What If I Don't Have Enough Money To Tithe

10 Min Read | Aug 26, 2021

Churchgoers throughout history have been talking about tithing since, well, forever. And whether or not you grew upwardly in the church, yous've probably at to the lowest degree heard nearly information technology. But what does tithing really mean?

If you've been wondering what a tithe is, how much you should be tithing, and whether you should even be tithing if you lot're in debt, you're non the but one.

So, allow'due south start with the nuts.

What Is Tithing?

A tithe is a portion (10%) of your income given every bit an offering to your local church. (Fun fact: The word tithe literally ways tenth in Hebrew.) Because the custom of tithing is biblical, many Christians and Jews practice it every bit part of their faith.

Leviticus 27:30 (TLB) says, "A 10th of the produce of the country, whether grain or fruit, is the Lord's, and is holy." And Proverbs 3:9 (NIV) says, "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops."

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Those gardening metaphors may have thrown you off, but what these verses are really saying is to requite a portion (specifically a 10th) of whatever you make back to God. And firstfruits is just a biblical way of saying that yous should give first—before y'all practise anything else with your money.

The Bible explains that tithing is an important part of religion for those who follow God and that your tithe should be money you lot set aside first. That'southward why "giving" is the offset category you'll see when y'all open your EveryDollar budget—because when y'all tithe before making a program with the remainder of your coin, you lot're making information technology a priority instead of an reconsideration. Yous're giving your firstfruits instead of your leftovers.

What's the Difference Betwixt Tithes and Offerings?

Like llamas and alpacas, tithes and offerings are grouped together a lot, but they're definitely non the same thing. A tithe is a specific amount (ten% of your income) that y'all give first, and an offering is anything extra that you give beyond that.

Afterwards you've tithed and paid all your bills and expenses for the calendar month, y'all can utilise any actress money in your budget to give even more! This tin await like giving a cash offering to your church higher up and across your normal tithe, giving money to a charity you back up, giving to a friend in need, or giving your time and skills past volunteering.

Why Should I Tithe?

The Bible tells the states that tithing is a mode to show that we trust God with our lives and our finances. Gear up for a truth bomb? Tithing isn't for God's benefit. He doesn't demand our money. Instead, tithing is meant for our do good considering sacrificing a portion of our income reminds usa to rely on God to encounter our needs. Plus it makes us more enlightened of the needs of others too.

In fact, supporting the needs of pastors and the work of the local church is one of the main purposes of tithing. Tithing helps your local church actively be the church building by helping others.

Giving encourages a grateful and generous spirit and can help steer usa away from being greedy or loving money too much. Plus, being outrageously generous is a blast!

Exercise I Accept to Tithe?

While tithing 10% of your income is biblical, that doesn't mean you lot have to be a Christian to tithe. It also doesn't mean you lot're a bad Christian if yous don't tithe. And gauge what? God loves u.s. when nosotros give and when nosotros don't give. In fact, 75% to 90% of those who go to church don't give a tithe.^one

Here'southward some other truth bomb: Tithing isn't a manner to earn God'southward love—because we already have it. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus warns against focusing too much on the rules of tithing without paying attention to the more important things like justice, mercy and faithfulness.

Lesser line? You should exist giving in some way. But tithing is more of a spiritual topic than a financial one. It'south not about the coin—it's about the eye. It's almost living with the attitude that we've been blessed to be a approval.

ii Corinthians 9:seven (NIV) says, "Each of yous should give what you take decided in your centre to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

7 Common Questions About Tithing

i. If I don't get to church, should I even so donate ten% of my income?

If nosotros're getting technical, giving 10% of your income to anything other than the local church isn't really a tithe—information technology's just a dainty souvenir. Simply that's never a bad thing! Even if you're non a function of a local church, in that location are plenty of ministries and organizations that are doing neat work and could benefit from your gifts.

2. Should I tithe while trying to pay off debt?

Even if you lot're in debt or walking through a crude fiscal season, tithing should notwithstanding exist a priority. Yes—you read that correct. While information technology's tempting to throw that coin at your debt, the subject area and organized religion that tithing brings are then worth it. Even while you're paying down debt, you can still have an attitude of generosity.

