Is it curious that at no point in Paul's writings is the tithe put forward as a guideline for giving (refute that if you can)? In fact, no New Testament writer either encourages "tithing" under the New Covenant or presents it as the normative or even occasional practice of the church. Yet many of our churches assume that this is the accepted New Testament standard. Those churches either do not believe in the New Covenant (who is Christ) or are too fearful to accept its teaching.
Under Mosaic Law, Israel was commanded to give a tenth of its crops, herds, flocks and the fruit of its trees to support the Levites, who had no inheritance of their own (Leviticus 27:30-32; Numbers 18:21-24). The tithe was to compensate the Levites for the work that they did while serving at the tabernacle.
Abraham gave a tithe, and he was "pre-Law." But he was not required to tithe. He was, however, a part of the Old Covenant. The Old Covenant has been rendered obsolete (either that or Hebrews 8:13 is untrue - in which case we will have to decide which parts of the Bible ARE true).
(Side Note: For this post the term "Old Covenant" is used to collectively refer to the Edamic Covenant; the Adamic Covenant; the Abrahamic Covenant; the Noahic Covenant; the Mosaic Covenant; the Palestinian Covenant and the Davidic Covenant.)
Jesus refers to the Pharisees' custom of tithing even herbs of the land (such as mint, anise and cumin) while neglecting the weightier matters of justice and love of God (Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42). He was talking to Jews, not His followers.
The guidelines for giving that Paul puts forward are in accord with a Covenant of the Spirit not with a Covenant of the Letter (2 Cor 3:6). The standard proffered by the New Covenant is a higher one than a tithe. It is 100%, not 10%. Paul instructs the Corinthians that they are to set aside a sum of money each week "in keeping with" their income (literally, "however one has prospered").
Jesus had high praise for the widow who contributed two small copper coins to the temple treasury. She gave that which provided for her daily necessities: "all she had to live on," (Luke 21:4), while the rich contributed out of their surplus. And while the Pharisees may have given 10 percent, proportionately, the widow put in more than all of them combined (Luke 21:3).
In the final analysis, the key to giving lies in the attitude of the heart. In 2 Corinthians 8:12 and 9:7, Paul characterizes the attitude that God finds acceptable.
It must be a willing gift: if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable (2 Corinthians 8:12). It is not the amount that counts with God. If a readiness to give is present, then the gift is gladly received, whether it be large or small.
The gift must also not be offered "reluctantly" or "under compulsion" - literally, "with pain" (2 Corinthians 9:7).
The offering that God finds acceptable is one that has been cheerfully given (9:7; hilarosour English term "hilarious"). The cheerful giver is one who is happy to give and gives gladly and gives as much as is possible.
In the Body of Christ, those who possess a surplus who are in a position to meet existing economic needs. This is clear from 2 Corinthians 8:14, where Paul envisions the Jerusalem church's surplus providing for the Corinthians' lack at a future point.
In the wilderness of Exodus it was God who ensured the needs of the people. Under the New Covenant, God has given the responsibility to each believer.
When will we learn?
Probably never.
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