Your are absolutely correct that tithing was only required under the Mosaic Law which no longer applies. The Law of Moses was taken away with Christ's death on the cross. When one turns to the Law of Moses for one thing he is bound to the whole law. In Galatians 5:4 the apostle Paul said, "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." (KJV) Just before Jesus breathed his last breath on the cross He said, "It is finished" (John 19:30). Three things were finished they were: The Law of Moses, Christ's work of redemption and His life. You might also point out the Law of Moses was never applicable to Gentiles, only the Jews, therefore, it has never applied, does not now apply and never will apply to those who were non-Jews. Paul told the Corinthians to lay be in store on the first day of the week as God had prospered them in 1 Corinthians 16:2. If a person wants to tithe that is his/her business but such cannot be bound on New Testament Christians. Each has to determine how he has been prospered and make a determination as to what he/she can or wishes to give.

Does a person who is retired and on a fixed income still have to tithe?

The first time that tithing is mentioned is Genesis 14:18-20 where Abraham gave a tenth of everything to Melchizedek. Melchizedek is designated in that passage as priest of God. As one proceeds further into the Old Testament with the giving of the Law of Moses, one sees that this is what was required of Israel. Leviticus 27:30-32 specifies that a tenth of the land, seed or fruit or whatever, was to be given to the Lord. Also, it should be understood that a tenth of everything went to the Lord, not just money. So, a farmer for instance, would give a tenth of his herd, a tenth of his crop as well as a tenth of his money. However, when we come to the New Testament, no such amount is given. That was the Law of Moses. The New Testament teaches that we are to give liberally, willingly, bountifully, cheerfully and purposefully, 2 Corinthians 8:1-9:7. From the teachings in those two chapters, along with what the rest that the New Testament teaches, to give a tenth would be the very least that one can do. It would be a starting point. According to 1 Corinthians 16:2, one is to give as he has been prospered. That would include whether I am employed full time, part time or on Social Security. One may be on a fixed income and not able to give as much as when working full time, however, when retirement benefits are received, that is income and one should give as they have been prospered.

      No!    Matthew 6:19 is not intended to prevent one's achieving financial success whatever that is.  The precept is not intended to discourage the possession of property, but it forbids us to hoard for selfish purposes, or to look upon our possessions as permanent and abiding.  Jesus is indicating that such should not be our main purpose in life because if that is our principal purpose in life then we will be bankrupt so to speak in eternity.  Our chief concern should be to reach heaven and enjoyment of spiritual riches rather than earthly riches.  As you will notice in the ensuing verses our main goal should be the laying up of treasures in heaven.

In regard to casting one's pearls before swine it simply means that one should not press the claims of the gospel upon another to the point they would turn upon you and possibly do you bodily harm.  We do have the responsibility to teach others the gospel, but when they display a total rejection of the same and indicate hostility toward the presenter or teacher then one should not press the matter farther lest they turn upon you.

Please explain to me how much a Christian should give on the regular day of giving. Should Christians tithe?

The first time that tithing is mentioned is Genesis 14:18-20 where Abraham gave a tenth of everything to Melchizedek. Melchizedek is designated in that passage as priest of God. As one proceeds further into the Old Testament with the giving of the Law of Moses, one sees that this is what was required of Israel. Leviticus 27:30-32 specifies that a tenth of the land, seed or fruit or whatever, was to be given to the Lord. Also, it should be understood that a tenth of everything went to the Lord, not just money. So, a farmer for instance, would give a tenth of his herd, a tenth of his crop as well as a tenth of his money.

However, when we come to the New Testament, no such amount is given. That was the Law of Moses. The New Testament teaches that we are to give liberally, willingly, bountifully, cheerfully and purposefully, 2 Corinthians 8:1-9:7. From the teachings in those two chapters, along with what the rest that the New Testament teaches, to give a tenth would be the very least that one can do. It would be a starting point. According to 1 Corinthians 16:2, one is to give as he has been prospered. That would include whether I am employed full time, part time or on Social Security. One may be on a fixed income and not able to give as much as when working full time, however, when retirement benefits are received, that is income and one should give as they have been prospered.  So, tithing is a beginning point for the Christian.  One cannot find a set amount to give, but as one has been prospered.

What does the Bible say about being in debt, money, and how we are to handle our finances. I have studied this and I am thinking that we are not to be in debt, "don’t be a borrower but be a lender." We can’t be a slave to two masters, and Romans says be debt free.

There is nothing wrong with honest debt. Philemon had a slave who ran away. Following Onesimus’ conversion Paul sent him home with a letter urging Philemon to accept him back. Paul’s words include this, "If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account," Philemon 1:17-18. In other words, Paul says, if he owes you anything, charge that to my account, he would pay that debt when he saw Philemon again. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37, the Samaritan carried the wounded man to an inn and cared for him. When he left the next day he gave the innkeeper money for the further care of the individual. He then added, "…whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee," verse 35. In other words, he would be in debt to that innkeeper, but he would pay that debt. Under Jewish law one could sell himself or his property to pay a debt, so debt was allowed even then.

