Thank you for the question ministering asking for tithes, “Why do many ministers spend the majority of their sermons asking for more money and saying it’s biblically 10 percent?”
If one is watching a cable or radio program of a particular ministry that continues to ask for giving, then beware of that ministry. That ministry may have deviated from their original purpose and have become a huge organization that needs funds to stay on the air.
It is understandable that if a minister is on a cable or radio program that the ministry will need funds to continue broadcasting. The listener ought to contribute some funds to that program if they are being blessed or encouraged in their faith.
If it is a local church that asks for funds, one must evaluate it’s needs and ministries. If it is a start up church, a pastor may speak on supporting the ministry that includes his salary and the staff. If a church is in decline and losing membership, the church may express concern about meeting its budget. If a church is growing and desires to build additional facility or a larger facility, fund raising is necessary. In most cases a pastor may spend one quarter preaching or teaching on giving, but it should not be all the time.
There are denominations and local churches that stipulate 10% as part of the membership requirement. However, I am not aware of any pastor or treasurer that audits members if they are giving their 10%. In the annual business meeting, the treasurer may report the average donation of its members or a range of giving by its members without listing individuals or families in that category.
The Old Testament required a 10th of one’s income in giving to the Lord God to support the Temple worship. Thus some minister has taken that principle and apply that to the local church. Is it a reasonable amount to ask its memberships to give to the Lord? In my view, the Apostle Paul states that God desires a cheerful giver, not a begrudging giver.
When one thinks of the widow mites, it is not the amount of offering/tithes but the heart of it. The widow was not required to give anything, but out of her love for God that she gave it all to him. She gave more than all the wealthy people who gave out of their surplus, not out of their poverty. Please do not misconstrue my statement that God is asking the most poor to give everything. That is not what I am saying. Those who have more should and can give more than the 10% and those with less can give less than 10%. The giving is to God. God looks at the heart, not only at the amount given.
SUMMARY: If a church or minister constantly ask for donations, beware of that ministry for it may be a wolf in sheep clothing or a worldly organization rather than a spiritual organization.