What Did Paul Say About Tithing?
The apostle Paul wrote more books in the New Testament than any other author. His purpose was to disciple believers in the New Covenant churches to whom he was writing. He was teaching them about their new life in Christ and how that new life played out in their everyday lives as the Church.
So, how did Paul disciple them in the area of money? What did Paul say about tithing? Tithing was certainly a part of the Old Covenant, but was it part of their lives as New Covenant believers in Christ? Is it part of our lives as Christians today?
WHAT DID PAUL SAY ABOUT TITHING?
The apostle Paul did not teach believers in New Covenant churches to tithe. Neither did any of the other writers of the New Testament. As a matter of fact, Jesus didn’t teach the tithe either (He did bring it up one time in a conversation with the Pharisees, but it was to teach them about a heart issue).
Paul did teach about giving and how new life in Christ impacts the way we relate to money and finances, but he just didn’t teach the tithe. Paul taught grace-giving.
GRACE-GIVING
7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(2 Corinthians 8:7)
Giving is a work of God’s grace operating in us that motivates us to give.
The moment we put our faith and trust in Jesus, the Spirit comes to dwell in us, unites us to Jesus, and we are given a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26). Our new heart in Christ wants to give. Jesus is a sacrificial giver, and in union with Him, you have been reborn into a giver.
GIVING IS NOT A DUTY - IT’S A PRIVILEGE
In the same letter referenced above, Paul refers to the Macedonian believers and how God’s grace impacted their attitude toward giving.
4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.
(2 Corinthians 8:4)
The believers in Macedonia understood giving to be a privilege. Paul wasn’t going to ask them to give because of their situation. This was a poverty-stricken church. However, even though they didn’t have much, verse 4 tells us that they pleaded with Paul and his team to be able to give.
GIVE ACCORDING TO YOUR MEANS
As Paul continued to disciple the Corinthian church about giving, he didn’t mention tithing but rather giving out of what one has.
11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have…
(2 Corinthians 8:11-12)
In other words, it’s not the portion we give, but the proportion we give.
For example, if someone makes $50,000 per year and gives $5,000 (10%), they have $45,000 to live on.
However, if someone makes $500,000 per year and gives the same proportion (10%), that is $50,000 but still leaves them $450,000 to live on.
In the latter situation, one has the means to give way above and beyond 10%.
Paul teaches New Covenant believers to give according to their means.
DECIDE WHAT TO GIVE FROM YOUR HEART
Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, teaches believers to make their decisions about giving based on what God lays on their hearts to give.
7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
(2 Corinthians 9:7)
Giving is not done out of guilt, shame, or condemnation. As we seek the Lord and ask Him to direct us in the area of giving, He will lay an amount or percentage on our hearts.
God will show us what to give, and He will cause us to get excited about the opportunity to be a part of His Kingdom work.
CONCLUSION
What did Paul say about tithing? When instructing New Covenant believers about giving, the apostle Paul never commanded them to tithe. The tithe was part of the Old Covenant Law, and New Covenant believers have been released from the law and serve in the new way of the Spirit.
Paul taught grace-giving. Giving is a work of God’s grace operating in us that motivates us to give. It is never a duty. The Spirit leads us to see it as a privilege to participate with Jesus in His Kingdom work in this world.
Rather than give a tithe, Paul taught that believers are to give out of their means. It’s not about the portion but the proportion we give.
As we fix our eyes on Jesus, He will guide and empower us to give however much He lays on our hearts, and He will receive the glory and honor for His grace at work through us.