“Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: ‘The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little’” (2 Corinthians 8:13-15).
Watching tithing in practice, and listening to how it’s commonly preached, has more often than not seemed more legalistic than heartfelt to me. I feel like, well, while you’re dropping your obligatory ten percent into the offering plate, you may as well kill two birds with one stone, and go get yourself circumcised too. Something about the focus placed on a minimum percentage just seems awfully legalistic to me, but who am I to question the collective wisdom of the Church?
How much money does Jesus want? After all, it all belongs to him, anyway, including that of non-believers. Is Jesus satisfied with just ten percent? Does he want half of everything? Or does he want it all? Jesus told the wealthy ruler in Luke 18 to sell all of his possessions and give the proceeds to the poor, yet just one chapter later, in Luke 19, Zacchaeus offered to give half of his possessions to the poor, as well as pay back four times the amount to anyone he had cheated, and Jesus responded that salvation had come to his house that day. I like these two accounts, in particular, because one was recorded right after the other, and they illustrate, to me at least, that maybe God is less concerned with the percentage given as he is with the heart of the giver. I think I may be on to something.
In 2 Corinthians, the Corinthians had closed their hearts to Paul, and withheld their affections, in terms of financial support. Paul cited the generosity of the Macedonian churches, who had given to the point of self-sacrifice, but he never cited any laws of tithing. Instead, Paul asked for a turning of the heart; he wanted their gift to be given out of love, not compulsion. Although Paul reminded the Corinthians that Christ had become poor for their sakes, his desire was not that they give more than there was to give; Paul was aiming for equality. “Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: ‘The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little’” (2 Corinthians 8:13-15). Some faith leaders pressure their flocks, often those with the least to spare, to step out on faith and pledge more than they have; they mock the spirit of the widow’s offering (Mark 12:44).
The old covenant required a simple percentage; therefore, everyone knew how much was required of them. The new covenant, on the other hand, has no set percentage; it does so much more, by testing our priorities, exposing what we treasure most, and revealing where our hearts truly lie. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). I believe that people stumble over tithing today in much the same way people of Paul’s day stumbled over circumcision. No longer bound by a code of legalisms, we seek God about how much to give, and then we give cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7). The value of our offering isn’t determined by the amount we give, but rather where our hearts lie evidenced by how we give; that’s the new covenant.
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This was simply amazing. Just had a similar conversation with a friend the other day about 10%.
Jacob started this doctrine. However, there shouldn’t be a cap on how much to give. But the church sometimes understand the mindset of humans so they place a percentage so that such people give to God.
Personally I prefer the words, first fruit. Solomon, the wisest, said first fruit. Which ties to what Jesus also preached.
It simply means give your best to God. Giving God 10 broken chairs and 1 golden plated chair isn’t the same.
Remain blessed.
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I love your chairs analogy; that’s perfect! I will happily check out your blog. God bless you!
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I like what you said here. My church has always said God wants at least 10%, but I think you are right. We don’t need to be told how much to give anymore.
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Indeed. It’s not just about meeting the letter of the law, but meeting the spirit of law as well; at least this is what the Spirit has shown me, and the lesson stretches beyond tithing into every facet of our lives. Again, with regard to tithing, this is why I wrote that the value of our offering isn’t determined by the amount we give, but rather where our hearts lie evidenced by how we give. Just think what the church could do.
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God likes a cheerful giver. How can one be cheerful if burdened by the 10% requirement. Cheerful giving is prompted by the needs of our fellow human beings and by our thankfulness of what Jesus has done for us on the cross. A very good post! Thank you very much!
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I’m so glad you pointed out the burdening aspect of the 10% requirement; that falls right in line with the New Testament message. Focusing on this guideline as many churches do stifles the work of the Spirit. Thank you for your comments! God bless you!
