Question: What's your take on tithing on gross income vs tithing on net income? Just interested in your opinion, not trying to trick or trap you.
Answer: The answer is whichever one you believe in more. Tithing should be done as an act of faith, not obligation. Here is an article which deals with every verse in the Bible on tithing. It is long, but well worth reading. I hope you find this helpful.
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I have prayed about Gross or Net? I can't seem to get a clear answer. Although, at this time I am tithing 10% of my gross, it is a real financial hardship for me. I love the Lord and want to give him what is required of me. Please help me with this.
MW
I encourage you to link that I posted which deals with every verse on tithing. To give you the short answer, I believe God will honor whichever one that you are able to give in faith. It's not about numbers. It's about the heart. Hope this helps.
The problem with tithing for some workers is that it can become an issue of possibility. What I mean by this is, it's always possible to tithe from your net. That's merely 10% of what you physically have in your hand or pocket after getting paid. However, with the taxes, child support, IRS and other government paycheck garnishments era we live in, it's possible that a tithe off of gross income can be more than the net income itself. Real Life Example: A man can make $500 gross income. Total tax deductions from W4's is $150. Total deductions from Insurance(medical, dental, vision, life, etc.), is $200. Total deductions from child support garnishments is $95. The IRS is also garnishing this man's paycheck $45 due to owed back taxes. All of these deductions add up to $490. When subtracted from $500, this man has only $10 (net) in his pocket. The tithes from his gross income would amount to $50, which he doesn't have. However, the tithe's from his net income would amount to $1, which he does have. This is an actual case, as sad as it may seem, for someone I know. For this reason, I believe in tithing from the net income.
Thanks for reading this.
Good point. That's why I say that it's not about the numbers, but about the heart of the giver and the faith expressed in the giving.
I agree that is more about the heart.. I use to give off my net income and them someone told me to give off my gross. I have been giving off my gross ever since and it doesn't hurt me to do so. Could I use the extra, sure but giving up a few dinners out to be a blessing in God's house is far more worth it. I believe that because of my faithfullness and desire to do my best is why as a young engineer in the automotive business God has kept me employed and I actually recieved a raise. i don't think this was because of me but by the grace of God. I believe when you do your best God will bless. If I had to pay off my net simply because I had no choice I would not feel bad. I believe God would see me as being a good steward and using my finance to take care of business.
The Bible doesn't command us to tithe, so whether or not you do and the amount you do is optional.
http://bible-truths.com/tithing.html
It seems to me, you are right
This topic came up last night in my Christian Counseling class at my church last night. About 1/4 of us were tithing off of our net and not gross and I felt deeply ashamed of cheating God... if in fact, I am. I am not certain; however, the thought sickens me. I am researching, asking questions and gonna pray about this. The Lord knows my income level and I honestly cannot imagine that He would ask us to "give what we do not have or never see." Still in prayer as I really want to do the right thing.
I believe net income is what you tithe off of. Lev 27:30-32 talks about tithing what was harvest from the crops. (Corn, olvies, grapes, etc) Keep in mind the keyword "harvested"
Now go to Lev 19:9, it talks about how Israel should not harvest all that was in the field. In order to leave some for the poor, the fatherless, the traveler. So your harvesting, (usable and countable crops) less than 100%
This is like Social security and taxes. They are used to help the poor and the needy. Yes, SS is not best answer and method of going about this but just in Leviticus, just leaving it was not the best solution to help them either, it was a command of God to the Israelites.
Answer: Net Income
~Travis.
The question isn't gross vs. net, but why base it on income?
Consider the Israelite who grew wheat and who earned wages as a carpenter, so his income at the end of the year was:
* 100 bushels of wheat
* 100 shekels earned as a carpenter
Of his income, he would have tithed:
* 10 bushels of wheat
* 0 shekels
That’s right, 0 shekels. Not only was he not required to tithe on his income from carpentry, he was actually prohibited from tithing from it. Tithes were restricted to crops and herd animals the tither raised himself.
When you think about it, there are actually no examples of anyone in the Bible tithing based on their income.
* Abraham tithed war spoils (other people's things), not his income.
* Israelites (like the one above) tithed their increase of crops and herd animals, but not their total income.
* The Pharisees Jesus talked to did not tithe on their income; like the example above they only tithed on the crops they grew or animals they raised (Jesus mentions garden herbs).
Why get stuck on the question of whether to give 10% of your gross or net income, when there literally isn't an example int he Bible of anyone giving 10% of their income?
God expects you to give 1o% of your increase(or blessing) that He has given you to help with the ministry on this earth, first of all your church home. Nothing you have belongs to you, God is just letting you borrow it while you are passing through this world. If you went to a bank and borrowed money, you would pay interest (or tithe) to the bank (the giver).....Therefore to glorify God and give thanks for all He has given you, give your 10% ON THE INCREASE WHICH GOD HAS BLESSED YOU WITH ! YOU TITHE AND HAVE $500 LEFT IN YOUR POCKET....TAKE THAT $500 AND BUY A HORSE, SELL THAT HORSE TO YOUR NEIGHBOR FOR $1,000 AND YOU INCREASE IS $500, SO GIVE GOD $50, AND TAKE THE $450 AND BUY A CAR, SELL THE CAR FOR $1450 AND YOUR INCREASE IS $1,000 SO GIVE GOD $100. GIVE CHEERFULLY AND YOU WILL BE BLESSED !
This has helped a lot... I've tithed on my gross for the last year and it has been tough. I confess that I have not always been a cheerful giver. Tithing on my net will be nearly $120 less. I will finish the year tithing on my gross, but my commitment for 2015 will be on my net -- and I will be able to clear up some old debt. I will also be a much more cheerful giver!!!
I do not believe that tithing is a Biblical obligation since it was on food and not on income as a previous poster said. However, I do believe that tithing is a good tradition. Regardless of whether tithing is valid or not, it doesn't change the fact that a church needs regular financial funding of some sort. So if church members are comfortable with tithing, then that's fine.
It would be best to base it on net income or at least leave the gross vs net issue to the individual church member to decide.
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