Is 10% of my income what I should be giving?

QUESTION: My understanding is that a tithe is 10% of ones earnings and that there is also a personal tithe of ones gifts and self over and above that 10%. My friend believes that the personal tithe of gifts and self are included in the 10% and that it is not a common Christian belief that one should give 10% of his income. The vast majority of people I have asked about this agree with me and in every church I have ever attended I was taught that a tithe was 10% of your income and your personal gifts and talent were also a tithe over and above the 10% financial tithe. Am I incorrect?

"Tithe" comes from the Hebrew word "maser". It basically means "a tenth" You will find that word in all these verses in the Bible.

Lev_27:30; Lev_27:31; Lev_27:32; Num_18:21; Num_18:24; Num_18:26; Deu_12:17; Deu_14:22; Deu_14:23; Deu_14:24; Deu_14:28; Deu_26:12; Deu_26:14; 2Ch_31:5; 2Ch_31:6; Neh_10:38; Neh_13:12; Mat_23:23; Luk_11:42.

The answer to your question is simple because is not mentioned at all in the New Testament. It was a practice done in the Old Testament since it was required by the Law of Moses. There are no known examples of tithing because the new law in Christ that would direct us to giving is found in this passage:

2Co 9:5-7

(5) So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.

(6) The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

(7) Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Now, in this age under Christ, we ought to give cheerfully as we have set to do in our heart. It is the attitude that matters, not the quantity nor the material itself. I believe that 10% is just a guideline that was required of the poorest Jew under the Law. Now that I am under Christ, how much more than 10% should I give? And cheerfully at that!

If we loose ourselves as far as discussing what 10% of this or that or the other we need to give, then we are committing the same sin for which Jesus condemned the Pharisees in these passages:

(Mat 23:23) "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.

(Luk 11:42) "But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.

(Luk 18:12) I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.'

What does the scripture teach you? A good rule of thumb I use myself is this: "If everyone in the church gave as I did, where would we be?"