A Stewardship Moment

How Much Should We Give?

– From David Plunkett, Stewardship Committee

Non-Christians and Christians give away a surprising amount of their money. What distinguishes Christian giving is that it is heartfelt and not a reaction to social pressures.  How does knowing that tell us how much to give?

People who study giving write about tithers (good) and tippers (bad). Every church wants tithers more than tippers.  Yet I can’t help but think, wouldn’t it be better to have a church full of tippers?  I’m old enough to remember when a waiter was pleased with a 10 percent tip.  At some point the normal tip went up to 15 percent.  Now, it’s 20 percent.  In contrast, a tithe is just 10 percent and has been 10 percent since Abraham was herding sheep in the desert.  What a church we could build if everyone just tipped God what they tip for table service!

On the other hand, could we shame tippers into tithers? I had a friend who waited tables in college.  If a customer left a quarter for a tip, she would chase him down at the door and give it back.  “Sir, you dropped your quarter,” she’d say loud enough for it to be embarrassing to the departing customer.  What if God did that to us?  Would God have reason to chase any of us down at the church door on Sunday to hand back our offering?

(For the record: I think of the tithe as a benchmark; a handy reference for how much we should give, but not a commandment. It began in custom, but came to be viewed as law.  In freeing us from the law, if anything, Jesus condemned “tithers.” (Luke 11: 42)  Of course, that condemnation came because the Pharisees failed to understand how they should tithe.  Often when I use the term “tithe” I am really referring to giving in general unless it is clear from the context that I mean the Biblical tithe.)

I don’t think it’s productive to shame people, but we should educate them. For starters, if the thought of God chasing you down at the door worries you, maybe you’re not giving what your heart knows you should give.

What’s the correct answer to how much should we give, a tip or a tithe? Well, Jesus said we should give everything we have.

Look at three examples from the Bible. Jesus condemned the rich ruler because he couldn’t give up everything to become a follower.  (Luke 18:18-30)  Jesus praised the poor widow because she gave up everything she had even though it was only pennies.  (Luke 21:1-4)  The early church grew because the believers shared “everything.”  (Acts 4:32)

Then again, look at Zacchaeus. He only gave away half of his possessions to the poor.  Yet Jesus holds him out as an example of salvation.  (Luke 19:1-9)

The Bible isn’t an early version of the Communist Manifesto – we don’t need to impoverish ourselves to be good Christians. Rather, what Jesus is asking for, and what Biblical giving is, is an act of the heart.  It begins by giving ourselves completely to God.  If we’ve taken that first step of faith then whether a tip, a tithe, half of our possessions, or our last mite, it is enough.

How much should you give? Give until your heart is full.