Where does the 10 percent giving guideline come from in the Bible?
The ten percent guideline traces back to Abraham in Genesis 14, where after defeating the kings who had overrun Sodom and recovering Lot, he gave ten percent of the spoil to Melchizedek. Scripture presents this as a guideline, not a mandated law; Paul instead says give as the Lord has prospered you.
Les teaches that the giving guideline connects to 1 Corinthians 16, where Paul orders a collection for the Jerusalem saints on the first day of the week. He notes it is not according to 10 percent of income, although that is the guideline. He points back to Abraham in Genesis chapter 14: after defeating the kings that overran Sodom and bringing Lot back, Abraham gave Melchizedek ten percent of the spoil. Les says this remains a guideline, but he maintains that mandating 10 percent puts people back under the law, which Paul never does. Instead, Paul says give as the Lord has prospered you, leaving it to free conscience led by the Holy Spirit.
And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
More Questions
Does the Bible require Christians to give ten percent of their income?
The believer's giving is to be laid by in store on the first day of the week, the resurrection day, and is not measured by a mandatory ten percent of income, though ten percent remains the guideline.