INTENTIONAL AND PROPORTIONAL GIVING

          How often do people WANT to hear about tithing? How often do people actually TALK about tithing? On purpose? After all, it’s talking about the “bad T word.”

          Tithing is in the Old Testament, and it’s talked about a lot. Giving ten percent as the base of giving is something that was part of the Law in the Old Testament, of course. But do we really need to worry about tithing now that we have the New Testament.

          I agree that tithing appears several times in the Old Testament and doesn’t really appear in the New Testament. However, Jesus talks about caring for our neighbor and our world, so giving is vital to that.

          I think that talking about tithing is important and how giving just 10% isn’t all that much—after all, we get to keep 90% of what God gives us for ourselves! Studies say average giving is only about 2%. Jumping to 10% overnight can seem pretty overwhelming.

          Proportional giving is the way to talk about giving. If you’re giving 2%, consider prayerfully increasing that to 3% or 4%, and then increase again. Proportional giving is exactly that—giving a certain portion (percentage) to the church/others. The definition of tithing is giving 10%. Giving a different percentage is not tithing.

          Intentional giving is making a commitment, usually at the beginning of the year, of what you intend to give to the glory of God, for God’s work, through the local church. It isn’t a last-minute thought, or checking to see what you have left in your bank account that particular day, or what is left in your wallet or the bottom of your purse. It is stating your intentions and then following through.

          Both proportional and intentional giving are important aspects of generosity and giving. Talking about those aspects regularly and clearly will help you (and others) identify the challenges, choices and outcomes involved. Talking about and answering the question of what are the challenges, outcomes and choices will be fruitful conversations to have!