Charity is the giving of food, clothing, time, energy, or finances to someone in need. For much charity is no more than a social event, albeit for a good cause. Other acts of charity are done for political purposes. Such acts are of no eternal value if they were not done in real love.
“When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites
do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. [Mt. 6:2]
The advent of tithing took place when Abram [Abraham] gave ten percent of his possessions to the priest and king Melchizedek. The practice of tithing [contributing ten percent of one’s income to the Church] and other offerings was confirmed in the Mosaic Law and acknowledged in Matthew, Luke, and Hebrews. 1
How much to give?
Christians need not subject themselves to the Old Testament law of the tithe. Instead, they should give according to the following four New Testament guidelines. Christian giving should be:
and Proportional to one’s income – 1 Corinthians 16:2, 2 Corinthians 8:12
and Consistent – 1 Corinthians 16:2
and Sacrificial – Mark 12:43-44, 2 Corinthians 8:2-3
and Cheerful – 2 Corinthians 9:7
Christians should live their lives open-handed acknowledging that they are merely stewards of God’s possessions. They should always be willing to give 100% of that which they steward at any time required by the Lord. Indeed, they should even be willing to offer their very “…bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God….”
What New Testament says
2 Corinthian 9 (6-11)
“Remember that the person who plants few seeds will have a small crop; the one who plants many seeds will have a large crop.
You should each give, then, as you have decided, not with regret or out of a sense of duty; for God loves the one who gives gladly.
And God is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause.
As the scripture says, “He gives generously to the needy; his kindness lasts forever.”
And God, who supplies seed for the sower and bread to eat, will also supply you with all the seed you need and will make it grow and produce a rich harvest from your generosity.
He will always make you rich enough to be generous at all times, so that many will thank God for your gifts which they receive from us.
