How Much to Tithe? How Much to Donate?

How much to tithe & 5 related questions.

How much should I tithe?

If you’re a Jewish person living in the 1st century, then 1/10th is a great answer. After all, the Hebrew word for "tithe" ("מַעֲשֵׂר" ma'aser) directly translates to "tenth." But what about you and me?

I’ll go first so you have time to think about your answer 😁

This year, my wife and I intend to tithe ~50%. That might sound crazy - but let me break it down.

We’re a young couple living out of a van in Virginia, and we just started earning about $100k/person/yr.

As people who earn more than $63k/person/yr, we are the richest 1% of the global population (citation). 99% of the people alive on earth today are able to get by with a whole lot less.

The tricky question of “how much should I give” gets much less tricky when you first answer “how much do I really need?” That question deserves a blog post all its own… but I will assume for the sake of brevity that you know how to answer this question for yourself.

My wife and I decided we need about 50% of our combined income to cover things like purchasing a house, rent, saving for kids, retirement, etc. Which means we have the exciting and rare opportunity of having extra income! Extra, meaning we really and truly have the freedom to decide where it ought to go.

I recognize that I am writing this from a hugely privileged place as a newlywed couple in the US, no kids, and no prior loans/obligations (we just finished paying those off before getting married.) Our current financial situation will likely not map 1:1 over to you, but I hope it will be a useful example.

Here are a few more answers to the question from my own life:

8 years ago, I didn’t make enough money to donate anything. 5 years ago, I earned $75k/yr and donated roughly 33%. 3 years ago I donated around 10%.  

Here are a few more answers from others: https://80000hours.org/articles/earning-to-give/

The answer to “How much do I need” keeps changing, and I don’t judge myself from 8 years ago for not giving. Today I’m working hard to keep the “need” number as low as I can, while also balancing what is good for myself and the people around me.

So, that’s a bit about me. What about you?

How much will you earn this year? How much do you really need to live a good life? And how much could you have left to share with others?

How much good can 10% of my income do?

You might be surprised! Donating 10% of your income can have a shockingly large impact. Imagine you give $10,000 annually to one of GiveWell’s recommended charities. Over 40 years, this could result in distributing around 80,808 malaria bed nets, providing 421,053 treatments for schistosomiasis, or saving hundreds of thousands of children from going blind. Assuming those are issues you care about, giving to one of GiveWell’s top charities could be an easy way for you to do a whole lot of good.

I mention Givewell’s top charities specifically because the effectiveness of charities can vary significantly. Some can help 100 to 1,000 times more people than others with the same resources. Organizations like GiveWell focus on finding charities that provide the most life-saving or life-improving impact per dollar. They dedicate over 50,000 hours of research every year (1) and have directed over a billion dollars to effective charities.

Depending on your good-doing priorities, your donations might go somewhere else entirely. Maybe you’re passionate about Global health and wellbeing, Climate Change, Animal welfare, or Reducing global catastrophic risks. Or maybe there’s an organization in your own town who is tackling a neglected problem in your community.

If you want help thinking about where to give and for what reasons, I highly recommend the 80,000 hours blog, GiveWell’s blog, and GivingWhatWeCan. I've found that these organizations treat this question with the upmost respect.

How much can a flipped church donate?

A 100% flipped church doesn’t necessarily need a building or lots of staff. This means that any surplus after covering costs can go directly to those who need it most.

Consider a congregation of 100 people, each donating $6,000 yearly. Their combined annual donation of $600,000 combines to $6 million over ten years!! The possible impact from that level of funding is truly remarkable.

Individuals attending a flipped church are encouraged to report their contributions on a regular basis, giving the congregation a chance to track and celebrate their impact as a community. I could see this celebration/check-in happening weekly during gatherings. It could serve as a nice reminder for those who have not yet decided to make charitable giving a regular part of their lives, and it's a perfect example of putting our intentions into action for the good of our neighbors.

The flipped church model isn't just a new way of organizing a religious community--it's a transformative approach to making a meaningful difference in the world. It substitutes mortgage payments with medicine and staff salaries with lives saved.

What does the bible says about tithing & giving to the poor?

Old Testament References of Tithing:

1. Genesis 14:18-20: This is one of the first mentions of tithing, where Abram (later Abraham) gives Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, a tenth of everything after a military victory.
2. Leviticus 27:30-32: Tithing is formalized in the Law of Moses, stating that a tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain or fruit, is the Lord's, and is holy.
3. Numbers 18:21-28: Here, the Levites receive the tithe of the Israelites as their inheritance in return for their service in the tabernacle, and they, in turn, are to give a tenth of that tithe to the high priest.
4. Deuteronomy 14:22-29: Tithing is described as an act of worship to God. Every three years, tithes were to be stored in town and used for the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows.

New Testament References of Tithing:

1. Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42: Jesus mentions tithing in his rebuke of the Pharisees for being meticulous about tithing even the smallest herbs, yet neglecting more important matters of the law like justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
2. Hebrews 7:1-10: This passage references the story of Abraham giving a tenth to Melchizedek, drawing a parallel with the priesthood of Jesus Christ.

