Do I need to tithe?

The issue of money as a follower of Jesus is important.  So important that Jesus spoke about money and possessions frequently in Scripture.  But even with everything Jesus had to say we might still find ourselves with questions about giving.  Our questions revolve mostly around how much we should give.  A question we might find ourselves asking is, “As followers of Jesus are we required to tithe?”

If we have grown up around church, we have likely heard that as followers of Jesus we need to tithe.  But is that what the Bible says?  Or is something more required of us as people who love Jesus?

The word tithe means ten percent.  More precisely it is the first 10 percent of all we receive that is devoted to God.  The teachers of the Law during the New Testament era (called rabbis) taught that the Law required three separate tithes.  The tithes went to support the priests, the celebrations in Jerusalem, and to charity.  You may have heard a pastor teach that you are required to tithe, but he likely never told you to give thirty percent of your income to the local church.

In the New Testament we see no requirement to tithe, but that does not mean the requirement to give to God’s kingdom purposes is eliminated.  Jesus never lowered the standards as he taught about the true meaning of the Law.  He simply provided greater clarity.  When it comes to money, it’s all about who is in control.  It’s all about demonstrating what or whom we love.

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Matthew 6:24, ESV)

This past Sunday we learned that giving is simple heart issue.  Money is a great revealer of the heart.  It functions like a spiritual life EKG.  God measures what we give and he alone determines the value of the gift.  We can tithe and have hearts that are far from God.  But the reverse is not true.  We simply can’t say that our hearts are in love with Jesus but then turn around and give nothing.

As people we like things neatly defined.  Just tell me how much I have to give and I’ll meet that and feel good about myself in the process.  Jesus didn’t do that.  He did not give a specific amount that we could give so we would feel good.  Without this specific guidance we must learn to be people who listen to the Holy Spirit’s promptings in our giving.  We must learn to be people who are dependent upon Jesus in every area of our lives.  That includes our money and how much we give.