Giving

Why Should You Tithe?

First, what is a tithe? Tithe literally means ‘tenth.’ As Christians, we’ve known tithing to be giving a tenth back to God. This is done usually through giving tithes to your church but isn’t restricted to just your church (an issue that can be debated in and of itself).

What does the Bible say?

The Old Testament gives instruction on tithing in many areas, but puts it succinctly:

Deuteronomy 14:22-23 (NIV)

“Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always.”

The question that immediately comes up is: Are we to follow the law of the Old Testament for tithing if we are under a New Covenant through Christ? Besides, the New Testament doesn’t explicitly tell us to tithe 10%, so why do it?

The New Testament focuses more on ‘giving’ and the attitude of your heart. The following verse summarizes giving from a New Testament perspective:

2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)

“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”