What is your view of Biblical teaching on giving 10% of our earnings?

Three different perspectives - What’s Yours?

Matthew Swires-Hennesey, St George’s Church, Poynton

In response to the generosity of God, we are called to be generous people… not to get God’s attention, not to earn a place in heaven, but to live out our faith.

There is no set amount each Christian is called to give – like a monthly subscription to Netflix or a membership fee!  Paul in Corinthians (2 Cor 9:7) speaks of each person deciding in their heart.  However, the widow’s small coins episode from Luke 21 suggests it should be generous enough for us to notice.

Whilst the Old Testament principle of tithing, is not explicitly picked up as teaching in the New Testament, it is probable that those from a Jewish background continued tithing.  Jesus, in his rebuke of the Pharisees for missing the important big themes of the law, does encourage the keeping of the principle (Mt 23:23).

So, should we tithe?  It is certainly not a bad idea to work out what we spend our money on – perhaps you could make a pie chart?

Giving generously means looking towards a tithe and asking if we can be more generous!  But this is not a hard and inflexible rule – perhaps you are just starting out in life, perhaps you are just starting out in the Christian life.

When can we be generous – with our time, our talents, our money?  Might we be a people who are shaped by generosity, who bless those around us as we have known God’s blessing and provision.

John Hellewell, St. James, Thornton-le-Moors with Ince and Elton

As a follower of Jesus, my goal is to be with him, become more like him and do the things that he did. That goes for every part of life, including how I use my time and financial resources.

Tithing is an Old Testament requirement, one that Jesus no doubt practiced as a good Jew. However, in his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned us not to give in order to show others how ‘good’ we are (Matthew 6.1 – 4). He also said how hard it was for rich people to enter the Kingdom (Matthew 19.23 – 24), warning that we cannot serve both God and money – we have to choose (Matthew 6.24). And that choice highlights where we put our trust – in this world (money) or in God. We are told that God provides for our needs (Matthew 6.25ff.). Do we believe that?

Worrying about whether we give 10% seems to miss the mark. We should be concerned about how we use all our money. Some of it we clearly need to live. The rest? How we decide to use it perhaps shows where our allegiance lies. Do we use it to bless others, or for ourselves?

A regular review of how I use my money (and other resources) hopefully means I keep better in step with Jesus. Sometimes I give more, and sometimes less.

John Wesley said Gain all you can. Save all you can. Give all you can. I suspect I am better at the first two and rather less successful at the third!

Name Withheld

Tithing is a thorny topic – giving 10% of one’s income to the church.  I tithe now but admit that I’ve not always done so.  With a regular income it is easier to make that commitment, whereas historically for a period I had a very low income with a lot of responsibility, and at another time a variable income being self-employed.

I am aware of God’s generosity in my life.  When I became self-employed, I was starting out on a precarious financial journey.  I trusted God to provide, regularly seeking inspiration from the painting in the Sistine Chapel painted by Michelangelo of God reaching out to Adam.  Some years later, when finding a lump and being diagnosed with breast cancer it was my faith that carried me through.

What held me back from tithing in the past?  Was it about trusting God - if I gave 10% of my income to church would I still be able to have a reasonable lifestyle?  I don’t regret my decision to tithe – I have all that I need and don’t feel I go without because I have reduced my resources.  I wish I had had more courage in the past to make the decision to tithe.

Each of us has a different journey through life with its various ups and downs, and I acknowledge tithing is not always possible.  I thank God for walking alongside me and supporting me on my journey, and in gratitude I give back to a generous God.