For many believers, the question of giving money to the church is both practical and deeply personal.

Some approach it with clarity and conviction. Others carry uncertainty, shaped by past experiences, questions about how money is used, or discomfort with how giving has been communicated.

At its core, however, giving to the church is not primarily a financial issue. It is a spiritual one.

Scripture consistently presents giving as an expression of trust, worship, and participation in the work of God. To understand what the Bible says about giving to the church, we have to look beyond the act itself and examine the purpose it serves in the life of a believer and the body of Christ.

Does the New Testament require Christians to tithe? Discover what Jesus and Paul teach about giving, stewardship, and generosity that flows from the heart.

At the Christian Stewardship Network (CSN), we see stewardship as more than managing money—it’s a vital part of discipleship. Small, intentional steps toward generosity and connection can spark real life change. That’s why we’re committed to finding simple, effective tools that make it easier for people—especially those who are new or unsure—to get involved.

Whenever I read the Scriptures, especially when it involves a story, I try to imagine it as if I am physically standing there watching the events unfolding. This helps me not to interpret the text the same way every time and usually causes me to ask questions I wouldn't ask through casual reading. This happened recently while reading Jesus' feeding of the five thousand, and, as it often happens when meditating on God's word, I saw something new.

It’s no easy task trying to get people to understand the beauty of giving and generosity. Giving is an expression of worship, an invitation to partner with God in everything. It requires you to “place your bet” on the work of God over the physical comfort of predictability. Many of us have felt the discomfort of calculating the amount of money God has deemed his tithe and tried to do the math on how that would impact our wallet.

In our last article, we shared the difference between stewardship and generosity; you can read about it here. In this article, we're diving deeper into generosity and what it really means to be generous.