How Much Should You Give? test
Welcome to The Bible Money Journal, a brief for Christian professionals who want to learn more about God’s ways of managing money. In each edition, I share a verse, a story, and a money lesson to help you in your journey.
This brief is a resource for navigating the scriptures through the lens of financial planning and learning how to apply them in your life.
Let’s get started!
Genesis 14:17-20
17 After Abram returned from his victory over Kedorlaomer and all his allies, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).
18 And Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, brought Abram some bread and wine. 19 Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing:
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
20 And blessed be God Most High,
who has defeated your enemies for you.”
Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.
The first tithe
Abram returns from war as a hero, and on his way to meet the king of Sodom, whose people he just rescued, he meets the enigmatic Melchizedek. We don’t know much about who he is, but later scriptures make a connection between him and Jesus. What we do know is that these verses are the first recorded instance of a tithe — giving a tenth of one's income or gain.
There is no evidence that Melchizedek asked for it; we know that Abram gave it freely. The gesture comes after Melchizedek blesses Abram. Both men were servants of God.
What is your giving baseline?
My mom is a tither. She says if you can’t live on 90%, you can’t live on 100%. If 10% of your income changes your life materially, there are other issues you need to solve. The problem is not the tithe.
When I got my first job, I continued tithing to my church because I believed it was a way to honor God and because I had been taught that powerful lesson from an early age. So, regardless of where you are starting, I encourage you to develop a baseline for giving, and 10% is a great place to start.
Tithing as part of your financial plan
Tithing is a matter of belief and conviction. Remember:
💰God doesn’t need your money and doesn’t desire a tithe out of compulsion.💰God allows you to support kingdom work through His church.
💰Your attitude towards giving exposes your heart.
When analyzing cash flow for my clients, I look for opportunities to add margin to their life.
As we develop money maturity, I challenge them to increase their giving to that 10% baseline. Some start at 0%, 7%, or even above 10%. Regardless of their starting point, I support them in their journey to spiritual maturity by helping stretch their giving muscles while balancing their future needs.
Leo Marte is a Christian financial advisor and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™. Abundant Advisors provides financial advice for Christians with convenient virtual meetings. Let’s talk if you are ready to make the next move.