Biblical Answer

How Much Should I Give to the Church?

As followers of Christ, we are called to give generously to the church, not because we expect some kind of reward or blessing, but because we want to honor God and support the work of the church. The Bible teaches that our giving should be motivated by a desire to please God, not by a desire to gain something in return (2 Corinthians 9:7). In fact, the Bible says that God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7), someone who gives with a happy heart, not just out of obligation.

But how much should we give? The Bible doesn't give a specific percentage, but it does give us some guidelines. In 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, the apostle Paul encourages the Corinthian church to give generously to support the needs of the Jerusalem church. He encourages them to give according to their ability, not according to their wealth (2 Corinthians 8:12). He also says that the Macedonian churches gave generously, even in their poverty, and that their giving was a way of showing their love for God (2 Corinthians 8:1-5). In 1 Corinthians 16:2, Paul instructs the Corinthian church to set aside a portion of their income each week to give to the poor. This suggests that giving to the church is a regular part of our Christian life.

Ultimately, the amount we give to the church is not as important as the attitude behind our giving. We should give with a cheerful heart, trusting that God will provide for us and that our giving will be used to bless others. We should not give out of obligation or guilt, but out of a desire to honor God and support the work of the church. As we give, we should pray that God will bless our giving and use it to bring glory to Himself. As Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Luke 6:38).