Oakland Family,

As promised in the sermon this morning, This Gospel That Gives, I wanted to take a few moments to shed some light on something that Scripture speaks often about but that can sometimes become a source of confusion: giving. The specific question that I want to answer, I have received on several occasions: Are Christians required to give 10% of their income? I want to answer that question carefully and biblically.

The Old Testament clearly commanded the people of Israel to tithe. Under the Old Covenant, God's people were instructed to give tithes for the support of the Levites, worship, and the care of those in need (Leviticus 27:30-33; Numbers 18:21-24; Deuteronomy 14:22-29). When Malachi says, “Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions” (Malachi 3:8), he is speaking to God's covenant people, Israel, under the Old Covenant.

Jesus also spoke about tithing. In Matthew 23:23, He rebuked the Pharisees because they were meticulous about tithing while neglecting “the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness.” Jesus says, “These you ought to have done (the giving of tithes), without neglecting the others.”

But when we come to the New Testament's teaching concerning the Church, something important happens. The New Testament never gives Christians a command that says, “You must give exactly 10% of your income.” Instead, we find a different emphasis. Paul tells the Corinthians, “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). He writes in 1 Corinthians 16:2, “On the first day of every week (Sunday), each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper…”

The New Testament picture of Christian giving is regular, intentional, proportional, generous, sacrificial, and cheerful.

Does that mean 10% doesn't matter? Not at all. I believe the tithe is a wonderful biblical pattern and a wise starting point for Christian giving. For someone who has never practiced systematic giving, I would gladly encourage them to begin with 10%. The tithe can help us to develop the discipline of putting God first with our finances. That said, I do not believe we should turn the tithe into a Christian “tax.” Nor should we think that once we have given 10%, we have fulfilled all that God could possibly ask of us.

For the purpose of illustration, imagine two believers. One earns $50,000 per year and gives 10% faithfully and sacrificially. Another earns $500,000 and gives 10% without ever feeling the cost of it. We would be missing the heart of Jesus' teaching if we concluded that both have necessarily demonstrated the same level of generosity.

The question is not simply, “Have I given God 10%?” The better question is: “Am I faithfully and joyfully stewarding everything God has entrusted to me?”

Christian giving is not ultimately about a percentage. It is about the Gospel. Paul's motivation for generosity in 2 Corinthians 8:9 is not, “You owe God 10%.” It is that Jesus “was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich.” (P.S. The richness promised to us is not material).

I do not want you to give because you feel pressured by your pastor. I do not want you to give because you are afraid God will punish you if you do not hit a particular percentage. And I certainly don't want you to think that giving 10% somehow puts God in your debt.

We give because God has already given us everything. We give because Christ has given Himself for us. We give because the Gospel has changed our hearts. We give so that the Gospel can advance through the ministry of our church. We give so that missionaries can take the Gospel around the world. We give so that those who are hurting can be helped. We give because our treasures are ultimately not here.

And we give cheerfully, because giving is not merely an obligation. It is an act of worship.

If 10% is where you begin, begin there. If God has blessed you in such a way that you can give beyond 10%, rejoice in that opportunity. If you are presently in a season of genuine financial difficulty, don't give out of guilt or fear. Bring your circumstances before the Lord and seek to be faithful with whatever He has entrusted to you.

But whatever you do, don't ask, “How little can I give and still be obedient?” Ask, “Lord, everything I have belongs to You. How would You have me use it for Your glory?”

I am grateful to pastor a church that loves the Lord, loves His Word, and desires to see the Gospel advance.

For His glory,

Rev. Lee Woodcock

Senior Pastor