Leveraging Temporal Wealth for Eternal Gainনমুনা

Day 5: How Much to Give

The question of how much to give seems straightforward and may initially appear to have a simple answer. Maybe you have heard of the 10% tithe, often a default among churchgoers. However, this proportion is not the complete picture of tithing in the Old Testament. It also ignores the more robust answers about giving in the New Testament.

In the Old Testament, there were not one but four tithes (three active tithes and one passive tithe), plus numerous freewill offerings.

The first active tithe was a Levitical tithe of 10% of produce and animals that the Israelites gave to the Levites (the priests who had special responsibilities in the place of worship—either the Tabernacle or, later, the temple). Secondly, the Israelites worshipped the Lord through the tithe of the feasts. This was 10% of the first fruits and the firstborn of the animals. Third was a tithe for the poor that occurred every three years. The Israelites were mandated to care for orphans, widows, and sojourners in their land, and the purpose of this third tithe was to support them.

The passive tithe entailed not reaping all the produce from their harvests but, instead, leaving the gleanings for the poor of the land. This could have amounted to as much as 10% of their potential profit.

These four tithes were practiced consistently and could have been as much as 33% of their earnings (much higher than 10%!).

Looking to the New Testament, the question of how much to give becomes even tougher to answer. It would be nice if the New Testament gave a simple formula or percentage like the Old Testament. But generosity in the New Testament goes deeper than a number. It instructs us to give proportionately to how God has prospered us. Proportionality is the notion that the more we have, the more we can give away.

Although giving above and beyond our means is also commended in certain situations (2 Corinthians 8:3), the Apostle Paul does not put undue pressure on anyone to give beyond their ability.

For some, the right amount may be a tithe of 10% of their income. For others, the amount can and likely should be much higher. There’s a lot of room for the Holy Spirit to show us how much God wants us to give. God is the One who provides our financial resources; He can also increase or decrease those resources. When He does, He expects us to trust Him, listening to the Spirit to determine how much to give.

Our experience has been that, as you walk by faith, you can often give away more than you previously thought possible.

In summary, a 10% tithe may be a good place to start, but it is a lousy place to stop. We’re to give according to our ability.