God’s old covenant people had to give at least 10 percent of their income, plus offerings on other occasions. In contrast, the new covenant does not specify a certain percentage. However, the underlying principle is still valid: Humans ought to honor God by returning some of the blessings he gives them. Here are three reasons: 1) God blesses those who give. 2) God commands his people to give. 3) The church needs money to serve the members.

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God could supply all our needs miraculously, if money were the only need we had. Instead, he supplies our needs through the contributions of his people. That’s because he is not only working in the church as an organization, he is also working in the hearts of his people. By making the church dependent on the members, he is addressing the most important need we have: that each of us become more closely conformed to the love shown to us by Jesus Christ.

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Until Christ returns, the church will always need money. Sometimes the needs will be urgent, sometimes more predictable. There will always be more work to do. However, even if the church did not need money, God’s people should still give — at the least, simply because God commands it. God’s commands are given to us for our own good. Our generosity does not enrich God at all — but it does enrich us (Acts 20:35).