Romans 13:8 reads, "Owe no man anything, but to love one another; for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law." Paul had already spoken of being in debt to preach the gospel, 1:14, to live a holy life, 8:12f, and to pay our taxes, 13:6f. Rather than forbidding honest debt, taking this statement within the context of verses 6-8, Paul is here urging the prompt paying of all our bills and taxes.

The quotation cited above about borrowing and lending is from Shakespeare’s Hamlet where Polonius is giving advice to his son Laertes (Act I, Scene iii, 59-80). The actual quotation is "Neither a borrower nor a lender be, For loan oft loses both itself and friend, And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry." To follow Shakespeare’s quotation literally would prevent lending to a neighbor in need, including a needy brother or sister in Christ, which certainly would be unbiblical. If one did assist a needy Christian brother or sister through a loan, that would cause that brother or sister to sin because we have loaned them money, making them a borrower.

The Christian is to be a wise steward of his money, controlling it rather than it controlling him, Matthew 6:24 and 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19. Indebtedness is not wrong, but not paying one’s debts is wrong. One should therefore be careful about how much debt he incurs and make sure that the debt can be repaid.

Very simply put, stewardship has to do with the carrying out of the duties of a steward. A steward was someone, usually a slave or a freedman, who was put in charge of, or served as the manager of a household or estate. His responsibilities could have been limited to being in charge of the master’s other servants, the master’s finances, the master’s business, the running of household affairs, or being over the whole estate. See Luke 12:42; 16:1, 3, 8 for examples of what a steward would have done. The word is also found in 1 Corinthians 4:2 in our English versions. In Galatians 4:2 in the King James Version (KJV) it is translated governors, and in Romans 16:23 (KJV) it is translated chamberlain. It is used metaphorically in the New Testament in the following ways: In 1 Corinthians 4:1 it is used of preachers and teachers of God’s word; in Titus 1:7 it is used of bishops, or elders; in 1 Peter 4:10 it is used of Christians in general. The steward was expected to carry out his duties responsibly, doing the very best for his master.

Likewise, the Christian is to be a good manager of whatever his responsibilities may be before God. A preacher or teacher should faithfully carry out those duties, studying and presenting God’s word as it is, not changing it to suit his or society’s fancy. A bishop, or elder, should faithfully carry out his responsibilities to feed the flock of God, 1 Peter 5:2, to guard the church against those who would try to destroy it, Acts 20:28-31, and to watch over the souls of the members of the congregation, Hebrews 13:17.

Most often, though, stewardship is thought of in relation to a Christian’s material possessions. As noted above, the Christian is to be a good steward of the many varied blessings God has given to him, 1 Peter 4:10. That includes using his time wisely in God’s service. That includes using his talents wisely in God’s service. And, most definitely that includes using his material goods wisely in God’s service. He does not waste his money or other possessions. He gives into the church treasury, liberally and cheerfully, as he has been prospered, 2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15. He makes sure that God receives first and not just what is left over.

In view of all of this stewardship is a matter to be taken most seriously by the Christian, for one day he will stand before Christ as his judge and give an account of how he has served as a steward.

Giving in the church has its roots in the Old Testament. First fruits were brought to God as an offering to acknowledge that He had provided for His people both the land and the produce from the land, Leviticus 23:10, 17 and Deuteronomy 26:1-11. Also, various other offerings were made, not only for the purification for sin, but also to show the worshiper’s desire to enter into fellowship with God. Then there were the good deeds done for the unfortunate. In the Mosaic Law stipulations were made for portions of the harvest to be left for the poor, Deuteronomy 24:10-22 and Leviticus 19:10. Deuteronomy 15:11 instructed the Jew to "open thine hand wide" for the unfortunate. This would refer to doing any kind deed to help someone.

When you look in the New Testament, a similar response is made and one can easily see why the early Christians gave. Acts 2:44-45 shows that Christians in Jerusalem were selling property and giving to the church in order to help those who had need. In Acts 6:1 there were some widows receiving help from the church, which would have been financed through the giving of money or property. In 1 Corinthians 16 and 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 reference is made to a collection being taken up for the poor saints of Jerusalem. 2 Corinthians 11:8 and Philippians 4:16 make reference to Paul being supported by congregations in his work of preaching the gospel. What one offers to the Lord becomes, in the words of Paul, a sweet smelling sacrifice, Philippians 4:18. That money is used to carry on the work of the Lord in numerous ways, benefiting others in their time of need, whether that is physical or spiritual.