emphasize what the Bible has to say about how we give to the church. Below are 10 principles gleaned from Scripture. They are by no means intended to be exhaustive. There is a lot more that could (and probably should) be said.

1. The Old Testament states that we are to tithe (literally, to give 10% of) our yearly produce each year (Deut. 14:22. Cf. Gen. 14:20; Lev. 27:30-31; Num. 18:21, 24, 26).

2. Failing to give this 10% is unambiguously called "stealing from God" in Malachi 3:8-9.

3. The tithe is to be given to the "storehouse," i.e., to the "house of God" (Malachi 3:10; Nehem. 10:37-9), the main place you are fed spiritually.

4. The tithe is to be used to support those who work full-time in serving the "house of God," to care for widows and orphans and the needy in our community, and to feed and care for the congregation as a whole (Deut. 12:17-18; Deut. 14:22-8).

5. As we move from the Old Testament to the New Testament, we do not see a principle of restriction or of limitation but one of expansion (i.e., prophecy expands to fulfillment; the covenant expands from Jews only to Jews and Gentiles; etc.). Thus, we would expect to find that the OT teaching on the tithe is not restricted or even overturned in the NT but, rather, expanded upon. We would also expect, therefore, 10% should be a minimum amount for the Christian.

6. Jesus states that Christians should tithe as scrupulously as the Pharisees, who even tithed their mint, cumin, and dill (Matt. 23:23), but without ignoring the weightier matters of the law, as the Pharisees did.

7. The NT locates our example in giving in the cross of Jesus Christ. Paul says, in 2 Corinthians 8:9, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich." If, therefore, we really understand grace and the way in which Christ gave, we should have little difficulty in giving as the Macedonians, who gave "beyond their ability" (2 Cor. 8:3).

8. Tithing should not be a drudgery; it ought to be an offering that proceeds from a joyful heart (Deut. 12:18; Deut. 14:26; 2 Cor. 8:2; 2 Cor. 9:7). This does not mean that it won't cost you; quite obviously, it will. But, as King David once said, how can we offer God a sacrifice that costs us nothing (2 Sam. 24:24).

9. In some of the most astonishing words in Scripture, God commands us to test Him by tithing to see if He will not "open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need" (Mal. 3:10). This is the only time in the Bible where we are encouraged to put the God of this universe to the test! And though this is not a "health and wealth" promise, it is surely financial to some degree.

10. The NT states principially that it is impossible for Christians to out-give God: "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give....And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work" (2 Cor. 9:6, 8).