Giving in Retirement
As retirement unfolds and income shifts from paychecks to portfolios, many believers find themselves reflecting on how to continue giving.
Should you tithe on IRA distributions or investment withdrawals if you already gave on that income when you earned it?
Should you only tithe on the growth after the original tithe?
Social Security benefits are generated from income you already tithed on, should you give from that?
Those questions, while seemingly practical, stray away from the true focus of giving: our posture.
Jesus never commended those who gave by formula. In fact, He did the opposite:
“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 (NLT)
The Pharisees were meticulous. They tithed to the penny—but Jesus rebuked them because their giving was disconnected from love, justice, and mercy. It had become performance, not worship.
Giving Isn’t a Percentage—It’s a Response
We often get caught up in asking, “What do I have to give?” But the better question is, “What is God inviting me to give?”
Whether from a Roth IRA, a brokerage account, or Required Minimum Distributions, giving in retirement isn’t about re-tithing on already tithed income. It’s about continuing to respond to God’s provision with open hands.
Your gift is no longer a deduction from income. It’s a declaration: “I trust You, God, more than my balance sheet.”
Giving Is About the Giver, Not the Gift
God doesn’t need our money. He wants our hearts. The widow who gave two coins was praised not for the amount, but because she trusted God with all she had. Her gift was small, but her faith was great.
In retirement, this principle matters even more. You may no longer earn a paycheck. Your giving may look different. But it still says something deep about your heart—about trust, joy, and gratitude.
“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.” — 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)
“To Whom Much Is Given…”
For those who have been blessed with savings, investments, or abundance, Jesus’ words echo clearly:
“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” — Luke 12:48
Retirement is not a retreat from faithfulness. If anything, it’s a time to step deeper into generosity. God may have blessed you not so you can spend more—but so you can give more.
Generosity in Every Season
In retirement, your giving may not look like it used to. But the opportunity to reflect God’s character through generosity is just as strong—maybe stronger. You’ve been given much. You’ve been entrusted with much. Your giving now is not about rules—it’s about a legacy of grace.
So ask not, “Do I have to give on this?” but rather, “How can I honor God with what He’s placed in my hands?”
Let your giving continue—not out of obligation, but out of worship.