How Often Should You Tithe? Biblical Guidance and Practical Wisdom

Introduction: The Real Struggle Behind Tithing Schedules

How often should you tithe? I have been asked that in church car parks, over cups of tea, and in the middle of long nights when money worries kept people awake. It is a fair question. You love God. You want to give. But the fridge is half empty, the rent is due, and your pay packet is already stretched thin.

I have spent more than ten years helping people figure this out. Some were hairdressers like Claire who counted every tip. Others were business owners trying to balance giving with keeping the lights on. The pattern is always the same. The heart is willing but the timing feels messy. This guide is here to cut through the noise, look at what the Bible actually says, and show you how to build a rhythm of giving that is faithful and doable.

Quick Answer: How Often Should You Tithe?

The Bible is clear that a tithe belongs to God, but it never nails down a fixed calendar for giving. That means you are not breaking a rule if you give weekly, biweekly, or monthly. Most people I have worked with keep it simple: they tithe when income comes in. If you are paid every Friday, you can set aside your tithe that same day. If your salary lands once a month, you can give once a month. The principle is this—give first, give faithfully, and let the rhythm fit your life.

What Does the Bible Say About When to Tithe?

People often expect the Bible to hand out a neat schedule, but it does not. What it does give are guiding principles. In the Old Testament, God told His people to bring the firstfruits of their harvest. That meant giving before they used the grain, not after. “A tithe of everything from the land… belongs to the Lord” (Leviticus 27:30). Malachi echoes the same heart: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse” (Malachi 3:10).

In the New Testament, Paul told the church in Corinth, “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income” (1 Corinthians 16:2). He wasn’t laying down a strict law. He was encouraging believers to be deliberate and consistent.

The message is clear. Give first. Give with a willing heart. The exact timing is up to you. That is why the real question is not “how often should you tithe” but “am I making God my first priority when I do?”

Should You Tithe from Every Paycheque or Once a Month?

This is where the rubber meets the road. If you are paid weekly or every two weeks, many people choose to tithe right away because it keeps their priorities straight. They don’t wait until the bills are all paid and hope there is something left. They give first. Others prefer to set aside their tithe and make one monthly gift. That works too, especially if your budget is laid out month by month.

Why tithing from each paycheque can help

• It makes God first in a very practical way.
• It removes the temptation to spend the tithe elsewhere.
• It becomes a steady rhythm that keeps your heart aligned.

Why monthly tithing can work

• It lines up with how most households track their money.
• It makes record-keeping easier if you want to track giving.
• It suits people whose income is less frequent.

The point is not the calendar. The point is faithfulness. Whether you tithe weekly, biweekly, or monthly, you are honouring God if you are giving first and giving with a cheerful heart. That is the heartbeat behind the question of how often should you tithe.

Where Should Your Tithe Go? Local Church vs Ministries

This one sparks plenty of debates. Some people say, “I give my tithe to charities or ministries I follow online.” That is generous, but biblically the tithe is meant for the storehouse, which today points to your local church. Malachi 3:10 makes it plain: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.”

Your local church is the place that feeds you spiritually, provides community, pays pastors, and reaches into the neighbourhood. Without regular giving, churches cannot keep the doors open or serve their communities. That is why the tithe belongs there first. Ministries, charities, and missions are wonderful causes, but those are offerings, not tithes.

Think of it like this

• Tithe → Your church home.
• Offerings → Any other place God stirs you to give.

If you are wrestling with the difference, I’d recommend reading Tithe vs Offering and What Is Tithe for clarity. When you know the difference, giving becomes less confusing and far more joyful.

What If I Can’t Afford to Tithe Every Time I’m Paid?

I have sat across from people like Claire, a stylist trying to stretch nine dollars an hour and a handful of tips. The will to tithe is there, but the maths feels brutal. Let me be clear. God never designed the tithe to crush you. He cares more about your heart than the size of your envelope.

