Giving
Old Testament Principles

Should Christians Tithe?

Tithing is a reference to the Hebrew theocratic government and was similar to a tax system of giving 10% of income to provide for the Levite priests and the temple (Numbers 18:21, Deuteronomy 14:22-26). The tithe was really only the beginning of their giving. Their total giving which included First Fruit Offerings and Freewill Offerings (1 Chronicles 29:6, Exodus 36:3-7) was more around 23%. While this is a popular term in today’s churches, Christians are not obligated to give 10%. This was a part of the old covenant law for Israel.

There is no longer a temple building, or Levite priests. In the new covenant, our bodies are the temple of God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) and we are instead called to give an amount we have decided in our hearts (2 Corinthians 9:7).



  • Do you give based off of a percentage? Why could that be a bad idea?
  • What do first fruit offerings look like in todays time and culture?
  • What does a blemished gift look like? Have you every felt bad about giving a blemished gift?

Proverbs 3:9

Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
  • Do you give based off of a percentage? Why could that be a bad idea?
  • What do first fruit offerings look like in todays time and culture?
  • What does a blemished gift look like? Have you every felt bad about giving a blemished gift?

Deuteronomy 15:21

But if it has any blemish, if it is lame or blind or has any serious blemish whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to the Lord your God.
  • Do you give based off of a percentage? Why could that be a bad idea?
  • What do first fruit offerings look like in todays time and culture?
  • What does a blemished gift look like? Have you every felt bad about giving a blemished gift?
How to give

Luke 21:1-4

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

  • Have you ever given out of poverty, or only in what's extra?
  • How many of your gifts are known by others? What are some of the dangers of telling others?
  • When a man becomes a Christian, he becomes industrious, trustworthy and prosperous. Now, if that man when he gets all he can and saves all he can does not give all he can, I have more hope for Judas Iscariot than for that man!
    - John Wesley
  • A lack of generosity refuses to acknowledge that your assets are not really yours, but God’s.
    - Timothy Keller
  • I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. - C.S. Lewis

Matthew 6:1-4

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

  • Have you ever given out of poverty, or only in what's extra?
  • How many of your gifts are known by others? What are some of the dangers of telling others?
  • When a man becomes a Christian, he becomes industrious, trustworthy and prosperous. Now, if that man when he gets all he can and saves all he can does not give all he can, I have more hope for Judas Iscariot than for that man!
    - John Wesley
  • A lack of generosity refuses to acknowledge that your assets are not really yours, but God’s.
    - Timothy Keller
  • I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. - C.S. Lewis

2 Corinthians 9:7

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
  • Have you ever given out of poverty, or only in what's extra?
  • How many of your gifts are known by others? What are some of the dangers of telling others?
  • When a man becomes a Christian, he becomes industrious, trustworthy and prosperous. Now, if that man when he gets all he can and saves all he can does not give all he can, I have more hope for Judas Iscariot than for that man!
    - John Wesley
  • A lack of generosity refuses to acknowledge that your assets are not really yours, but God’s.
    - Timothy Keller
  • I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. - C.S. Lewis

Acts 5:1-11

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

  • Have you ever given out of poverty, or only in what's extra?
  • How many of your gifts are known by others? What are some of the dangers of telling others?
  • When a man becomes a Christian, he becomes industrious, trustworthy and prosperous. Now, if that man when he gets all he can and saves all he can does not give all he can, I have more hope for Judas Iscariot than for that man!
    - John Wesley
  • A lack of generosity refuses to acknowledge that your assets are not really yours, but God’s.
    - Timothy Keller
  • I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. - C.S. Lewis

Matthew 23:23

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.