If you recollect information technology'll take a miracle to get through the month with 10% less in your wallet, you might need to exercise a lifestyle check. Accept a look at your upkeep and discover ways to cut back on spending. It might hateful limiting some of your fun money, packing your lunch instead of eating out every day, brewing your own coffee, or buying generic products—but it is possible!

But y'all should concord off on offerings (extra gifts) while y'all're paying off debt, though. And if you're in debt, y'all should put all your extra coin toward your debt snowball. In one case you're out of debt, you'll be free to requite every bit generously as y'all want to!

three. Do I give 10% of my income before or later on taxes? And do I add income from side hustles?

Honestly, whether you lot tithe from your gross pay or your take-home pay is totally upward to you. The bespeak here is that you're giving 10% of your income. Dave Ramsey gives off the top of his taxable income, only he'll be the starting time to tell yous: "Simply give and be a giver. It's about changing your spirit anyway."

As for your side hustle, the x% yous requite should come from your unabridged income. So, if you accept a part-time job on the weekends that brings in $300 actress each month, add that amount to your total monthly income and tithe $30 of information technology.

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four. Is it right to count my church tithe on my tax returns?

Fifty-fifty though tithing to your church is a affair of the heart, taking a taxation deduction doesn't shrink the value of your generous gift. The Bible tells us to exist good stewards of our money, so if taking the deduction helps you manage the other xc% of your money ameliorate, then by all means, practice it.

5. Should I tithe x% off of my taxation return money?

If you get an income tax refund, call up that's money you've already tithed on during the year—although, you're definitely welcome to devote some or all of information technology back to the Lord as even more thanks for His blessings! Simply since taxation refunds are merely interest-free loans to the regime, your goal should be to avoid them by challenge the correct number of exemptions and not overpaying throughout the year.

6. Should I tithe on gifts?

There's no scripture that outright says you have to tithe on money you receive every bit a gift, only that doesn't mean you can't. So, it looks similar this is a decision betwixt you and God.

7. How should I increase my giving when I start making more coin?

When things are going well and you find yourself with more income than you demand, it tin can exist like shooting fish in a barrel to spend all that extra cash on yourself. Only think of it equally a great opportunity to requite above and beyond your tithe. Many regular tithers oftentimes give above ten%, landing somewhere between eleven–20%.²

That's why it'south so of import to upkeep what yous'll do with the extra coin—so you can make sure you're giving some of information technology away too. Depending on what Infant Pace you lot're on, that actress money tin become toward paying off debt, giving more in offerings, upping your investments, or spending some fun money.

So wait around—ask friends if they know of anyone in need and watch for opportunities to give that money away. Believe us, if yous're intentional virtually looking for ways to be generous, yous're going to discover them.

Remember: Giving is the almost fun yous can take with your money!

How to Tithe

1. Pray.

Nosotros've said information technology earlier and we'll say it once more: Tithing is more of a eye effect than one with dollar signs attached to it. If yous're struggling with the idea of tithing or giving, spend some fourth dimension with God, request Him to give you wisdom and show yous ways that you tin help others—or even simply be more generous. Even if giving doesn't come up naturally, prayer tin can assist soften our hearts and refocus our intentions.

2. Do a monthly budget.

A monthly budget forces you to really pay attention to where your money is going. So before the calendar month begins, create your own goose egg-based budget (where your income minus expenses equals cipher) by giving every dollar a job to do (hire, groceries, saving, etc.).

And while y'all're at information technology, get ahead and make giving a priority for next month. Past immediately putting aside x% of your income for tithing, you can programme better. This likewise might be a good fourth dimension to create a "random giving" category for those moments you want to help someone on the spur of the moment.

iii. Effort online giving.

Many churches take tried to make tithing as easy as possible—especially afterward the craziness of last year. If you become to church, they may accept a way to give online (or through an app). And many churches even allow you to gear up upwards automated withdrawals each month, which is cracking—especially if you accept a regular income.

Just these techy options definitely aren't the only ways to give. Mayhap you adopt writing a check or giving cash because it's a physical reminder of the coin you're taking out of your wallet and giving abroad. Equally long as you're giving, there's really no wrong way to exercise information technology!

Think you're ready to showtime tithing and giving generously but feel weighed downwardly by debt? That's okay—Ramsey+ can assist! It's ane thing to have the heart to requite generously and some other thing to feel chained to your debt. It's time to say goodbye to your debt for expert so you can start giving similar no i else. Sign up for your free trial today.

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