Frequently Asked Questions
Money FAQ
Q. What is financial stewardship?
A. Part of being a good manager, or steward, is giving back to God a portion of what He's entrusted to us. It's not that God "needs" our money. Rather, giving serves as an external, material testimony that God owns both the material and spiritual things of our lives. It also supports the greatest, most enduring work ever conducted in this world: the Lord's work.
We are, first and foremost, citizens of God's kingdom, seeking to invest our resources (time, talents, and money) in ways that are consistent with God's values and priorities. This is what Jesus meant when he asked us to think first of investing our wealth "where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.”
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Q. What does the term "tithe" mean?
A. In the Old Testament, believers were required to give a percentage of their income to the support of the ministry and the needs of the poor. One of the first standards of giving found in the Bible is the tithe, a word which means "tenth." Abraham tithed in Genesis 14 after returning from the daring rescue of his nephew Lot from four enemy kings. He encountered the priest Melchizedek and voluntarily surrendered to him one-tenth of all the spoils he had taken from his enemies. It's often said that the tithe is Old Testament "legalism," but Abraham tithed some 430 years before the Law was given to Moses.
Although the New Testament does not specifically mention the tithe, it does teach that we should give as we are "able and even beyond (our) ability". (2 Corinthians 8:3). Jesus himself teaches that our relationship to wealth should be far more radical and generous than that of the Old Testament when he reminds his followers that God was "pleased" to give us the kingdom (something God's followers in the Old Testament longed for) which, Jesus says, should liberate us to "sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Luke 12:33-34). Therefore, the tithe (literally translated “a tenth” or 10%) is seen as a kind of minimum guideline for giving for those of us who 'have been given the kingdom.’
Today, tithing contributes to our spiritual formation. Every time we make this financial contribution we remember God creates us, blesses us, and cares for us. Our returning 10% of God's abundance reminds us of the divine covenant promise expressed in a variety of ways throughout the Bible, but expressed most intimately in the words of Jesus when he said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
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Q. Why should I tithe?
A. There are many valid reasons to tithe, including:
- Tithing is an ancient pattern of giving to God by faithful people throughout the ages, regardless of cultures and income levels. (See: Genesis 14:17-20, 28:16-22; Leviticus 27:30; Proverbs 3:9-10 Malachi 3:7-15; Matthew 23:23.)
- Tithing expresses through the material substance of your life your personal relationship with God. (See: Deuteronomy. 14:23.)
- Tithing brings God's wisdom and discipline into your finances and helps you break the power of materialism in your life. (See: Matthew 6:19-21, 24-34; Luke 12:16-21; 1 Timothy 6:6-10,1 7-19; Ecclesiastes 5:10.)
- Tithing serves as a practical reminder that God blesses you abundantly with every good thing and helps you to maintain perspective in a commercialized and materialistic world. (See: 1 Chronicles 29:11-18; Psalm 24:1-2; Psalm 50:10-12.)
- Tithing allows you to experience the blessings of God in ways you would not otherwise experience. (See: 1 Kings 17; Proverbs 3:9-10; Malachi 3:7-15; Haggai 1:4-11, 2:15-19; Luke 6:38; Deuteronomy 28; Philippians 4:15-19; Mark 12:41-44.)
- Tithing encourages your spiritual growth. (See: Deuteronomy 14:23; Proverbs 3:5-6; Malachi 3:8-10; Haggai 1:4-11, 2:15-19; 2 Corinthians 8:5.)
- Tithing helps you maintain an eternal perspective. (See: 1 Timothy 6:18-19; Matthew 6:19-21; Hebrews 6:10; 3 John 8; 1 Samuel 30:22.)
- Tithing strengthens the ministry and stability of your local church and enables it to reach out to others. (See: Acts 2:42-47, 4:32; 2 Corinthians 9:12-13.)
- Tithing provides the means to maintain the livelihood of your church staff. (See: 1 Corinthians 9:9-11,14; 1 Timothy 5:17-18 3 John 5-8 Philippians 4:15-19; Galatians 6:6; Luke 8:3; 2 Kings 4:8-10.)
- Tithing maintains church buildings in good repair, providing a place for people to worship, study God's Word, seek counsel, and enjoy the fellowship of others. (See: 2 Chronicles 24:4-14; Exodus 35,36; 2 Kings 12:2-16; 1 Chronicles 29:2-19; Ezekiel 1:4-6.)
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Q. What does the church do with my tithe?
A. The tithe provides the material basis for holding the local church community together. Among other things, a local church must pay the pastors and staff of the church. It must maintain buildings, provide the material for worship, supply crayons and construction paper for children’s ministries, and develop means to communicate with church members whether that means using the telephone, the post office, or the Internet.
