{"id":30513,"date":"2021-01-22T08:16:39","date_gmt":"2021-01-22T13:16:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sharefaithblog.wpengine.com\/?p=30513"},"modified":"2021-01-22T08:17:02","modified_gmt":"2021-01-22T13:17:02","slug":"20-bible-verses-about-tithing-and-generosity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sharefaith.com\/blog\/2021\/01\/20-bible-verses-about-tithing-and-generosity\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Bible Verses about Tithing and Generosity"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the Bible, the Israelites gave one-tenth of their earnings or what they produced to God. This was called tithing. The tithe was the part of the Old Testament law requiring Israelites to dedicate the first portion of their goods (typically livestock and produce). First and foremost, this \u201ctax\u201d recognized God as the creator and provider. As stewards of God\u2019s generosity, the Israelites offered back to God the first fruits of what they had received. <\/span>
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\n<\/span>The tithe was also used to maintain the Levites (the priests who cared for and guarded the tabernacle), provide for the temple and feasts, and care for the poor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Confusion about tithing today<\/span><\/h2>\n

When Christians talk about tithing today, the discussion can often become a little perplexing. One reason for this is that Christians occasionally use the word \u201ctithing\u201d when discussing any church giving, which muddies the water.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So when some talk about whether Christians are responsible to the Old Testament law of the tithe (giving 10 percent), some hear this as a discussion about whether Christians are expected to give regularly at all. Someone may choose to give eight percent of their income to the church consistently, and that\u2019s great, but that\u2019s not exactly a tithe. Throughout this article, the word \u201ctithe\u201d will denote \u201ca tenth part,\u201d not giving in general.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Where tithing discussions breakdown<\/span><\/h2>\n

There is a lot of debate about tithing. Some believe that the requirements of the law have been met, and we are no longer under its rigid demands. Others point to Jesus\u2019 upholding the tithe\u2019s practice (Matthew 23:23), assuring that he intended for the tithe to continue.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Neither of these positions really answers the pressing question of why Christians tend to give so little. There are different kinds of givers in every church, but the fact is that only about 25 percent give anything in the most generous congregations\u2014<\/span>and only 3\u20135 percent actually tithe<\/span><\/a>. This seriously begs the question, why would we expect grace to be so much more ineffective than the law? Why would those who have received God\u2019s mercy be inclined to give less than the Israelites?<\/span><\/p>\n

Throughout the gospels, we see Jesus raise the bar on what the law expects:<\/span><\/p>\n