  • Have you ever given out of poverty, or only in what's extra?
  • How many of your gifts are known by others? What are some of the dangers of telling others?
  • When a man becomes a Christian, he becomes industrious, trustworthy and prosperous. Now, if that man when he gets all he can and saves all he can does not give all he can, I have more hope for Judas Iscariot than for that man!
    - John Wesley
  • A lack of generosity refuses to acknowledge that your assets are not really yours, but God’s.
    - Timothy Keller
  • I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. - C.S. Lewis
Who to give to

1 Timothy 5:17-18

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”

  • Have you ever struggled giving to your church? Does scripture help with your perspective? Also check out Galatians 6:6, 1 Corinthians 9:7-14, 2 Corinthians 8:2-3, and 2 Corinthians 14-15.
  • When was the last time you or your church gave to another church in need?
  • Have you seen before the priority to prioritize church family with giving?
  • As base a thing as money often is, yet it can be transmuted into everlasting treasure. It can be converted into food for the hungry and clothing for the poor. It can keep a missionary actively winning lost men to the light of the gospel and thus transmute itself into heavenly values. Any temporal possession can be turned into everlasting wealth. Whatever is given to Christ is immediately touched with immortality.
    - A.W. Tozer
  • All the money needed to send and support an army of self-sacrificing, joy-spreading ambassadors is already in the church.
    - John Piper

Acts 11:27-29

Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.
  • Have you ever struggled giving to your church? Does scripture help with your perspective? Also check out Galatians 6:6, 1 Corinthians 9:7-14, 2 Corinthians 8:2-3, and 2 Corinthians 14-15.
  • When was the last time you or your church gave to another church in need?
  • Have you seen before the priority to prioritize church family with giving?
  • As base a thing as money often is, yet it can be transmuted into everlasting treasure. It can be converted into food for the hungry and clothing for the poor. It can keep a missionary actively winning lost men to the light of the gospel and thus transmute itself into heavenly values. Any temporal possession can be turned into everlasting wealth. Whatever is given to Christ is immediately touched with immortality.
    - A.W. Tozer
  • All the money needed to send and support an army of self-sacrificing, joy-spreading ambassadors is already in the church.
    - John Piper

Philippians 4:16-18

[Paul speaking] Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.

  • Have you ever struggled giving to your church? Does scripture help with your perspective? Also check out Galatians 6:6, 1 Corinthians 9:7-14, 2 Corinthians 8:2-3, and 2 Corinthians 14-15.
  • When was the last time you or your church gave to another church in need?
  • Have you seen before the priority to prioritize church family with giving?
  • As base a thing as money often is, yet it can be transmuted into everlasting treasure. It can be converted into food for the hungry and clothing for the poor. It can keep a missionary actively winning lost men to the light of the gospel and thus transmute itself into heavenly values. Any temporal possession can be turned into everlasting wealth. Whatever is given to Christ is immediately touched with immortality.
    - A.W. Tozer
  • All the money needed to send and support an army of self-sacrificing, joy-spreading ambassadors is already in the church.
    - John Piper

Luke 12:33-34

Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

  • Have you ever struggled giving to your church? Does scripture help with your perspective? Also check out Galatians 6:6, 1 Corinthians 9:7-14, 2 Corinthians 8:2-3, and 2 Corinthians 14-15.
  • When was the last time you or your church gave to another church in need?
  • Have you seen before the priority to prioritize church family with giving?
  • As base a thing as money often is, yet it can be transmuted into everlasting treasure. It can be converted into food for the hungry and clothing for the poor. It can keep a missionary actively winning lost men to the light of the gospel and thus transmute itself into heavenly values. Any temporal possession can be turned into everlasting wealth. Whatever is given to Christ is immediately touched with immortality.
    - A.W. Tozer
  • All the money needed to send and support an army of self-sacrificing, joy-spreading ambassadors is already in the church.
    - John Piper

Matthew 25:35-40

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

  • Have you ever struggled giving to your church? Does scripture help with your perspective? Also check out Galatians 6:6, 1 Corinthians 9:7-14, 2 Corinthians 8:2-3, and 2 Corinthians 14-15.
  • When was the last time you or your church gave to another church in need?
  • Have you seen before the priority to prioritize church family with giving?
  • As base a thing as money often is, yet it can be transmuted into everlasting treasure. It can be converted into food for the hungry and clothing for the poor. It can keep a missionary actively winning lost men to the light of the gospel and thus transmute itself into heavenly values. Any temporal possession can be turned into everlasting wealth. Whatever is given to Christ is immediately touched with immortality.
    - A.W. Tozer
  • All the money needed to send and support an army of self-sacrificing, joy-spreading ambassadors is already in the church.
    - John Piper