Must I Give My Money?

June 20th, 2025
by Lance Waldie

Romans 15:26-27 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things.

Giving to our local church is not something everyone cares to do. In fact, many are offended at the idea and simply refuse to ever give financially to Christ’s Church. The question is, “Why?” The NT never demands that Christians give 10%, although it was a principle of the OT, called the “tithe,” which means “tenth.” Yet even in the OT, the required tithes added up!

First, Israel was to tithe of their earnings and their livestock to support the Levites who were forbidden to possess land and were simply to serve Israel. This tithe worked as a tax. In turn, the Levites were to tithe back from what they themselves received (Num. 18:25-30) so as to feed those belonging to the priesthood. Failure to tithe constituted robbing God (Mal. 3:8).

The second tithe was the annual festival tithe (Deut. 12:10-11, 17-18). It supported Israel’s national feasts (Passover, Weeks, and Booths) where Jews and Jewish converts slaughtered countless animals in celebration of various events in Israel’s history. This tithe contributed to the people’s worship, and if it were neglected then the celebratory feasts would suffer.

The third tithe required from the Jews was the welfare tithe for orphans and widows (Deut. 14:28-29). This tithe was God’s way of providing for widows and orphans in Israel who could not provide for themselves. He commanded Israel to care for them through this. This tithe averaged to an additional 3.33% per year of their required giving.

All three of these tithes amounted to about 23% of one’s income, functioning as taxes in support of their government which was the Jewish priesthood. The tithes were no more voluntary than modern taxes. Yet, this 23% mandatory tax base was not the grand total of tithes required under the Law. They also had a profit-sharing tax (Lev. 19:9-10), a temple tax, and the seventh year Sabbath tax, all of which totaled to around 25% of their income to the priesthood.

In addition to the tithes, the Jews were to give freewill offerings. The “first-fruits” offering required the first fruits from one’s harvest (Lev. 23:10; Num. 18:12; Prov. 3:9-10; 11:24). It was a representative sample of one’s crops to the priest as an offering to the Lord. The full harvest was not full until the first-fruits had been offered. God also spoke a “freewill” offering (Exod. 35:4-5, 21-22, 29; 36:5-6), yet this offering was to be given to God from a joyful heart. All the others were required, but this one came on top of the others simply as one “freely” given to God.

So are NT Christians supposed to tithe to their churches? Though the tithe is mentioned in Matthew 23:23 and in Luke 18:12, both are in reference to taxation. And all believers are commanded to pay their taxes (Rom. 13:1-7) and to give a freewill offering to those in need (2 Cor. 9:6-13). What is clear is that the two types of giving in the NT are just like those in the OT: required and voluntary. In Jesus’ day the OT tax system was still in practice because the government was still run by the religious leaders, and the temple was their central government. But they were also under the control of Rome, who also taxed them. Tax-collectors (publicans) often exacted more than their due (i.e., Zacchaeus), yet Jesus adhered to the Mosaic system and paid His taxes (Matt. 17:24-27). So, for Christians, paying taxes and giving to help the saints is really no different than it was in OT times.

“Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7). Cheerful giving is cheerful worship, and cheerful worship is worship indeed! So, should believers give to their church? Yes! That is, if they come to worship Christ, thanking Him for all that He has provided—both here and in eternity.