Tithing: a Requirement or Not?

I recently saw a video online of a pastor demanding his ushers “close the doors” until the congregation—both in-person and virtual—donated $40,000. Shocked by this apparent corruption, I wondered, “What does the Bible really say about tithing?” Growing up, I was taught that it demands 10% of our income—a rule enforced even on my childhood dollar bills. Many, myself included, feel the church focuses too heavily on money. Entire sermon series, even children’s lessons, drilled this message into us. I’ve seen kids sent to collect “children’s offerings” from adults.

In 2024, Church Development reported only 5% of churchgoers—about 1.5 million Americans—tithed, though 77% of those gave beyond 10%. Per the Philanthropy Outlook, 49% of Americans donated to religious groups, with 29% of all charitable giving going to faith-based organizations—double what education receives. No wonder some see the church as a money grab. But what does Scripture actually say? Here are three key points on tithing from the Bible.

1.        God does not want you to give out of obligation

2 Corinthians 9: 6,7

This Scripture reveals two important truths. First, God promises blessings to those who give generously and willingly. The Bible often speaks of abundance—both material and spiritual—flowing to those who share freely from their hearts. Second, and even more significant, God doesn’t want your giving to come from a sense of duty. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul makes it plain: don’t tithe if you feel pressured or obligated, because God values the attitude behind the gift more than the gift itself. He wants cheerful givers, not reluctant ones.

This idea connects to another striking passage in Revelation 3:15-16, where God addresses the church in Laodicea. He calls them “lukewarm”—neither hot with passion nor cold with rejection—and says He’d rather they be fully cold than stuck in this half-hearted state. The point is clear: God prefers complete authenticity over shallow effort. He’d rather we step back entirely than offer Him something we don’t truly mean.

Jesus reinforces this in the New Testament with a radical call to love and generosity. He instructs us to love everyone—even our enemies (Matthew 5:44)—and to go the extra mile for others (Matthew 5:41), even when it costs us. His life and teachings show a pattern: help the poor, support the needy, and put others first, no matter the sacrifice. God wants us to give abundantly, but not because we “have to.” Instead, He desires our giving to flow from genuine love for our brothers and sisters—a joyful response to His grace, not a grudging checkbox on a spiritual list.

2.        The early church gave far more than 10%

Acts 2:43-45

Many of us, whether we grew up in the church or came to faith later, have been taught that God demands a strict 10% of our income as a tithe. It’s a belief so ingrained that it feels like an unshakable pillar of Christian practice. For more than 20 years, I lived by this principle, reasoning, “If the Bible commands 10%, then that’s what I’ll give—no questions asked.” I assumed this was a clear, biblical mandate, passed down through generations. But when I dug deeper, I was shocked to find that this widely accepted “commandment” isn’t as straightforward as I’d been led to believe. In fact, there’s no single verse in Scripture—Old Testament or New—that explicitly requires all believers to give exactly 10% as a universal, ongoing rule.

Take Abraham’s story, for instance. In Genesis 14:20, he gives 10% of his spoils to Melchizedek, a mysterious priest-king. It’s a striking moment, often pointed to as the origin of tithing. But here’s the catch: this was a one-time gift, a voluntary act of gratitude after a victory, not a recurring obligation God imposed on him. Abraham didn’t set up a monthly tithe schedule—he acted in a specific context, and the Bible doesn’t show him repeating it. Then there’s the Mosaic Law, where tithing becomes more defined. Leviticus 27:30 declares that a tenth of the land’s produce—crops and livestock—belongs to God, and Deuteronomy 14:22-23 instructs the Israelites to set aside a tenth of their harvest to eat before the Lord or support the Levites. These passages are clear, but they’re tied to an agricultural society under a covenant we no longer live by. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, Christians believe the Mosaic Law was fulfilled (Matthew 5:17), meaning its detailed regulations—like the 10% tithe—don’t bind us today. So, does this mean tithing is off the table entirely?

Far from it. The New Testament flips the script, moving away from fixed percentages and toward a higher, more dynamic standard of generosity. It’s not about checking a box; it’s about the heart. Look at the early church in Acts 2:44-45: these believers didn’t stop at 10%—they sold their homes, land, and possessions to meet each other’s needs. This wasn’t a legalistic requirement but a spontaneous outpouring of love and unity. They saw their resources as tools to build a community where no one went without. Another vivid example is the widow in Mark 12:41-44. Jesus watches her drop two tiny coins—worth almost nothing—into the temple treasury. Compared to the rich donors, her gift seems insignificant, but Jesus praises her, saying she gave “all she had to live on.” She wasn’t following a mandated percentage; she gave everything, trusting God to multiply her sacrifice. Her motivation wasn’t duty or guilt—it was faith and selflessness.

