Is Tithing Still Relevant? Understanding Its Purpose Today

Honour, Freedom, and the First Place

Key Scriptures: Genesis 14:18–20; Proverbs 3:9–10; Matthew 23:23; 2 Corinthians 9:6–8; Malachi 3:10

A young believer once asked, “Do I have to tithe?”

The question itself reveals something deeper. It assumes tithing is about obligation….about requirement…about meeting a minimum.

But what if tithing was never meant to begin there?

Tithing is one of the most discussed – and frankly misunderstood practices in the church. Some insist it is a binding command for today. Others dismiss it as Old Testament law. But Scripture paints a fuller picture. Tithing did not begin as law, and it does not survive as legalism. At its heart, it is about honouring God.

Before It Was Law, It Was Worship

Long before Moses gave the law, Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek (Genesis 14). No command was issued. No rule was enforced. Abraham had just experienced victory, and his giving was a response – not a requirement.

Later, Jacob vowed that if God preserved and provided for him, he would give a tenth in return (Genesis 28). Again, no legal system compelled him. It was gratitude expressed in tangible form.

Tithing began as recognition of the following:
a) God gave the victory.
b) God provided the increase.
c) God deserves the first portion.

It was worship before it was structure.

Under the Law, It Became Structure

When the law was given, tithing was formalized. It supported the priests, sustained temple worship, and cared for the poor. It created order and consistency in a growing nation. The law did not invent tithing. It organised it.

Malachi 3:10 captures this structured system: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse…” This practice was vital. The tithe sustained the spiritual life of Israel.

But even there, the issue was never merely money. It was honour. “Honour the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your increase” (Proverbs 3:9).

The first portion symbolised trust. It declared, “God, You come before everything else.”

The tithe was about priority.

Jesus and the Heart of Tithing

When Jesus addressed tithing in Matthew 23:23, He did not dismiss it. He rebuked religious leaders for obsessing over precision while neglecting justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Then He said, “You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”

His concern was not the tenth. It was the heart.

Jesus consistently moved people from external compliance to internal transformation. The New Testament shifts the focus from legal obligation to willing generosity.

Paul writes, “Each one should give what he has decided in his heart.” For God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).

The emphasis is no longer enforcement. It is willingness. Joy. Freedom.

But freedom does not mean indifference. It means maturity.

Is Tithing for Today?

The clearest answer is this: tithing is not a salvation requirement. You are not redeemed by giving 10%. You are not cursed if you do not. Christ fulfilled the law and bore its curse.

Yet the principle behind tithing remains deeply relevant.

Giving the first portion still trains the heart. It still establishes priority. It still confronts greed. It still declares trust.

For many believers, the tithe functions not as a ceiling. Instead, it serves as a foundation. It is a disciplined starting point for consistent generosity.

The question shifts from “Am I required?” to “What reflects honour?”

Under law, people asked, “How much must I give?” Under grace, the better question is, “How much can I trust God with?”

Honour, Not Obligation

At its core, tithing is about first place.

When you give the first portion, you are saying: God is my source…God is my provider…God comes before my expenses, my plans, and my preferences.

It is not about what God needs. It is about what your heart needs.

Money competes quietly for loyalty. Tithing confronts that competition. It places God deliberately at the centre of your financial life.

This is why the pastor’s answer was right: you don’t have to – you get to.

– You get to participate in worship that costs something.
– You get to align your finances with your faith.
– You get to declare, through action, who truly comes first.

The Real Question

Tithing is not about percentages alone. It is about priority, posture, and partnership with God’s work.

Some believers will treat 10% as a disciplined baseline. Others, led by conviction and capacity, may give beyond it. The New Testament pushes toward generosity that is willing, cheerful, and sacrificial.

But the underlying issue remains unchanged across covenants:

Who has first place?

Not, “Do I have to tithe?” But, “Does God truly come first?”

Reflective Questions

When you think about tithing, do you feel pressure or privilege?
Is your giving shaped more by fear of obligation or desire to honour?
If someone examined your finances, would they clearly see what comes first in your life?