Expert: Brian Thompson - 1/9/2009

Question
My father has to live with us. He does not pay his bills,eat,bath,or take his medicine on his own as he should. We get $400 a month room and board from him. Should we tithe on his "room and board" or should we tithe on the "room" half only,$40 or $20? please give advice.    -THANKS-

Answer

This is the classic problem, to tithe or not to tithe, or what to tithe, and there are many views on this. You can see now why the Jews spent so much time in debate trying to discern the application of the Law.

If you have committed to tithing and you have to ask how to calculate the tithe, your heart is not in the right place, so don't tithe, because you will not extract a blessing. God is looking at heart attitude not the precision of the calculation. On the other hand, this is not income but your father sharing the expense of your household,it is his from his income and is not your income, if he is a tither then the tithe is already paid, and if not, it is between him and God, so give what you decide in your heart to give and be blessed. This simple rule, which is found in 2 Corinthians 9, is the yardstick by which a Christian should measure their giving.