As Christians, we understand that tithing is not merely a financial obligation but a spiritual discipline that reflects our trust in God’s provision and our commitment to His kingdom. While the Bible doesn’t provide explicit answers to every nuance of tithing in our modern context, we can apply biblical principles to guide our practices. As you read, please remember that most of these are based on principles in Scripture, but are also matters of conscience. This means that there isn’t a specific command in the Bible about these things, and that faithful, Bible-believing Christians may disagree on their application.
Should I tithe before or after taxes?
Proverbs 3:9 says, “Honor the LORD with your wealth, and with the first fruits of all your produce”. While some people interpret this to mean that we should give from our income before it is taxed (our gross income), others say that our net income is our true “firstfruits.” What matters most in this situation is that we are giving cheerfully and willingly, and not acting from a place of fear or greed by trying to give the smallest amount possible. Ultimately, decisions should be made prayerfully, with a heart willing to be generous. However we decide to handle our tithing, it should be done in such a way that shows that God is our first priority.
Should I tithe from monetary gifts or inheritances?
Once again, this is a decision that should be made prayerfully and carried out according to your conscience, as there aren’t any passages in Scripture that command us to tithe from monetary gifts or inheritances. Gifts and donations are indeed part of our increase, and tithing on them acknowledges God’s role in all our blessings. However, the spirit of tithing is regular, planned giving. If you would like to give from one-time gifts or inheritances, consider using money as an offering for additional, above-and-beyond offerings or setting it aside to give to specific causes.
What about tithing if I can’t pay my debt or bills?
Tithing should be our first priority in our financial obligations. By putting God first, we demonstrate faith that He will provide for our needs. However, this doesn’t negate our responsibility to be good stewards and meet our financial commitments, and there may be extenuating circumstances where it is necessary to stop tithing for a period of time, such as paying off debt. However, the goal should be to resume tithing as quickly as possible. If you find that you struggle to tithe and pay financial obligations, consider setting up a budget for how much is tithed, spent, and saved each month so you can make any needed changes or accommodations in your spending in advance.
Should I catch up on missed tithes?
The concept of “paying God back” for missed tithes isn’t explicitly biblical. God doesn’t need our money, and tithing isn’t a transaction or debt – it is much more about having a heart posture of trust, humility, and gratitude. Instead, if we’ve fallen behind, we should repent, reset our priorities, and move forward faithfully. Although there is nothing in the Bible against tithing extra, the much more important focus is on consistent obedience going forward.
In all these matters, we must remember that tithing is about heart posture more than precise calculations. It’s an act of worship, trust, and obedience. As believers, we recognize that all we have belongs to God, and tithing is our joyful response to His grace.
Let us approach tithing not as a burden, but as a privilege – an opportunity to participate in God’s work and to grow in faith. May our giving be motivated by love, guided by wisdom, and characterized by cheerfulness, for “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Chew on This:
If God doesn’t need our money, why is tithing important?
