Tithing: Your Questions Answered
20 May 2025 Hits:6618
First Published: 20 May, 2025
Updated: 8 September, 2026
Money, particularly its giving, is one of the most frequently mentioned topics in the Bible. It’s also one of the most controversial subjects and likely to provoke a response, sometimes a negative one. I attended a Christian financial seminar many years ago, where the speaker shared simple yet powerful truths about managing money. I have applied his “two basic rules” to my life ever since: (1) Spend less than you earn; (2) Tithe as the first fruits of all your increase.
The word ‘tithe’ means a tenth. Dr Billy Graham said, “We have found in our own home, as have thousands of others, that God’s blessing upon the nine-tenths, when we tithe, helps it to go farther than ten-tenths without His blessing.” Tithing, a biblical principle, means giving one-tenth of our income to the Lord.
Some History
Tithing isn’t just a practice of the Old Testament Law. It predates the Law; the Bible’s first mention of tithing appears in Genesis 14:18-20. Here, we see Abram willingly give King Melchizedek ten per cent of all his increase. This raises the question: where did Abram learn this principle? Did he pull this figure out of thin air, did God privately instruct him in a universal principle, or did he learn it from someone else?
Shem, one of Noah’s sons, likely taught Abram to tithe. Abram was in Shem’s family line, and Jewish tradition identifies Shem and Melchizedek as the same person.
Therefore, Abram paid the tithe to Shem because Shem was his teacher (Rabbi). The apostle Paul wrote: “the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.” In this context, the disciple provides material support for their teacher; thus, it was right for Abram to honour Shem (Melchizedek) with a tithe. Today’s Christians should tithe to support those who teach them God’s truth.
Ancient Practice
The influence of Shem’s teaching on God’s tithe is evident among the earliest nations (family clans) after the flood. Tithing was widely practised among Gentiles. The earliest priest-kings mandated it, and ancient nations observed it even before Abram’s time. It was a universal practice among these early societies, with funds used to maintain holy shrines and support the priests.
In Genesis 14, Abram was still a Gentile. Although he later became Abraham, the first patriarch of the nation of Israel, his tithing was not a Jewish act; in fact, this event occurred 430 years before the Law of Moses. This highlights the timeless nature of tithing, a practice upheld for centuries. The Law of Moses adopted and developed the principle of tithing.
Three Tithes
The Law of Moses presents truths about tithing that, if applied today, offer sound guidance on giving and saving. Under the Law of Moses, there were three tithes:
- The Lord’s tithe: 10% of gross income, supporting the priesthood and the temple (Numbers 18:21).
- The Family’s tithe: The next 10% is set aside for the future to support the family (Deuteronomy 14:22-27).
- The Poor tithe: Every third family’s tithe was given to the poor (Deuteronomy 14:28-29).
If you follow these three tithes, you give to Jesus, Others and Yourself—J.O.Y.
Gross or Net?
Another common question about tithing is, ‘Should I tithe on my gross or net income?’ Jesus often responded to a question with a question, so I’ll follow in His footsteps: Should we be looking for a way to give more or less to God? The question of gross and net income arises from our taxation system. Until just over a hundred years ago, people were paid their full wage and were responsible for paying their taxes. Some countries still do this today.
The question is, “Who should be paid first—God or government?” Jesus said, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” He also taught us to seek God’s Kingdom first, and so I believe we should tithe on our gross income.
How to Tithe
Three principles should be observed when giving tithes:
- The First: As mentioned above, we are to put God first in our giving: Honour the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase. In Scripture, the first of anything is sacred to the Lord.
- The Best: The prophet Malachi tells us that some people offered God blind, lame, or diseased animals, much like those who donate torn or dirty clothes to charity bins. Our giving should never be reduced to unwanted leftovers.
- The Lot: From any increase we receive, we are to give a tithe to God first. This includes our salary, lump-sum payments, inheritance, superannuation payouts, gifts, holiday pay, share dividends, bonuses, etc. God calls us to honour Him with the first fruits of ALL our increase. Anything less dishonours Him.
Where should I donate my tithe?
As mentioned earlier, the Lord’s tithe (10% of gross income) supported the priesthood and the temple: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house” (Malachi 3:10). God expected His people to provide for His work, from which they and others would benefit.
In the New Testament Book of Acts, people brought money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. Placing the gift “at the apostles’ feet” signified that it was for the church’s work, not a personal gift.
The Bible teaches God’s people to contribute to God’s work through their leaders (1 Cor. 9:9, 14; 1 Tim. 5:17-18). In turn, these leaders are responsible for allocating these funds to advance God’s kingdom on earth.
Why should I give a tithe?
Tithing teaches us to always put God first in our lives. It reminds us that God holds first place in our lives and helps us establish our priorities. We tithe as a statement of faith for the future, demonstrating our trust in God.
Tithing is a great floor but a poor ceiling. Giving the first 10% of our increase to God’s Work through our local church is a good starting point, but this principle is meant to be liberating rather than limiting. C.S. Lewis used to give away two-thirds of his income. R.G. LeTourneau, author of the inspiring book Mover of Men and Mountains, gave 90% of his income. The more God blesses us, the larger percentage we can give back to him.
J.D. Rockefeller wrote, “I never would have been able to tithe the first million dollars I ever made if I had not tithed my first salary, which was $1.50 per week.”
I encourage you to continue—or begin—this exciting journey of generosity to help extend God’s kingdom.
Your comments are welcome below.
Rob Buckingham
Senior Minister
