Faith
tithe
A tithe is giving a tenth of your income to God's work, usually through your local church. Christians hold different views on whether it is required today and whether to count gross or net pay.
The tithe is the practice of giving a tenth of your income to God's work, most often through your local church. The word means "tenth." Malachi 3:10 is the passage many people point to when they talk about bringing the tithe into the storehouse.
Christians hold different views. Some teach that the tithe is still the starting point for giving. Others teach that the Old Testament tithe was part of Israel's law and that New Testament giving is cheerful and generous, as in 2 Corinthians 9:7, without a fixed percentage. Faithful believers land in different places, and this page does not rule on it.
Another debate is whether to count the tenth on gross pay or on net pay after taxes.
For example (round numbers): on $120,000 of gross income, a tenth is $12,000. On $90,000 of take-home pay, a tenth is $9,000. The difference is $3,000 a year.
Why it matters: your giving plan should come from your conviction and your conversation with your pastor and spouse. After that, a planner can help you choose the tax-smart way to give. See our guide to tithing and biblical generosity and our post on tithing on gross or net.
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