By Pastor Josh
“With regard to tithing … the best question to ask is not ‘Do I have to give 10 percent of my income to the church?’ The answer to that question is simply, ‘No’. A better question to ask may be, ‘Would I like to be the sort of person who is spiritually and financially able to give 10 percent of my income to the church?’ And if your answer to that question is ‘yes’, then there is a good chance that tithing is for you after all.”
Mark Allan Powell
“Tithing” is one of those words that we only use in church and that might seem a bit archaic and outdated. So what exactly is tithing, and is it still relevant to us today?
What is a Tithe?
A tithe literally means “a tenth” and it refers to a practice found in the Old Testament of giving a tenth of all one has to God. In Malachi 3:10 it says, “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you, and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.”
In the New Testament, Paul also encourages believers to give proportionately and to set aside offerings as a way to give the “first fruits” to God. He makes it clear that it’s not a command or a legalistic “must do,” but rather a faithful response to God’s abundant grace in a believer’s life. As a freely chosen response to a gracious God, Christians have traditionally upheld a tithe as a standard to grow towards and beyond in their giving.
There are countless stories of those who God has provided for as they’ve taken steps of faith to grow in this way. As Jesus says in Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Are there Benefits to Tithing?
In short, yes!
Tithing helps us to honor and worship God. This discipline of giving enhances our spiritual growth and trust in God.
Tithing helps us to exercise a healthy spiritual discipline over our finances, and helps us combat the destructive forces of materialism, consumerism, and greed.
Tithing provides crucial support for the missions and ministries of the church.
Tithing strengthens our congregations, helping to form them into true Christian communities of faith, love, and grace.
How do I Calculate a Tithe?
Move the decimal point of your income one place to the left. For example, if your weekly income is $800, a tithe would be a weekly offering of $80. To figure out what percentage you currently give, divide your weekly (or monthly) offering by your weekly (or monthly) income.
What Income Do I Include?
Common questions about calculating a tithe include whether you use pre-tax or post-tax income and whether you consider other charitable giving outside gifts to the church. Once again, the heart of the matter is not a legalistic standard that we are required to meet, but rather a goal to grow towards and beyond as we respond to God’s grace and seek to faithfully steward the abundance that has been entrusted to us.
Tithing is a practice that my parents introduced to me when I first started getting an allowance, and it’s a practice that I have sought to continue throughout my life. While the amounts of my offerings have differed greatly throughout my life, God’s abundant provision and faithfulness have not. I encourage you to take a look at your proportional giving and consider if there is a step you can take. Even small steps can go a long way towards realizing the joy of giving God desires us to experience.
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