Think of it like Kids Sports

Is it really 10%?

I have been asked on more than one occasion if you are really required to give 10% to church. And is that supposed to be gross pay, or net?

And does that include purchases made and donated to church?

And how do we figure in time given to church?

At the outset, we do need to be honest about a couple of things.

One, the tithe (tenth), or 10% doesn’t show up in the New Testament churches.

It just isn’t there.

But, and this leads to point number two, that is because New Testaments Christians would probably be wondering why we were only giving 10%. When I read the New Testament it sure seems to me that the believers were sacrificing a great deal more than we do.

It seems that they gave abundantly.

Sacrificially.

But we like goals and numbers.

Which brings us back to the question I get asked.

What percentage should we give?

Think of it like this.

Imagine that your son or daughter plays sports. It doesn’t have to be sports, you can substitute just about any hobby or interest, but there is definitely an emphasis on kids’ sports in America.

How much time when you spend on your kid’s sport?

When you reached 10% of the week would you stop?

Would you tell him that that was enough?

No more backyard practice. No more training. No more extra running or lifting or throwing.

After all, there are other things in life.

Real life gets in the way of things we want to do?

Right?

Or do we make sure to have time for the things we REALLY want to do?

Would we even count the hours?

Would we measure how much time we had devoted to the sport?

Wouldn’t we just do everything we could?

And how much money would you give to your kid’s sport?

10%?

And after 10% no more?

No more equipment. No more training. No more specialized coaching. No more travel.

After all, we don’t want to give too much money to that.

Right?

Or to our hobbies. Or to our man cave. Or to our she shed. Or car. Or house.

We would never overspend on something we love.

Right?

We would never over devote time to something we love.

Right?

Which is exactly what I think most of those New Testament Christians would ask us.

Why are we trying to figure out the least amount we have to do?

The least amount we have to give?

The smallest sacrifice we need to make?

Jesus didn’t.

Because He loves us.

Is this gospel, this Jesus, something we love?