Give

I follow the example of Jesus — Matthew 10:8; Mark 10:45.

I demonstrate faithful stewardship — 1 Corinthians 4:2.

I draw closer to God — Matthew 6:21.

I break greed’s hold on my life — 1 Timothy 6:17–19.

I invest securely in eternity — Matthew 6:20; Luke 16:9–11.

I receive God’s blessing in return — Proverbs 3:9–10; Luke 6:38.

Christians should give according to their ability (Acts 11:29). Our finances change through different seasons of life, and we have responsibilities to our families and debts. Often, thoughtful long-term planning is needed so that our giving reflects our priorities for eternal things while honoring legal and personal financial obligations. Adjusting our plans over time can help us meet our responsibilities lawfully and align our giving with our eternal values.

We give from what we have, not what we do not have. Each of us needs to pray and determine what generous giving means for our household. For some, a starting point of 10% is too low. For others, even giving 5% is a sacrifice. The goal is to grow our commitment beyond 10%, becoming an example of Christ’s love in our community.

Speaking of the Macedonians, Paul testified that they gave willingly, as much as they could and even beyond their ability (2 Corinthians 8:3). This means they gave to the point that they felt the sacrifice in their lives.

Follow these three steps, together as a family:

Decide what percentage of your income you will give this year.

Then ask two questions: Is this amount sacrificial? And is it responsible?

Whenever you receive income, first set aside the portion you will give to God. It is His, not yours. Remember: the more you trust God with material resources, the more spiritual treasures He will entrust to you (Luke 16:9–12; 2 Corinthians 9:10–12).

When we speak of tithing, we mean a Christian’s regular giving to the church. In the Old Testament, believers were required to give a tenth of their income to support ministry and meet the needs of the poor. When gifts for festivals, sacrifices, gleaning for the poor, and special offerings are included, the total amounted to 23–25% of a person’s income. The New Testament does not explicitly prescribe a tithe, but because we have received greater blessing in Christ and have greater cause for gratitude, we believe our responsibility for generosity is greater, not smaller. Many Christians therefore regard a tithe of 10% as a minimum guideline for giving.

An offering is a gift to the ministry of the church and the spread of the gospel beyond your regular tithe. In the Bible, these are called freewill offerings. Examples include special collections to meet needs within or outside the church, or gifts to missionaries and charitable organizations.