The tithe also provides the local church with the financial means to reach out to others. At Riverside Community Church, we believe in reaching out to people in the Five-County heartland of Virginia area and giving them the opportunity to hear about the love of Christ. This theme runs through everything financial decision we make as a church body.
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Q. Should I tithe on my gross or net income?
A. Scripture teaches that we are to give back to God our "firstfruits" (Exodus 23:16, 19). Proverbs 3:9 encourages us to “honor the Lord with (our) wealth, with the firstfruits of (our) crops.” Therefore, it is Biblical to calculate your tithe and offering on your annual gross income.
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Q. What’s the difference between tithes and offerings?
A. One reason some people give for not tithing is that it "limits" the amount a Christian gives to God. But the tithe was never meant to be a limit. In fact, the Jews were admonished to give nearly one-fourth of their income each year.
With such giving today, the church could replace government welfare programs. But most people need a starting point. As best I can tell, God never asked less than a tenth from anyone. But if 10% bothers people, there's no reason why they can't give 11%, 12%, or twice as much if they so desire.
The law of grace means we're not compelled to do anything by virtue of a written law. It is unmerited and unearned favor. But grace is not a license to do nothing. As Paul said in Romans 7:7, the law was given to show us sin. We, who are under grace, can surely outdo those who gave according to the law.
Again, the principle of God's ownership comes into play. God doesn't own just 10% of our money, he owns 100%. That's why we should never tithe with the view that the remainder is ours.
After giving our tithe, God may impress us to give an additional amount to a missionary, rescue mission, or other work.
When giving beyond the tithe, give out of your abundance, according to the principle taught in 2 Corinthians 8:14. God doesn't want us to give until we are made poor, unless it is to improve our lives spiritually. A balanced attitude toward material things can be found in Proverbs 30:8-9. God's main concern for us is what's in our heart.
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Q. If I’m not ready to tithe, am I still welcome to participate in the church community?
A. Absolutely. We seek to meet peoples’ needs...wherever they are. It takes time for people who are new to faith to discern how God truly works in the world. The tithe is just one of many spiritual disciplines that we learn as we grow in our faith.
If you’d like to investigate tithing in more depth, read “Your Money Counts” by Howard Dayton and “The Blessed Life” by Robert Morris. Both of these books are available in our Resource Center.
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Q. If I’m not ready to tithe but I want to make a financial contribution, is my contribution still valued?
A. Absolutely. When a person makes a financial commitment to our church community, no matter how modest, we receive it as a sign of a person's desire to unite with our community and a make a commitment to its mission. We celebrate every gift as an act of faith on the part of the contributor and as a gift of God to our community.
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Q. Is my contribution tax-deductible?
A. Yes it is. You will receive a contribution statement quarterly and at the end of the year to satisfy IRS requirements for documentation of your tax-deductible contribution.
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Q. What about non-cash giving?
A. You may donate your time to the church or another organization or give non-cash gifts such as food, furniture, and clothing. You also may give something with an appreciated value (an asset you bought at a low price that is now worth much more). This includes such things as stocks, bonds, jewelry, real estate, or anything that grows in value.
Many Christian business owners have also found that donating some of their products is an excellent way to support the Lord's work.
Other Christians have donated trucks, airplanes, food, and office equipment to ministries. But regardless of what your gift consists of, remember to give only what belongs to you, not what rightfully belongs to your creditors, stockholders, or others.
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Q. What if my spouse disagrees?
A. One of the major causes of arguments among couples is money, and one spouse may oppose giving a tenth to God's work. However, if both spouses are Christians, they should have a desire to please the Lord.
It's important for both spouses to be trained in God's principles of finance. That way, they'll understand that tithing is ordained by God, not just a personal desire that the wife is trying to impose on the husband, or vice versa.
In cases involving a non-Christian wife, the husband must obey the Lord's direction. He must realize, however, that the Lord is more concerned about his wife's soul than his money. If tithing becomes a stumbling block to his wife, he should consider not tithing temporarily in order to win his wife to the Lord.
If the non-Christian spouse is the husband, then the believing wife should submit to his wishes, trusting that her submissive attitude may win him to the Lord (1 Peter 3:1-6). She may still ask him to let her give an amount smaller than the tithe for at least a year. If, at the end of a year, they are worse off financially as a result of her giving, she will cease to give. But if they are better off, she will be allowed to give more.
In Malachi 3:10, the Lord says to test Him in tithing. Often, this is just the opportunity for God to prove Himself to an unbelieving spouse.
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Note: Some content on this page originally appeared on the Crown Financial Ministries web site.
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