It’s fascinating how some topics in the Christian walk can feel like a tug-of-war between the old and the new. Giving, for example, sparks all sorts of debates—especially when folks toss around words like “tithe” and “grace giving” as if they were interchangeable or locked in opposition. But let’s slow down and look under the surface. When you’re a grace believer who rightly divides the Word, you don’t just recycle theology; you wrestle it out and make sense of the shift from law to grace that Jesus hammered home.
The Old Covenant Ledger: What Tithing Looked Like Under the Law
Tithing—giving 10% of your income or produce—was codified in the Mosaic Law. The idea itself wasn’t new; Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek long before Moses received the tablets. However, the Mosaic Law put tithing into a system that supported priests, Levites, and the temple operations. Think of it as a sacred tax system that sustained Israel’s religious and communal life.
But here’s the kicker: tithing under the law wasn’t merely an act of generosity. It was a binding legal requirement. Failure to tithe was a violation of the covenant between God and Israel, with consequences attached. It was a “must do,” enforced by religious leaders who made sure the coffers stayed full to maintain the ritual and social order.
Grace-Led Giving: A Voluntary Overflow
Now, here’s where a lot of Christians get tripped up. The grace believer understands that under the New Covenant, the law—including the law of tithing—has been fulfilled and nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14). Jesus didn’t abolish the law without replacing it; He introduced a better covenant, with grace as the currency.
Giving under grace is completely different because it arises from a transformed heart, not from obligation. It’s motivated by love, not law. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 9:7, “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” See the contrast? There’s no rigid percentage delivered with a side of guilt. Just freedom and willingness that reflect the abundant grace we’ve received.
Why Legalism Misses the Mark
Clinging to tithing as a command for the New Testament church risks reintroducing the very legalism that Jesus came to set us free from. Do we really want to make grace conditional again? To insist on a strict 10% puts a ceiling on giving, implying that God will only get what law dictates.
Imagine if the Corinthians had only given their “tithe”—they would have missed out on the joy of sacrificial and abundant generosity that Paul is urging. Grace giving takes us into a realm beyond accounting. It’s where God’s Spirit moves, where faith meets action without a rigid rulebook. Legalistic tithing converts our giving into a checkbox rather than worship.
The Heart of the Matter: What’s Really Behind Your Giving?
I want you to imagine two people: one gives a tithe because it’s written on the checklist of their religion. The other stretches beyond that, giving joyfully and in faith, inspired by the grace they’ve received. Which heart feels closer to the God who gave His only Son so that you might live?
When giving is motivated by grace, it’s not just a financial transaction; it’s an act of worship, intimacy, and trust. Grace isn’t just about forgiving our sins; it reshapes how we live—including how we handle money.
Isn’t it freeing to think that your giving isn’t limited by a percentage? That you can respond to the Spirit’s leading, whether that means 5%, 15%, or even more? That you give joyfully, not out of fear, manipulation, or duty?
So, Does Giving Have to Be 10% Anymore?
The straight answer: nope. It’s a relic of the Old Testament system. Remember, the New Testament never commands believers to tithe. Instead, it models generosity inspired by God’s grace.
How do we figure this out amid all the mixed messages? By getting to know God personally and being sensitive to the Spirit. If you’re operating under law, it’s time to remember grace wins. The law reveals sin but grace empowers your heart to give generously without pressure.
Practical Grace Giving: Following the Spirit, Not the Ledger
Grace giving is messy—and glorious. It can look like giving your first paycheck to the church or ministry, or helping a neighbor in a tight spot, or funding a mission without expecting anything in return. It’s spontaneous, sometimes unpredictable, always personal.
Free flows generosity is beautiful because it responds to real needs, not arbitrary rules. This doesn’t mean giving without wisdom—stewardship still matters—but the Spirit is the priority guide, not percentages or formulas.
When Scripture and Spirit Collide, Who Wins?
The Word is our authority, but here’s the subtlety: we must rightly divide it (2 Timothy 2:15). That means recognizing what applies to the Old Testament law, what’s fulfilled in Christ, and what flows from the Spirit’s ongoing revelation.
Jesus never called His followers to tithe under grace; He called them to love God and others with everything they have—which naturally changes how we give. Paul’s letters echo that freedom and urgency to give because of Jesus—not law, fear, or obligation.
Give Because You Can—Not Because You Have To
God doesn’t need your money; He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. But He delights when His children reflect His heart through their giving. Grace giving flips the entire script: it puts the joy back into generosity and transforms it from a tax into a privilege.
God’s grace isn’t stingy. The grace giver knows this well and gives with open hands, knowing the same grace that saved them will take care of their needs. That kind of trust frees the soul.
It’s not about tallying receipts or stressing over the exact percentage. It’s about a heart that loves deeply because it’s been loved beyond measure.
If you want to challenge yourself further on grace and generosity, consider visiting a daily verse resource that highlights God’s promises and inspiration for your walk.
Questions about your own giving? Maybe it’s time to stop worrying about percentages and start listening to the Spirit within.
Grace changes everything—not just your salvation story but how you live, love, and give.
And that’s worth more than a tithe.