Q&A Home > T > Tithes

• Can I help one of my relatives within the tithes?
• I recently heard a priest mention that tithe (10% as a minimum, of course) given from my salary is supposed to be from the gross salary (before tax) not from my net salary (what I actually get). However, I have always been told by different fathers to pay from what I actually get, which is my monthly net income. I know "God loves a cheerful giver" and I love to give, but I just want to make sure what is the right way to tithe.
• My husband is currently between jobs. The church is asking every member to increase their monthly donations to help with upcoming church expansion. When my husband recently took a salary decrease, we did not feel it would be right to cut back on our monthly tithes so we kept our tithes as is.    My husband wants to take a leap of faith and increase our tithes before being employed again. I am not sure what to do but I definitely do not want to displease the Lord nor do I want to dishonor him. I am praying for the same faith my husband has but I am not sure if we are being careless or if we are being faithful. My confusion stems from when our priest said yesterday that as the Lord provides for you, give accordingly.   My husband is collecting a monthly severance check which helps sustains us. We have two teen daughters in a private school and thankfully we are able to pay our monthly bills. We are not struggling and are grateful for the Lord's provisions. He is seeking daily for a new job and we trust the Lord will open the right door for him. Do we take that leap of faith and increase now or do we wait for my husband to be employed?
• What does the Orthodox Church teach about tithing?