God commands us to give. Not just monetarily, but Jesus says that anyone who wants to follow him must deny himself, pick up his cross, and follow him. Greater love is defined by the person willing to lay down his life for his brothers. Giving is never commanded just because. In other words, it’s not commanded simply because God says so. There’s a very important principle of proportioned giving in the Bible. We give according to what God has provided. And we do it as a first fruits–we give to God first by providing for the needy before doing anything else with our blessings.
Paul took up a collection for Christians in Jerusalem. He said to the Corinthian church: “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6). He continues: “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (vs. 7). Some people push a tithe of 10% but that was a law specifically to provide for the tribe of Levi since their full-time work was to serve God. Paul is urging to give cheerfully, not under compulsion, and as one has decided in his heart.
The amount will vary greatly from person-to-person. God is not looking at the amount. He’s looking at the heart. Are we generous with what God has blessed us with or are we stingy? Are we irritated that we are giving or are we excited? When speaking to the Ephesian elders, Paul quoted Jesus and said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Paul is not preaching in a vacuum. He alludes to Malachi 3:10 when quoting Jesus: “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.” God has always loved a cheerful giver!
