Generosity in the Way of Jesus

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”

Malachi 3:10

Tithing—or sacrificial giving—is an essential practice of Christianity, rooted in the understanding that ever y thing we have belongs to God . We don’t give our tithes as charity; rather, we give out of obedience and faith , believing that when we live off 90%, God w ill take care of 100% of our needs.

By returning a portion of our income to the church , we acknowledge God’s sovereignty over all our possessions and demonstrate our trust in His ultimate provision .

We also recognize that for many new Christians, tithing feels strange—even scar y. The thought of giving away a portion of our income can feel counter intuitive. However, throughout Scripture, we see that

sacrificing for God’s mission is an opportunity to grow our faith , align our hearts with His, and participate in His work. The purpose of this guide is to help you explore what the Bible teaches about giving, address some common questions, and encourage you to adopt a posture of joyful , sacrificial generosity.

The Framework in Scripture

To begin, we want to know what the Bible says about money and generosity. Contrary to what some people think, the concept of tithing (i.e., giving a tenth of our income) did not begin with the Mosaic Law—it starts all the way back in Genesis. Here is a quick summary:

In the Old Testament

  • Genesis 14 — Abraham pays tithes to Melchizedek, a king foreshadowing Jesus.

  • Genesis 28 — Jacob promises God a tenth of everything granted him.

  • Leviticus 27 — A tenth of Israel’s seed, fruit, and flocks were given to the Lord.

  • Deuteronomy 12, 14 — On top of the regular tithe given to the priests and the temple, we also see a “festival tithe” for the celebration of the required feasts and a “charity tithe’ given every three years to sojourners, the fatherless, and widows.

  • Proverbs 3:9-10 — We are promised barns and wine overflowing when we “honor the Lord with our wealth” and commit to the first fruits of our crops to Him.

  • Proverbs 11:24-25 — God gives more to those that live generously.

  • Malachi 3 — The one place God tells us to “test him” is when it comes to tithing. (Think about that!) He promises to overwhelm us with blessing as a result.

Conclusion: The general pattern and practice we see in the Old Testament is that the people of God gave 10% (a tithe) of their income—often giving above and beyond that with additional offerings—believing that God would honor their obedience, and that abundance and provision would follow.

In the New Testament:

  • Matthew 10:10, Luke 10:7, 1 Corinthians 9:6-14, and 1 Timothy 5:17-18 — We are commanded to support those who preach the gospel.

  • 1 Timothy 6:17-19, 2 Corinthians 8-9 — We are called to be generous to those in need.

  • 2 Corinthians 9:7 — It’s not just an issue of what we give, but rather how we give. We are called to be cheerful givers.

  • Matthew 6:19-24 — Jesus is after our hearts (specifically regarding money). We are to store up treasures in heaven and not on earth. We cannot serve God and money.

Conclusion: Jesus talked more about money than He talked about heaven and hell. Money, more than most other things we can run to and worship, can enslave us and rule our hearts. Jesus tells us plainly that we can’t love both God and money (Matthew 6:24). Instead, He calls us to be cheerfully generous people who invest in the Kingdom of God with our finances.

Commonly Asked Questions

Why do we do this?

Jesus says that our hearts follow our money (Matthew 6:21), and we want to have hearts that are fully devoted to the Lord. Many people have never tested God with a full tithe (Malachi 3:10) and are missing out on the blessing of trusting Him with the first portion of their resources. In other words, we tithe because:

It provides for God’s house, expresses our trust in God, creates a margin in our lives for God to fill, reminds us that we’re not our source, connects our money to a Kingdom purpose, gives our work eternal significance, transforms our money into a seed, breaks greed and self-reliance at the heart level, and declares that God is first in every area of our lives.

Isn’t tithing an Old Testament principle? Is it legalistic?

Author, teacher, and theologian Randy Alcorn offers the following:

“I’ve heard Christians argue—often angrily—that tithing is legalism...However, the average American Christian gives 2.5%. Even using 10% as a measure, the Israelites were four times more responsive to the Law of Moses than the average American Christian is to the grace of Christ...When we as New Testament believers, living in a far more affluent society than ancient Israel, give only a fraction of that given by the poorest Old Testament believers, we surely must reevaluate our concept of

‘grace giving’. And when you consider that we have the indwelling of the Spirit of God and they didn’t, the contract becomes even more glaring...If you fear legalism, fine, start at 11 or 12 percent.”

Can I tithe in other ways besides money… like giving my time?

It’s wonderful to give our whole selves to God (our trust, time, talents, and treasure). And we can—and should—serve Him in all kinds of ways, but these shouldn’t be reasons to not obey a clear command to trust Him by giving financially.

What if I want to give to various ministries outside of the church?

It would be good to examine (a) why this is, and (b) what this will lead to. Sometimes, this is motivated by wanting to be in control of the money we give and inevitably it leads our hearts away from our local church. In his book, Money, Possessions, and Eternity, Randy Alcorn addresses this question as well:

“When the early Christians sold their land and houses, they ‘brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need’ (Acts 4:34-35). They didn’t discern on their own where the funds should go. They entrusted them to spiritually qualified church leaders, who distributed them wisely.”

We love supporting ministries and missionaries outside the local church, but encourage making that giving “above and beyond” your normal tithe.

What if I want to give, but have debt to pay off?

Here are two practical steps we encourage you to take:

  • Start by giving a committed percentage—whatever you’re able—even if it’s less than 10%. By doing this, you’ll establish the habit of giving first, with the goal of increasing over time.

  • Seek wisdom and support through a financial course (see if one is being offered through The Summit this year) or by connecting with a financial mentor and fellow believer. To explore these options, reach out to a Summit staff member, pastor, or elder.

What if I can’t afford to tithe right now?

Many people who believe they can’t afford to tithe actually could with some intentional choices. We know that feels personal and challenging, but consider this second insight from Randy Alcorn:

“What if my salary was reduced by 10%? Wouldn’t I continue to live? And if tithing is God’s will and He promises to provide for those who trust and obey Him, won’t He allow me to get by on 90% rather than 100%? In fact, am I not a lot safer living on less inside the will of God than living on more outside it?”

Tithing isn’t about having extra—it’s about trust. It’s a step of faith that aligns our hearts with God’s provision and priorities. What’s the best way to give? For the sake of consistency and simplicity, we recommend setting up a recurring rhythm of giving online. You can also give in-person on Sundays, by mail, or through your bank’s “bill pay” function.

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