Is The Tithe A Limit?
One excuse for not tithing is that it "limits" the amount a Christian gives to God. But the tithe was never meant to be a limit. In fact, the Jews were admonished to give nearly one-fourth of their income each year. With such giving today, the church could replace government welfare programs. But most people need a starting point. As best we can tell, God never asked for less than a tenth from anyone. But if 10 percent bothers people, there's no reason why they can't give 11 percent, 12 percent, or even double tithe if they desire.
The law of grace means we're not compelled to do anything by virtue of a written law. It is unmerited and unearned favor. But grace is not a license to do nothing. As Paul said in Romans 7:7 NIV, that “the law was given to show us sin.” We, who are under grace, can surely outdo those who gave according to the law.
Again, the principle of God's ownership comes into play. God doesn't own just 10 percent of our money, he owns 100 percent. That's why we should never tithe with the view that the remainder is ours. After giving our tithe, God may impress us to give an additional amount to a missionary, rescue mission or other work.