Part 4: A New Covenant Kind of Giving
If you’ve journeyed with me this far—thank you. Talking about money and faith isn’t always easy, I hope you've felt both challenged and comforted.
When we talk about money and the Bible, it’s easy to slip into guilt or obligation, but know that’s not the heart of our God.
He’s not building a checklist. He’s building a relationship.
Under the New Covenant—sealed by the blood of Jesus—there is no required percentage. The tithe, as a legal obligation, is no longer binding. There is no temple tax, no national theocracy funded by the people's produce.
We are not bound by the tithe any more than we are bound to offer bulls and goats or keep the Levirate marriage law. Jesus has fulfilled the Law.
And yet—generosity is still central.
We’re no longer commanded to give a tenth But we’re invited to give with open hearts, joyful spirits, and eternal eyes.
The New Testament is full of financial instruction, but not one of those teachings reduces giving to a flat percentage.
Instead, we're called to give:
Willingly (2 Corinthians 9:7)
Cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7)
Sacrificially (2 Corinthians 8:1-9)
According to what we have (2 Corinthians 8:12)
As an overflow of grace (2 Corinthians 8:7)
To meet real needs (Acts 2:44–45; 1 John 3:17)
As worship (Philippians 4:18)
So where does that leave us?
It leaves us asking different questions—
Not “How much do I have to give?”, but “How can my giving be an act of worship?”
Not “What’s the rule?”, but “What is the Spirit prompting?”
Some of you reading this know the Lord is already leading you to give more than ten percent.
Some will give less in the hard season you're in now and abundantly more in another.
Some will give regularly to their local church, while others will be stirred to support missionaries, ministries, or a family in need.
There’s freedom in Christ—but it’s not freedom to hoard. It’s freedom to partner.
Partner with what? With God’s Kingdom.
You’re not giving to earn God’s love or favor—you’re giving because you’ve been completely, extravagantly loved and favored already.
Grace doesn’t just set us free; it softens our hearts. It opens our hands. As Amy Carmichael once said, “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.”
Love overflows. It can’t help but respond. When we understand what Jesus has done for us—how deeply He loves, how faithfully He provides—our generosity becomes a natural outpouring.
Not from pressure, but from presence.
Not from guilt, but from gratitude.
Let grace lead. And let love guide your generosity.
So if you’re not sure how much to give, this is what I generally encourage—Pray about it
Ask the Lord to reveal not only how much, but where. And if all you hear is crickets, then perhaps consider starting with the model we see in God's word.
As we saw yesterday, 10% can be a deeply meaningful amount to give.
As we wrap up this conversation about tithing and grace-based giving, I want to leave you with this reminder: God’s not trying to take from us. He’s trying to grow us. And when God calls us to give, it’s never random. It’s rooted in love—and often, it’s for our good in ways we can’t even see yet.
You don’t need to have all the answers right now. You don’t have to decide today how much to give or where to give it. But you do need to start the conversation.
Ask Him:
“Lord, what do You want my giving to look like in this season?”
“Are there areas of my heart where I’m holding back?”
“What does cheerful generosity look like for my family right now?”
“Am I trusting You with my finances—or trying to control everything myself?”
Be honest. Be specific.
Be quiet enough to listen
The Lord delights in walking with you—yes, even in the area of money.
He’s not trying to guilt you or pressure you.
He’s inviting you into deeper trust, deeper freedom, and deeper joy.
He knows that your heart will follow your treasure (Matthew 6:21), so He wants your treasure to be pointed toward things that last.
You don’t need a spreadsheet to start. Just a quiet moment and a willing heart.
You’ll be amazed what God reveals when you begin inviting Him into your financial life—not just your giving, but your saving, spending, enjoying, and planning too. He cares about it all. He cares about you.
Part 5 is all about Debt and giving and includes some great FAQ’s for those of you who (like me!) want more answers. ;)
Stay tuned.
