Money, Tithing and the Christian in South Africa: What the Bible Actually Says About Wealth, Generosity, and Giving

There are few topics in the South African church that confuse ordinary Christians more than money. Many Sandton Christians grew up hearing that tithing — giving ten percent of your income to the church — is a non-negotiable command of God. Many Soweto Christians grew up hearing the same thing. At the same time, the religious marketplace in South Africa has made many Christians suspicious of any teaching that involves money. We have all seen the appeals. We have all heard sermons that seemed less about the Bible and more about the collection plate. This post is an attempt to lay out what the Bible says, what the Bible does not say, and how a Christian in Johannesburg in 2026 can think about money, tithing, and generosity with a clear conscience before God.

The Old Testament Background: Where Tithing Actually Came From

The word tithe means tenth. In the Old Testament, the practice of giving a tenth of one's increase was given to the people of Israel as part of the Mosaic covenant. The tithe was not a universal command given to all people in all ages. The tithe was a covenant specific arrangement given to the people of Israel in a particular time and place.

Leviticus 27:30 — "A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord."

Numbers 18:21-24 — "I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting. From now on the Israelites must not go near the tent of meeting, or they will bear the consequence of their sin and will die. It is the Levites who are to do the work at the tent of meeting and bear the responsibility for any offense they commit against the Israelites. You must give the Levites their share from the Israelites' tithes as their inheritance."

The Old Testament tithe had a clear purpose: it supported the Levites, the priestly tribe that served at the temple. The tithe was agricultural. The tithe was the produce of the land. The tithe was given to a specific group for a specific purpose under a specific covenant with a specific nation.

A Christian in Sandton in 2026 is not an Israelite under the Mosaic covenant. A Christian in Soweto in 2026 is not a Levite serving at a Jerusalem temple. The Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ, living under the new covenant described in the New Testament.

What the New Testament Actually Teaches About Giving

The New Testament is clear that giving is a Christian duty. The New Testament is also clear that the Christian giving is different from the Old Testament tithe. The Christian is not under a fixed-rule rule. The Christian is under a transformed-heart grace.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 — "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

2 Corinthians 8:12 — "For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have."

Acts 20:35 — "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

1 Timothy 6:17-18 — "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in the living God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, and willing to share."

Luke 6:38 — "Give, and it will be given to you: a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you."

These verses do not establish a fixed percentage. These verses do establish a fixed attitude: the Christian gives cheerfully, generously, willingly, and according to what they have, not according to what they do not have.

Is Tithing Then Optional?

The honest biblical answer is more nuanced than either side of the South African tithing debate usually admits.

For the Christian in Johannesburg who is asking should I tithe? the answer is: there is no New Testament command that the Christian must give ten percent. The New Testament gives principles, not percentages. The Christian is to give cheerfully. The Christian is to give generously. The Christian is to give according to what they have. The Christian is to give as a matter of the heart, not as a matter of rule.

At the same time, the Christian who has decided to give ten percent has chosen a wise and biblical guideline. Ten percent is more than the New Testament requires. Ten percent is a practical rule that has helped many Christians for many centuries. The Christian who gives ten percent is not sinning. The Christian who gives less than ten percent is not necessarily sinning. The Christian who gives more than ten percent is not necessarily sinning. The sin is not in the percentage. The sin is in the heart.

Romans 14:5-6 — "One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord."

Romans 14:23 — "But whoever has doubts is condemned if they believe anything contrary to their conscience. For whatever does not come from what they believe is sin."

The Christian who gives under compulsion has given a religion that the Bible does not recognise. The Christian who gives cheerfully has given a religion the Bible does recognise.

What the Bible Says About Prosperity Teaching

The prosperity gospel is one of the loudest teachings in the South African religious marketplace. The prosperity gospel teaches that the Christian who has enough faith will have enough money. The prosperity gospel teaches that the Christian who gives money to the ministry will receive money back from God. The prosperity gospel teaches that the Christian who prays the right prayer will drive the right car.

The Bible is clear about prosperity teaching. The Bible is clear that material blessing is not the measure of spiritual maturity. The Bible is clear that the Christian is to be content in every circumstance. The Bible is clear that the love of money is the root of evil.

1 Timothy 6:5-10 — "and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, assuming that godliness is a means of material gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

Matthew 6:19-21 — "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Philippians 4:11-12 — "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

Proverbs 11:28 — "Those who trust in the wrong place will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf."

Luke 12:15 — "Then he said to them, 'Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.'"

The Christian who has been promised wealth in exchange for giving has been promised something the Bible does not promise. The Christian who has been told that poverty is a sign of spiritual failure has been told something the Bible does not teach.

