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Hello Sir,
 
I enjoy listening to your radio show and thanks for teaching me about God's word.
 
Here's my question: "Should we pay our tithes from our gross or net income? "
 
Thanks,
 
Seth

Pastor Betters Responds: 

Our tithes are to come from the first fruits of our increase. In Old Testament Israel they were required to pay nearly 33 % of their income in various tithes. Part of this was for the work of the Temple and part of it was for the work of the State since they lived under a theocracy. This would be similar to taxes we pay to the government. This is not money we actually have. We have "earned" money for our needs and we have "earned" money for the needs of the government. To me the "increase" is in what is left after the government takes its part, that is, the net. But, our giving is to be sacrificial. Thus, I counsel folks to begin with a tithe on the net and then to give beyond that until our giving represents a personal sacrifice. As a family you must determine a strategy for giving that includes tithing on at least the net and working up to a tithe on the gross or beyond. If doing so does not represent a sacrifice then one can keep on giving until it does. However, in this area there must be room for conscience since each circumstance is different. Let 2 Corinthians 8-10 be your guide. Take time to study these three chapters as you formulate your giving policy. Pray over these chapters and you will see there is much more involved in giving that glorifies God than whether or not we tithe the net or the gross.

In His Grip, 

Dr. Chuck Betters