So, is giving still required of us? Yes, absolutely—but the New Testament redefines the expectation. It’s less rigid than the Old Testament’s tithe, which came with precise rules, yet it demands far more of our hearts and lives. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul writes that God loves a “cheerful giver,” urging us to give what we’ve decided in our hearts, not under compulsion. Jesus takes it further, tying giving to love—love for God and love for others. He tells us to care for the poor (Matthew 25:35-40), bless our enemies (Luke 6:27-28), and share generously, even when it’s inconvenient (Luke 6:38). The percentage isn’t the point; the posture is. New Testament giving isn’t a tax to pay God off—it’s a reflection of our devotion to Him and our commitment to our neighbors. We’re called to give abundantly, not because a law says so, but because grace compels us.

3.        The Lord wants more than just money

God’s longing for our giving reaches far beyond money—He yearns for our time, our love, our vulnerability, and a life that mirrors the love Jesus taught us to have for our neighbors. Tithing is often shrunk into a financial chore, a percentage scribbled on a check or swiped through an app, as if that alone fulfills God’s desire. But Scripture reveals a deeper call. In Mark 12:30-31, Jesus pairs two commands: love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. This isn’t a transaction—it’s a total surrender of ourselves, far exceeding what cash can convey. The early church in Acts 2:44-46 lived this out vividly. They didn’t just pool their funds; they shared their homes, their meals, and their days, breaking bread and praying together. Their time and affection knit a community where love for one another wasn’t an afterthought but the heartbeat of their faith—echoing Jesus’ call to care for those around us.

Consider the widow with her two coins (Mark 12:41-44). Her gift was meager in monetary value, but Jesus praised its weight—she gave everything, trusting God completely. Her act wasn’t about meeting a quota; it was a profound surrender, a love so deep it left her vulnerable. This points us to Jesus Himself, who showed the ultimate example of giving. On the cross, He paid the greatest price—His life—out of love for us (John 15:13). He didn’t offer a tithe of His time or a fraction of His strength; He gave it all, bearing our sins and struggles so we could be reconciled to God. His sacrifice redefines giving: it’s not about what we can spare, but about pouring ourselves out for God and others, just as He did.

God wants more than our wallets—He invites our raw, unguarded selves too. In 1 Peter 5:7, we’re urged to “cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” This is no casual tip—it’s a plea to hand over our fears, our pain, our brokenness. He’s not a cold taskmaster demanding payment; He’s a Father who craves closeness. When we give Him our struggles, we’re saying, “I trust You with my mess because I know You love me.” Jesus modeled this vulnerability in Gethsemane, sweating blood as He surrendered to God’s will (Luke 22:44). God owns everything already (Psalm 24:1)—our money doesn’t impress Him. What He seeks is us: our hours spent feeding a hungry neighbor, our quiet prayers of worship, our love flowing freely to others, and our hearts laid bare before Him. That’s the offering He cherishes—a life fully given, reflecting the cross, not just a slice of our income.

Final Thoughts

In a world where a pastor can lock church doors over a $40,000 demand, it’s easy to see why tithing feels like a cash grab—a transactional faith that misses God’s heart. But Scripture tells a different story. From the cheerful generosity of 2 Corinthians 9:7 to the all-in sacrifice of the early church in Acts 2:44-45, and the widow’s humble coins in Mark 12:41-44, we see that God isn’t after a mandatory 10% or a begrudging donation. He wants us—our time knitting socks for a shivering stranger, our love lifting a weary friend, our vulnerabilities whispered in prayer when life unravels. Jesus showed us the ultimate blueprint on the cross (John 15:13), giving everything—not just for God, but for us, His neighbors in need of redemption. This isn’t about rules; it’s about relationship. God owns the universe (Psalm 24:1), yet He hungers for our hearts, not our bank accounts. So, the next time you’re tempted to measure your faith by a percentage, pause. Ask yourself: Am I giving like Jesus did—freely, fully, and from love? That’s the takeaway—live generously in every way, because that’s the tithe that transforms us and the world around us.