Biblical Answer

The Bible teaches us to tithe on our net income, not our gross income. This is because the Israelites were instructed to tithe on the firstfruits of their labor, which refers to their net income after expenses have been deducted (Deuteronomy 14:22-29). The idea is that we should give God the first portion of our income, before we even think about using it for ourselves. This way, we acknowledge God as our provider and trust Him to supply our needs.

Some people may argue that they should tithe on their gross income, citing the example of the Mormon Church, which takes in a significant amount of money in tithing and business holdings. However, this is not a biblical example. The Mormon Church's practice of tithing is based on a system of graduated income tax, where those who earn more are required to pay a higher percentage of their income. This is not in line with the biblical principle of tithing, which is based on a level playing field where everyone gives the same percentage of their net income.

In conclusion, tithing on net income is the biblical standard. It allows us to give God the first portion of our income, trusting Him to supply our needs. It also promotes a sense of generosity and gratitude, as we acknowledge God's provision in our lives. When we tithe on net income, we are not trying to impress God with our wealth, but rather to honor Him with our firstfruits. This practice can be a powerful way to cultivate a spirit of gratitude and generosity in our lives, and to trust God to provide for our needs. As the Bible says, "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse... and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it" (Malachi 3:10). The idea of tithing on net income is not about how much money we give, but about our heart attitude and trust in God's provision. As we trust God to supply our needs, we can experience the blessing of God in our lives. This is the joy and discipline of tithing.