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Why is tithing under the old covenant? What is your rationale for concluding that it falls under the ceremonial law that was fulfilled in Christ, rather than the moral law that we are all called to fulfill? Our observance of the Sabbath, and now the Lord’s day as those rejoice in the resurrection, does not fall under the ceremonial law, but the greater law of living our faith before God. While we are called to give cheerfully and generously and sacrificially in the New Testament, sadly, by not specifying the tithe, people have justified that to the point where they have the freedom to give less. But every instance of giving emphasized in the New Testament, if anything, points to giving as Christ gave, extravagantly and with joy. The fact remains, the Scriptures say that we rob God when we do not give the tithe. You’re absolutely right, that the main issue is that of the heart, as we’ve discussed recently in worship. But there are two elements… The motivation behind our obedience and obedience itself. The question becomes, do we obey out of mere duty or out of delight? If it is out of delight, we will bring our tithes joyfully and gratefully and lovingly, and much more. I wonder how the body of Christ would be able to more faithfully and fruitfully carry out our kingdom work if all the people of God gave from a sacrificial heart resulting from their joy and gratitude and love? I personally believe that we do a disservice to the church when we do not proclaim God’s commands to his people, for in our actions, we display our trust and obedience and reverence and love. In fact, it seems that less and less Christians have a biblical understanding of what tithing truly is, and the God-given joy and satisfaction that comes from it. Could it be that such a God-honoring discipline needs to be emphasized more rather than less? Should we be legalistic about it? Absolutely not. Should we, as those who are saved by grace and who walk by faith, live out the wonder of it all through generosity and sacrifice? Absolutely.
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I am convinced of what the Holy Spirit has revealed to me. Like I wrote, the value of our offering isn’t determined by the amount we give, but rather where our hearts lie evidenced by how we give. Our tithes now are a product of our faith as are other good works. We no longer give to meet a guideline. Whether we’re establishing guidelines, setting goals, or any of the other stuff rolled up in achievement, it feels like humans are hardwired for legalism. Despite our best efforts to manage and control the world around us, we always end up in bondage. So I get why Jesus offered rest to the weary and burdened; that his yoke is easy and burden light. Hallelujah! God knows, I don’t know why, but he is showing me, without doubt, that the old has been fulfilled; the debt has been paid in full. My post is about so much more than tithing and money. God bless you!
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It’s kinda like when Jesus talked about the Pharisees and the old woman. They certainly gave their fill of money, probably more than 10%. But the old woman gave one coin, cause that was all she had. I think it is heart issue. I think 10% can be a great teacher for our heart. Not only with tithing, but our time with God, and everything we do involving Him. 🙂 I don’t think you’re belittling anything, because you’re not focusing on the number, but the heart. Where sin abounds, grace aboundth more. Like our faith. We work on our heart because we want to give it to Him. I think there are people who don’t give 10% not because of what you said, but because they struggle holding onto money. It isn’t really about the number anymore at that point either, it’s the heart, as you said. We can only serve one master, not two. 🙂 Great post!
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Thank you. Indeed, I’d never dream belittling; this is all to precious a thing for that. God has kindly blessed me with a glimpse into the mystery, and that’s my prayer for everyone else according to God’s will. God bless you, and thank you for the encouragement and wisdom you share.
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It is awesome when God gives us answers and illustrations. 🙂
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We live in a world governed by a pyramid of wealth ; at the top the very elite super-rich and the bottom the destitute and starving. The state of affairs is not new but has always been the case no matter what the politics or ideology and no matter what the religion popular at the time.
One third of humanity survive on $2 a day or less , while in India twenty million have no toilets. Not only do we have a global pyramid but each country has its own pyramid structure. I’m an old retired Englishman and in the global pyramid I’m in the top 2% but in England one of the world’s richest countries I’m below the poverty line.
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Thank you for offering that perspective. It’s easy to lose perspective and just as easy to take a blind eye. Thank you for taking the time to comment. God bless.
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Here’s the thing, my money may be Jesus’s money but I have no right to say that even non-believers money belongs to Jesus. It would be a bit arrogant of me to claim so. I’d take offense, and I’m sure you’d take offense too, if some Bhuddist, (Or Wiccan) came up to us and told us all our money belonged to Bhudda. So many world troubles stem from such firm beliefs.
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts! God bless!
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