The Bible gives space for those in hardship. “If anyone is too poor to pay the specified amount, they must present the person to the priest, who will set the value according to what they can afford” (Leviticus 27:8). Paul echoes it later: “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Here’s what I tell people in tight seasons

• Build a budget with giving in it, but don’t starve your kids or skip rent.
• Give something, even if it isn’t the full tenth yet.
• Keep the posture of trust and move toward full obedience as income grows.

If you need a hand, I have walked many through How to Tithe from Salary and even specific cases like Do You Tithe on Social Security. The important thing is to stay honest with God and faithful with what you have. That is what matters when you are asking how often should you tithe.

Does Tithing Frequency Affect God’s Blessing?

Some folks get nervous and wonder if God will hold back His blessing if they tithe monthly instead of weekly. Let’s cut through the fear. The Bible ties blessing to trust and obedience, not to a stopwatch.

Paul wrote, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously… God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Malachi 3:10 doesn’t mention dates on the calendar, it speaks about bringing the tithe faithfully and testing God’s promise to provide.

Here is the truth

• God cares about the heart behind the gift, not the timing of the transfer.
• Faithfulness and first place matter more than whether you clicked “weekly” or “monthly.”
• Blessing flows out of trust, not mechanical rules.

So if you are giving with joy and honouring God first, the blessing is not tied to how often should you tithe but to the faith you bring with it.

Practical Systems to Make Tithing Consistent

Good intentions are not enough. Life gets busy, bills show up, and suddenly the tithe slips through the cracks. The best way to stay faithful is to set up simple systems that make giving automatic.

Here are a few that work

• Recurring online giving – set it to run on payday and take the decision off your plate.
• Standing order through your bank – a fixed amount leaves your account each month without you having to think about it.
• Envelope system – if you are paid in cash, pull out the tithe first and keep it aside until Sunday.
• Written budget – build the tithe into your plan just like rent or utilities so it is never an afterthought.

Jesus said, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). That is the heart behind systems. They are not about control, they are about making it easier to put God first.

If you want step-by-step help, check out How to Tithe Correctly and the calculators in Tools like the Net vs Gross Tithe Calculator. These can keep you steady while you work out how often should you tithe.

How to Tithe if You’re Paid Irregularly, Work for Tips, or Freelance

Not everyone has a neat salary that lands on the same day each month. Some live off tips, others invoice clients, and freelancers know the rollercoaster of feast and famine. The question is the same though: how often should you tithe when the pay is unpredictable?

The cleanest way is to set aside your tenth the moment money comes in. If you pocket cash tips, pull 10 percent aside in an envelope before you spend a pound. If you get paid by invoice, tithe when the money clears. Don’t wait until you feel “safe,” because the tithe will likely get swallowed by bills or extras.

A few things I’ve seen help

• Service workers: skim the tithe off your tips daily or weekly so it doesn’t disappear.
• Freelancers: build the tithe into your invoice workflow so it is automatic when payments arrive.
• Seasonal earners: tithe on the big cheques in busy months so you don’t fall behind when it slows.

For business owners or contractors, I recommend reading How to Calculate Tithe for Business Owners for clear examples. It shows how to handle gross income, expenses, and net profit in a way that stays honest before God.

The rhythm might not look like everyone else’s, but the heart is the same. Give first, give faithfully, and trust God with the rest. That is how you answer how often should you tithe when your income is all over the place.

Conclusion: Faithfulness Matters More Than Frequency

So, how often should you tithe? The Bible calls us to return a tenth to God, but it leaves the rhythm open. Some give every week, some every month, others every time income hits their account. The real key is this—give first, give with joy, and keep your heart steady. God is not measuring the calendar; He is looking at trust.

If you are unsure where to start, anchor yourself in the basics. Your tithe belongs in your local church, and offerings can go beyond that. Build a system that works for your income pattern, whether weekly, fortnightly, or monthly. And if your finances are tight, begin with what you can and move forward as God provides.

Remember this truth: God honours faithfulness over frequency. If you put Him first and give with a cheerful heart, you will find His promise in Malachi 3:10 still holds. That is the freedom and peace behind the question of how often should you tithe.