Christian finance bloggers seem to thrive on debating the topic of tithing, squaring off on such issues as “Is tithing a New Testament teaching”, “Should I tithe while paying off debt?” and “If I can’t afford to tithe money, is tithing my time a good substitute?”
I believe these discussions are healthy. Open minded debates where contestants seek truth and leave their egos in their hip pockets should help us all sharpen each other, “as iron sharpens iron.” Proverbs 27:17
It is with this attitude that I want to discourage the concept of tithing time. The argument I hear about tithing time sounds logical: “I just can’t afford it. Every penny is spent before the month begins. Wouldn’t God understand if I were to tithe my time instead of my money?”
While I don’t believe this is a black and white issue, I do see some problems with this mindset.
The bible doesn’t teach tithing of time.
Biblical tithing always requires some sort of valued exchange (often grain or livestock) — not time.
God wants 100%, not 10%.
Romans 12:1 challenges us to give our bodies to God as a living sacrifice. He doesn’t want four hours a week (10% of 40); he wants 168 hours a week. The danger of tithing time is to smugly think, “Well, I have given God his share. The rest belongs to me.” Not true.
At this point, you may be thinking, “Joe, couldn’t people make the same mistake when tithing money?” Yes, they could. But they would be just as wrong. Why? Because God wants 100% of your money just like He wants 100% of your time. The proper attitude about tithing money is not to pat yourself on the back, thinking you have “paid God what you owe him.” Bad theology. You should be thinking, “It all belongs to God. How much does He want me to keep? 90%? 80%? 50%?”
Tithing time could lead to sloppy money management.
Why do you want to tithe time in the first place? Because you can’t afford to tithe money? OK. Why can’t you afford to tithe money? I realize many people have legitimate financial hardships. God understands that too. But if you don’t budget, make no effort to pay off debt and continue to spend money you don’t have, you shouldn’t allow “tithing time” to perpetuate your bad money management. Here is a thought: take that “extra time” to find extra work so you can get your finances under control and honor God with them.
Tithing money allows God to change your heart.
I, for one, am a naturally selfish person. I work for my money and I like to keep it. However, over the years, as I have learned to open my fist, God has been slowly changing my heart to make me less selfish and more giving. If you wait until you feel warm and fuzzy before you open your wallet, you probably won’t ever open that wallet. God’s way to change your heart is for you to give when you don’t feel like doing so.
You have limited ways for God to bless you.
Malachi 3: 10 makes this challenge: “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in My Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, ‘I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put Me to the test!’”
I have seen this passage fulfilled in my own life and in others’ lives many times over; when people faithfully give, even during tough times, they will receive blessings. It may be a job promotion, a friend who helps them fix their car, an unexpected insurance refund or an anonymous gift, but God intervenes. If they had not been tithing, they could have missed this blessing.
Concluding thoughts
Some people have legitimate financial hardships that severely limit how much money they are able to give. God understands their struggles. However, even in these cases, I don’t believe tithing of time is a good plan. A better plan is to serve God with 100% of your time and give financially as you are able.
Readers: Have you ever tithed your time? How did it go? Do you find tithing your time as a good long term plan or is it a stopgap plan as you are working toward giving more money? Any other thoughts on tithing of time?
Every so often, I hear or read about tithing time and other resources besides our money. The problem, as you pointed out, is when people use it as a ‘get out of jail free’ card and continue on their life of poor money management.
For me, I guess I’ve never had the mindset of tithing my time so that God could have ‘his share.’ Sure, I’ve volunteered at church and sacrificed my time, but counting it up and finding out the percentage I ‘gave’ to God…nah. I don’t say that to be pompous…I say that because doing so would feel unnatural and would take away from the work that was done.
Good article Joe.
I 100% agree with your understanding of the scriptural directives. The matter of time is already covered in the command to keep the Sabbath. That too was not abolished in the New Testament and Jesus himself kept the example by going to the temple and reading with others. He stated that not one dot or tittle will pass and I believe He was making reference to the 10 commandments. It was the Levitical law that was fulfilled by His life while the directives of how we are to live our lives has not changed, in fact has expanded. And, as you mentioned, if our lives are 100% committed to God both our time and money will be completely at His disposal. He is our Lord, who are we to quibble? Challenging posts Joe, keep up the good work.
@Tim,
I, like you, don’t want to appear “pompous”, so writing this post required some delicacy of stating my understanding of truth without coming across as judgmental. Serving God is so much simpler if one can let it flow without trying to keep score.
@Carol,
Thanks for the encouraging words. I love this: “He is our Lord, who are we to quibble?” Once any of us starts to negotiate with God over anything He has made clear, we are starting on a path of redefining exactly who the Lord of our lives is. Dangerous stuff. Maybe that is why Jesus said that we can’t serve two Masters.
By the way, when I write posts you DON’T agree with 100%, I hope you will let me know. 🙂
I am not particularly a religious guy so I can’t go toe to toe on scripture, but I am not sure I agree with you on this one, Joe.
Lets say I can only give X amount OR I can give my time which saves the church X + Y, aren’t I doing more?
Evan,
I believe God wants us to give both time and money. If we have more time than money, I could understand giving more time. However, this should only be a short term way of giving, always with a goal to be able to give more money along with the time. Most people I know who give lots of money are the same people who give lots of time. Why? Because when you buy into something, you are more apt to volunteer for the same cause.
I also believe that the reason we give is not to help the church or even help God (as if He needs our help). Giving is a discipline which will change us to become more and more like God, who is the ultimate giver.
I hope this makes sense and I always appreciate your comments. They force me to examine my position and think through whatever issues are being discussed.
Hi Joe,
I really liked what you wrote because it gave me an opportunity to reflect on this subject in my own life. It is true that God wants us to serve Him with 100% of our time, I don’t disagree with you there. But my goal to tithe my time to God isn’t about giving only a portion of my time and then doing what I please with the rest, and it’s not about substituting my time for my money.
When I think about tithing my time it’s about giving a portion of my day solely to Jesus. Reading the bible, praying and listening to online sermons for the first part of my day sets my feet on the right path and helps me to get into a right frame of mind despite my current circumstances.
Until I started thinking about reading my bible, praying and listening to sermons as a way to give back to God, as a way to acknowledge that my time is a blessing from Him, I wasn’t successful at consciously giving to Him.
I was still praying throughout the day, listening to and singing with praise and worship music, and interacting with people in a manner befitting a Christian. But I wasn’t removing distractions to spend time with God until I started considering tithing my time.
Since we know that tithing our financial resources is a responsibility, and that when we don’t tithe our resources we are stealing from God, it makes sense in my mind to also label the time I give back to God as a tithe.
I don’t calculate the portion of my day I spend giving back to God. It’s not about keeping “score” or impressing God with a certain amount of time spent focusing on Him. But I do consider that I am giving God the “first fruits” of my day, acknowledging that all good things come from God and that it all belongs to God.
Leviticus 23:14 says that “No grain was to be harvested at all until the firstfruits offering was brought to the Lord”, the firstfruits being a portion of a larger harvest.
If I can give the firstfruits of my day to God, giving a small portion of my day to God before I do anything else, I feel that things just tend to go better.