The Bible and Charity
The Bible teaches that everything that we own comes from God:
The earth is the Lord’s, and every thing in it, the world, and all who live in it. Psalm 24:1
For Christians, this means not only that they need to be grateful for everything they have, but that they should also be ready to part with any of their possessions if it is God's will.
However, Christians are also taught to give routinely - they should regularly set aside a specific amount for charity:
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... The entire tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd's rod—will be holy to the LORD. Leviticus 27:30, 32
Some Christians keep strictly to the 10% laid out in the Old Testament. However, Jesus was wary of people who were legalistic, and taught that all giving should be done with a joyful heart.
What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. Luke 11:42
Paul also warned against following the letter of the law without actually caring for others. The most important thing is to love others:
And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:3
As well as giving to charity simply to follow the letter of the law, some people give to charity just to look good. Jesus warned against this:
Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Matthew 6:1-4
Paul reinforced the idea that you should give out of love, with a cheerful heart. His teaching also suggests that Christians should not keep strictly to 10% in their giving - they should think carefully about it and give as much as they can afford.
You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. 2 Corinthians 9:7