What the Bible Says About the Rich Christian

The Bible is not anti-rich. There were rich Christians in the early church. There were rich Christians in the Bible itself. Joseph of Arimathea was rich. Nicodemus may have been rich. Lydia was rich. The Bible does not say that wealth is sinful. The Bible does say that wealth is dangerous. The Bible does say that the wealthy Christian is to be generous, accountable, and aware that the riches do not belong to them.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 — "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in the living God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."

Luke 16:11 — "So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?"

Proverbs 22:7 — "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender."

The Bible treats the rich Christian as a steward, not as an owner. The Bible treats the rich Christian as accountable, not as autonomous. The Bible treats the rich Christian as one who has been given much, and from whom much will be required.

What the Bible Says About the Poor Christian

The Bible is also clear about the poor Christian. The Bible does not condemn the poor Christian. The Bible honours the poor Christian. The Bible honours the Christian widow who gave two small coins. The Bible honours the Christian who has learned to be content with little. The Bible honours the Christian whose giving is generous in proportion to what they have, not in proportion to what they do not have.

Mark 12:41-44 — "Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, 'Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything — all she had to live on.'"

2 Corinthians 8:2-3 — "For in the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability."

The Christian who cannot afford to give ten percent has not failed God. The Christian who cannot afford to give has been given a different calling. The calling is not give ten percent. The calling is be faithful with what you have. The calling is be content with food and clothing. The calling is trust God with the rest.

How a Christian in Johannesburg Should Think About Giving in 2026

After ten years of running a Wednesday Bible study in Parkmore, we have learned that the Christian who wants to honour God with money is not the Christian who debates the percentage. The Christian who wants to honour God with money is the Christian who asks four simple questions before they give.

Question 1 — Am I Giving Cheerfully?

2 Corinthians 9:7 — "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

The Christian who gives cheerfully has given rightly. The Christian who gives reluctantly has given in a way that the Bible does not honour. If you find yourself giving out of guilt, pressure, fear, or obligation, the Bible is inviting you to step back. The Bible is inviting you to pray. The Bible is inviting you to give as the Spirit leads, not as the leader commands.

Question 2 — Am I Giving Proportionally?

2 Corinthians 8:12 — "For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have."

The Christian who has decided to give ten percent has chosen a biblical guideline. The Christian who has decided to give five percent has also chosen a biblical guideline. The percentage is between you and God. The percentage is not between you and the leader of the ministry.

Question 3 — Am I Giving to a Ministry That Is Trustworthy?

Luke 16:11 — "So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?"

The Christian who gives has the right to ask how the giving is being spent. The Christian who gives is not a passive donor. The Christian who gives is a steward. The Christian who gives has the right to expect transparency, financial integrity, and accountability from the ministries the leader is supporting. If the ministry cannot answer the question, the Christian has the right to ask why.

Question 4 — Am I Free to Stop Giving?

2 Corinthians 9:7 — "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give."

The Christian who gives under threat has not given freely. The Christian who gives under a curse has not given cheerfully. The Christian who gives under a binding contract has not given to God. The Christian who gives has the freedom to give less. The Christian who gives has the freedom to give to a different ministry. The Christian who gives has the freedom to stop giving altogether. The Bible honours the freedom.

A Closing Word to the Christian Who Has Been Hurt

Some South African Christians have been hurt by teaching that involves money. Some have been told they are under a curse because they did not tithe. Some have been pressured to give money they did not have. Some have been taught that their poverty is a sign of their spiritual failure. Some have left the church over money.

To the Christian who has been hurt by this kind of teaching: the Bible is not the source of the hurt. The Bible is the cure for the hurt. The Bible is the place where the Christian can find rest from the false teaching. The Bible is the place where the Christian can find freedom from the binding contract.

Psalm 55:22 — "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken."

Matthew 11:28 — "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

The Christian who has been hurt by false teaching about money is invited to come to the Bible, not away from it. The Christian who has been pressured is invited to find a Bible-believing community that does not pressure. The Christian who has been deceived is invited to learn the Bible for themselves, so that they cannot be deceived again.

A Closing Word to the Christian Who Wants to Give Generously

After ten years of Bible study in Parkmore, we have learned that the Christian who gives generously is the Christian who has been transformed by the gospel. The Christian who gives generously is the Christian who has experienced the generosity of God.

1 Chronicles 29:14 — "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand."

2 Corinthians 8:9 — "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich."

Acts 20:35 — "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

The Bible is clear. Money is sacred. The Christian is a steward. The Christian is not an owner. The Christian is to give as God has given to the Christian — freely, generously, joyfully, and without compulsion.

Johannesburg Bible Study Church meets online every Wednesday at 7:30pm for a Bible study that takes the Bible seriously — including what the Bible says about money. The Wednesday Bible study is free; we never ask for tithes, pledges, or commitments of giving. If you would like to join the Wednesday Bible study, call Mr. Sim on +27 77 487 1295 or Ms. Dora on +27 67 442 4461.