I have read various articles regarding the Tithe and have found that the New Testament does not include tithing like it is in the Old Testament and especially the way it is explained in Malachi. Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of the law and tithing is in the law. Jesus taught to give as you purpose in your heart not grudgingly or of necessity.
This means that all that we have belongs to God and we are stewards of these things. The way we handle these things will determine our love towards God. The new covenant in Christ is “what is yours is mine and what is mine is yours”. Is it correct then to say that 10% should not be preached but rather that all is Gods and not only the 10%. By doing this, if God wants us to give all we have, then we need to do so because of the covenant we have with him.
Those are lofty thoughts and that’s the way things should work. But the sad truth is that in America over 40% of born again Christians never give anything. I think that’s because giving is always taught as an obligation rather than an expression of gratitude. This is why so many well-intended folks do research to prove that tithing is not a New Testament requirement. We all resent being told that we have to give, and being “guilted” into doing it, so we try to get by with giving as little as possible. This makes us stingy givers, and not the cheerful ones the Lord loves.
If the Church had focused on all the blessings that come from giving that the Bible teaches about, there would be more than enough to go around. I don’t know of anyone who understands the Biblical basis for tithing (and the rewards that come from doing so) then decides to stop doing it. It would simply be too expensive.
Here’s what the New Testament says about giving. The Lord loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7) and will use our level of giving to determine our level of blessing (Luke 6:38). Where ever He finds generous givers He will make them rich in every way so they can be even more generous (2 Cor. 9:11). But it’s not meant to be an obligation. It’s meant to be an expression of gratitude. 10% is simply the amount the Lord established as the standard. Under 10% is being stingy, over 10% is being generous.