Old Testament References of Giving to the Poor:

1. Proverbs 19:17: "Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed."
2. Proverbs 14:31: "Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God."
3. Deuteronomy 15:7-11: This passage instructs the Israelites to be openhanded towards their fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in their land. It emphasizes a generous and non-grudging attitude in giving.
4. Leviticus 19:10 and 23:22: These verses command the Israelites not to reap the very edges of their fields and vineyards and not to pick up what is left behind, but to leave them for the poor and the foreigner.

New Testament References of Giving to the Poor:

1. Matthew 25:34-40: In the Parable of the Sheep and Goats, Jesus identifies with the poor and needy, saying that whatever is done for the least of these brothers and sisters is done for Him.
2. Luke 14:13-14: Jesus advises to invite the poor, crippled, lame, and blind to feasts, promising blessings for such acts of kindness.
3. Acts 20:35: Paul the Apostle, referencing the words of Jesus, said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
4. James 2:15-17: This passage emphasizes that faith without deeds, particularly acts of charity like feeding and clothing the needy, is dead.
5. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7: Paul encourages cheerful giving, stating that God loves a cheerful giver and that individuals should give what they have decided in their hearts to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion.

How often should I tithe?

There are lots of good answers to this question - and the right answer for you depends on your goals and what you’re willing too risk.

For example: you could donate right now and run the risk of needing that money in the future. Or you could invest that money with plans to donate later on and run the risk of losing it.

My wife and I have decided to go the “donate now” route. We mitigate the risk of running low on funds by creating a 10-year budget. This way we only donate money once we’re confident we’re not going to need it. Between the budget, insurance, and an emergency fund, we feel pretty good about the decision. We donate monthly via a non-profit organization we love called DonorSee and then quarterly to highly effective charities via GiveWell.

If you’re an extremely good planner and are disciplined with your money, then you might opt for investing your money now and donating later in life. Here are two good articles which lay out the benefits and situations when deciding to donate later could make a lot of sense (article 1, article 2).

If you do decide to hold off and invest in the future, I recommend setting a series of milestones to avoid putting it off for too long. Maybe you give a small amount annually and donate any extra investments once they return 50% (for example). Ultimately, the decision is yours. I hope you will give it some serious thought.

The history of tithing.

Tithing has changed over the last 2,500 years. The concept is rooted in Jewish religious tradition and is mentioned in the Torah, where it was required of the Jews to give a tenth of their produce or earnings. As Christian traditions have emerged and diverged from one another, the “right way” to tithe has changed. For example - tithing 10% of one’s income to the church wasn’t a mainstream Christian activity until the late 8th century!

How much did old testament people tithe?

10%. (I’m not going to bury the answer.) It seems like most Jewish people brought their tithes to the Temple in Jerusalem, which was their spiritual and religious center. Tithes were also given to support the Levites in Levitical cities, as they did not inherit land and were responsible for temple services.

Genesis 14:18-20 is often interpreted as the first recorded instance of tithing. In this story story Abram gives a tenth of all his possessions to Melchizedek, the king of Salem, after returning from battle. Another early reference to tithing is in Genesis 28:20-22, where Jacob vows to give a tenth of all he receives back to God if God will be with him, protect him on his journey, and provide for his needs.

How much did early Christians tithe?

Unknown/relative. Early Christians often practiced in secret and without formal structures due to persecution. This context would have made a formal tithing system similar to the Old Testament practice impractical.

Early Christian leaders like Justin Martyr and Tertullian describe the practices of Christian communities, which included voluntary contributions for the support of ministry and missionaries, the poor, widows, and orphans. These descriptions align more with free-will offerings than with a formal tithe system.

The New Testament, particularly in the Acts of the Apostles, also mentions early Christians selling their possessions and distributing the proceeds to those in need. It seems like this communal sharing was more about mutual aid and generosity rather than a fixed tithe.

How much did medieval Christians tithe?

The formal practice of tithing in Christianity started to take shape around the 6th century. The Council of Tours (567) and Council of Macon (585) are among the earliest known instances where tithing was mentioned and encouraged in a Christian context. The Council of Macon is often cited as one of the first to command tithes to be paid to the Church.

Under Charlemagne (8th and 9th Centuries), tithing became more entrenched as a legal obligation within the Holy Roman Empire. Charlemagne passed legislation that required the payment of tithes to support the Church.

How much do Christians tithe today?

According to Vanco, The average churchgoer gives around $17 per week, resulting in congregations in the US collecting around $74.5 billion each year. (Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion)

Many Christian denominations encourage tithing (giving 10% of one’s income) as a spiritual discipline, while others promote regular, generous giving in accordance with one’s means, without strictly adhering to the 10% figure. Some see it as a mandatory practice, while others view it as a voluntary, symbolic, or spiritual act.

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