If you are not able to pay tithing

[Vort]

ok so what exactly do I base my tithing on?

income I make from employment? investment earnings? savings? loaned money?

how do I figure this?

It's really very simple.

You pay tithing of 10% of your increase annually.

That's all there is to it.

If you want specific help in determining what that means, you are always welcome to talk to your bishop. He would be happy to assist you in figuring that out.

If you want opinions, then ask here and you will get them. But that is all they will be: opinions. The doctrine of the Church is as I stated above. Anything else is just that person's interpretation or application.

For example, my wife and I always tithe our gross (pretax) income. We feel that is the most honest way to tithe, since we enjoy the governmental protections and projects (roads, etc.) from our taxes. On the other hand, we do not tithe income that goes to pay Social Security; instead, we will tithe whatever we actually receive from the government at the time we receive it. Many disagree with our former stand, and many others disagree with our latter stand. But it makes sense to us and it feels right, so that's what we do. If our bishop were to ask us to tithe our FICA withholdings, too, we would, but so far no bishop has bothered to inquire into our tithing past asking if we are full tithe payers.

[MichaelPAGuy]

I'm a little confused. If you pay tithing...How do the windows of heaven open up and bless you?

[VisionOfLehi]

Malachi 3

3 Nephi 24

[Jenamarie]

The windows have opened for us in that we've always been able to find the money we needed for important purchases (not splurges, but things we actually needed, like funding for education, or a new car when our old one bit the dust). When we see how much money we've donated in a year during Tithing Settlement we're always amazed at how much we were able to do without (moneywise), and yet still live comfortably and meet our needs, with some fun things here and there too.

[MichaelPAGuy]

Tithing also teaches us to live responsibly?

[Guest TheLutheran]

I went to visit my friend's Lutheran church when her baby was baptized and it was really embarrassing when this lady stood in front of me with the collection plate and I had to tell her no. Then she kept standing there a while longer, I guess not realizing I was a visitor. I had no money with me and rarely carry cash.

At our church, we like to warmly welcome guests at the beginning of each service. We hope to help them feel comfortable as part of our church family . . . if only for that particular service, and our pastor is very skilled at putting visitors of every persuasion at ease.

There is a time during the service when the offering plate is passed to collect prayers of thanksgiving, prayer requests, and monetary gifts which are all placed into little envelopes available in each pew. No one pays mind to who puts what into the plate as it passes by.

Offerings, which are just between ourselves and the Lord, can be paid weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually or sometimes even sporatically so it is common for worshippers to pass the plate along without making a deposit.

Sorry to be so windy, MorningStar, but I know how painful it is to feel awkward and embarrassed and thought maybe a little "splaining" might ease that for you. :)

[Truegrits]

The word tithe comes from an Old English word meaning "tenth." Tithing, then, means merely the practice of "tenthing," or simply giving back 10% of one's increase (see Leviticus 27:32).

Tithing is a form of giving...(Matthew 19:21).

"Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine" (Proverbs 3:9-10).

[Avrham]

Do your very best in your circumstances remember the Lord needs your faith in him the money is irrelevent to him but your faith is whats required for the Lord to work/walk with you

I myself have find that my tithing is about being selfless to others and to the Lord I also have the same problem at times but do your very best thats all you can do