The holy scriptures teach us that a tithe, or a tenth of our income, is holy unto the Lord. Unlike freewill offerings, a tithe is Biblically mandated to be 10%. It is that portion that He has reserved for himself. In ancient times this meant 10% of one’s crops or herds. Today, it is a tenth of our income, or in the case of a business, a tenth of the profit. God has given us clear directions as to the use of the tithe. It is to be devoted to the support of those who are bearing God’s message of mercy to the world.

Grateful Christians cannot limit their contributions to the church to tithe. In Israel, the tabernacle, and later, the Temple, were built from “free will offerings”—offerings given from willing hearts. Offerings are needed to build, maintain, and operate churches.