The ultimate issue here isn’t about a specific amount of money we’re giving to God—it’s about seeing ourselves as stewards. God doesn’t own just 10% of us; He owns 100%. It’s not about paying a tax and being done with it.
Some people point out that the Old Testament law required a tithe of 10%, and if you add everything up, it was closer to 23%. They argue that tithing is no longer relevant under the new covenant. While I understand their perspective, what remains relevant is the principle of first fruits giving. From the very beginning—long before the law, starting with Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, and Abraham—God taught His people to give the first and best back to Him. This act acknowledges that everything belongs to Him and that we are merely stewards.
We often say that 10% is a great place to start because the tithe (literally meaning "a tenth") predates the law. Tithing should never be the goal or ceiling of your giving—it should be the floor. It’s where you begin. In Matthew 23, Jesus affirms the tithe, praising the religious leaders for tithing everything they had. But He also challenges them to move beyond that, to engage in true gospel giving.
So, yes, start with a tithe. But don’t stop there. Ask God what He wants you to do with the remaining 90%. True stewardship means aligning all we have with His purposes.
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Pastor J.D. completed his Ph.D. in Theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Chick-fil-A, serves as a Council member for The Gospel Coalition, and recently served as the 62nd president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Pastor J.D. and his wife Veronica are raising four awesome kids.
"Editor's Note: Pastor JD Greear's "Ask the Pastor" column regularly appears at Christianity.com, providing biblical, relatable, and reliable answers to your everyday questions about faith and life. Email him your questions at [email protected]."
