Ask Your Preacher - Archives

Ask Your Preacher - Archives

“To Give Or Not To Give”

Categories: THE COLLECTION, WORSHIP
How often do we give offerings and tithes in the church?  Is it how you are moved by the message or what?  Please explain according to Scripture.

Sincerely,
In The Money

Dear In The Money,

‘Tithe’ is an Old Testament term which means ‘one tenth’.  In the New Testament, we are never told to tithe.  One tenth is certainly a good rule of thumb, but not a New Testament command.

We should never give based off of how we feel in the moment.  Our contribution to the Lord’s work should be planned ahead, not made spur of the moment.  God tells christians to “lay by in store” (1 Cor 16:2) and give as we have “purposed in our hearts” (2 Cor 9:7).  On the first day of the week, Sunday, the local church is supposed to take up a collection from its membership.  This is supposed to be done every Sunday (1 Cor 16:1-2).  The members should give in a purposeful, cheerful, and deliberate manner.  You should already know how much you are going to give before you come to the assembly.  Purpose in your heart ahead of time, and give with good cheer and conviction.