How much should I give? That’s a fair question and deserves an honest answer. The answer is often a mishmash of lazy theological study. Or, it’s answered with theology by folklore. “Giving this way was good enough for grandma & grandpa, mom & day, and it’s good enough for me!”
In this article, we’re going to provide several Biblical examples of financial giving.
“How much should I give” is a question that has been asked thousands of times. Regrettably, there are often as many answers. The Good Book has the answers. Let’s dig into it and find out how others gave financially.
How Much Should I Give — Cain & Abel’s Offering
I’ve often heard that Cain’s offering was rejected because it was only fruits and vegetables. There is no Biblical evidence to support that claim, however.
Genesis 4:3-5 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering, he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
God is not obligated to accept our offerings. He summarily rejected Cain’s offering.
Why was Abel’s offering accepted and Cain’s rejected?
Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith, he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith, Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
According to the writer of Hebrews, faith is part of the giving equation. Here’s a popular article titled Seven Things Jesus Said About Faith.
I John 3:12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.
Jude 11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.
This is entirely before money was a medium of exchange. Amounts given were not quantified for either man.
Abraham Tithed Before The Law (Really?)
Genesis 14:20 And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
I invite you to read the entire 14th chapter of Genesis to understand the context. Abram’s nephew, Lot, was kidnapped in a warfare engagement. Abram’s army routed the invaders, rescued his nephew, and plundered their goods.
Upon returning, with Lot and the plunder, Abram bumped into Melchizedek. The custom was to give 10% of war spoils to the High Priest. Abram followed the custom.
Here’s where it gets juicy, though.
Genesis 14:21-23 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.” But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’
Abraham gave everything — not just 10%.
Ministers who use Abraham as a tithing example seem to conveniently forget the other 90%.
How Much Should I Give — The Tabernacle
Exodus 25:1-2 The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give.
I believe that St. Paul was thinking of this text when he wrote 2 Corinthians 9:7.
Exodus 35:5 From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering of gold, silver, and bronze;
The qualification, according to God, was a willing heart. There was no minimum expectation on the amount to give.
Exodus 35:22 All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds: brooches, earrings, rings, and ornaments. They all presented their gold as a wave offering to the Lord.
Exodus 36:5-6 (NLT) They went to Moses and reported, “The people have given more than enough materials to complete the job the Lord has commanded us to do!” So Moses gave the command, and this message was sent throughout the camp: “Men and women, don’t prepare any more gifts for the sanctuary. We have enough!” So the people stopped bringing their sacred offerings.
General Patton once said, “Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.”
Perhaps simply asking people to give, from a willing heart, is the secret to getting too much? It worked for Moses!
How Much Should I Give — Zaccheus
Luke 19:8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
Zach was a tax collector and was hated by the Jewish people. Tax collectors, under Roman rule, often abused their position through coercion and threats.
According to Jewish law, Zach had to pay back what he stole by four times — check. However, his generosity kicks in when he offers to give half of his possessions to the poor. Notice that he didn’t say that he would give a donation of 50% of his salary. No, he was giving away half of his possessions.
The response given by Jesus was epic!
Luke 19:9-10 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
How Much Should I Give — A Memorial
Acts 10:4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.
Cornelius was awarded an angelic visit through his prayers and gifts to the poor. He then had a key part to play in St. Peter’s life.
How much did Cornelius give? The Bible doesn’t say but we do know that it received the attention of God.
Giving According to John the Baptist
Luke 3:11 (ESV) And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”
In this context, John the Baptist set a super high mark of giving at 50%. We’re not establishing a doctrine around this but not hiding the fact was no pushover.
Giving According to the Son of Encouragement
Acts 4:34-37 (NLT) There were no needy people among them because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.
The generosity of the Son of Encouragement appears to be what provoked Ananias and Sapphira to lie about their giving.
Again, we’re not building doctrines around these actions. We’re simply using them as examples that we can follow or aspire to emulate when God moves our hearts toward radical generosity.
How Much Should I Give — According to Paul
I Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
One cannot give what one does not have.
II Corinthians 9:7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Our giving requires prayer and submission to Christ. Our hearts can mislead us so we must immerse our hearts in prayer and scripture.
How Much Should I Give — According to Jesus
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor so that you through his poverty might become rich.
Jesus was not spiritually poor. He was materially poor, at least in light of the prior verse. I believe Jesus was constantly giving. He was willing to impoverish Himself in order to help another.
John 13:29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival or to give something to the poor.
Giving was so common with Jesus that the eleven assumed that He had sent Judas to give something to the poor. This behavior apparently was common.
How much should I give? Seek God. Be aggressive. Practice radical generosity and immediate obedience. Obedience is better than sacrifice.
Do it all with joy!