Give to Crossway

Everyone is a Steward
God - who made and owns everything - has entrusted to us temporarily everything we have. We will be called to give an account to God for how we used everything in our lives. So we must ask: “How aligned with God’s intentions and priorities is the whole of our stewardship - giving, investing, and spending?”

1 Peter 4:10 – “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.”
‍2 Corinthians 5:10 – “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”
Luke 19:12–27 (Parable of the Ten Minas)
Job 1:21 – “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
1 Chronicles 29:14 – “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.”

Tithing Teaches Timeless Truths
Are Christians required to tithe? Tithing (giving 10% of income) does not appear as a strict obligation in the New Testament for Christians. But like many things in the Old Testament, tithing is an instructive principle for Christians. For example, the Old Testament practice of the Sabbath is an instructive principle for Christians about the importance of regular rest, renewal, and worship. Similarly, the Old Testament practice of tithing is an instructive principle for Christians about the importance of planned, proportional, sacrificial giving. This kind of giving is an elevated priority to help your community of faith thrive and supports gathered worship, prayer and types of teaching and instruction.

Malachi 3:10 – “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.”
1 Corinthians 16:2 – “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper...”
Galatians 6:6 – “Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.”

Giving Should Be Joyful!
Generous giving is meant to produce joy, gratitude, and transformation in the giver! Since “it is more blessed to give than to receive” - when we don’t give as we should, we truly miss out. If our attitudes are reluctant or resentful when we give, a self-reflective heart examination is called for.

2 Corinthians 9:7 – “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Acts 20:35 – “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Luke 6:38 – “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over...”
Matthew 6:21 – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”‍