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A business tithe on sales?

Not a requirement, but what an opportunity!

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Every sale has a story and an opportunity behind it.

• Someone trusted you and chose your product or service. • And as believers, we know something deeper still is happening, that every sale is God’s providence, His care being displayed to us.

So how should a believer respond to God’s providence? The answer is simple: gratitude – biblical gratitude. And one way to express that gratitude is through a business tithe. Now Scripture does not say, “businesses must tithe.” Even in the Old Testament the tithe requirement was on individuals, not business entities. The tithe command is not directly repeated in the New Testament, so it might well be part of the ceremonial law that is no longer binding. Yet the absence of a tithe requirement does not mean the absence of direction. We are still to give, and joyously! The Bible consistently shifts the focus from obligation to intention, reminding believers that giving is not meant to be done “reluctantly or under compulsion” but as a deliberate act of faith (2 Cor. 9:7). Stewards, not owners What does that look like in practice? It starts with moving from gratitude, being thankful for the sale, to recognizing the opportunity it presents and converting it into stewardship. The dominant biblical framework for money is stewardship. Like the servants given money to invest in the Parable of the Talents (Matt. 25:14-30), a business owner is entrusted with capital, people, and opportunity, none of which ultimately belong to them. Giving from business increase, therefore, is not about meeting a quota but acknowledging God’s ownership over what has been entrusted. Scripture also teaches us to give of our first fruits to honor God as our first priority: “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your produce” (Prov. 3:9). For business owners, this must be expressed wisely and often in a calculated, budgeted way. Sometimes planning is thought to be too deliberate, and consequently not joyous enough – that maybe there is a lack of faith to not give as you feel led in the moment. But planning generosity is not a lack of faith; it is intentional worship that balances faithfulness with responsibility to employees, customers, and the long-term health of the business. Tithing on the sale So what does it look like to convert our gratitude into stewardship? I will offer up some details on one approach I like very much. It involves creating a business model with tithing built right into it at the very beginning. More specifically, it involves tithing the sale as it comes in, rather than waiting to year’s end to see what profit is left over. I think this better reflects a heart posture of faith, gratitude, and honor. The full sale represents the true increase God provides, while profit is simply what remains after human calculations and expenses. By giving first from the sale as it comes in, we acknowledge that everything – costs, opportunities, and provision – comes from Him. Tithing on the sale is an act of trust that declares God, and not our profit margins, is our Source. It’s a way of putting God first, not with what’s left. In essence, what this approach says is, “Lord, this business belongs to You.” Not at the end of the year, not when the numbers feel safe, but from day one, from the moment the business begins until it is sold or transferred to the next generation. Working it out – understanding net margin To show how this might work out practically, let’s start with considering the concept of “net margin.” Net margin is what a business keeps after all expenses, such as payroll, supplies, and services. It’s calculated with this formula: "Net Margin (%)"="Net Profit" /"Revenue" ×100 For example, if a company earns $100,000 in sales and, after expenses, has $10,000 left, its net margin is 10%. This means the business keeps 10 cents of every dollar earned. You can figure out your net margin for the last year, or, if you’re accounting is very tight, you can figure out your net margin for the last quarter. Then, instead of tithing from profit at year’s end, you give 10% of the net margin – essentially a percentage of total sales – throughout the year. For instance, if your business has a net margin of 20%, you would give 2% of sales; if your net margin is 15%, you give 1.5%. The key is that giving isn’t from profit or leftovers; it’s from the sales God provides in real time. Again, it’s about honoring the Lord with our first fruits. Giving of our leftovers doesn’t require faith, but giving from our first fruits does. And when we give first, it will reshape everything we do and think: how we spend, how we grow, and how we lead. The question shifts from, “What can we afford to give?” to “What has God already entrusted to us?” How this works in practice Let’s make it practical. Imagine if, last year, your sales were $1.2 million, and your business operated at a 10% net margin. Then, if you were committed to giving 1% of sales, that equals $12,000 for the year. Breaking it down monthly, with sales averaging $100,000 per month, 1% is $1,000 per month. Then each month, you’d distribute $500 to the kingdom and save $500 for future needs. Why save half? God brings needs throughout the year. Saving allows us to respond immediately when a family is in crisis, support a ministry mid-year, or meet any need He places in front of us. At year-end, the remaining balance is distributed in full. This approach removes stress, eliminates debate, and keeps guilt out of the process. Tithing this way doesn’t limit growth, it refines it. Generosity keeps us grateful, and gratitude keeps us disciplined. Sometimes business owners get caught up trying to forecast God’s provision, as if we must predict exactly what He will provide or when. The reason we save half each month isn’t about forecasting God – it’s about being faithful and wise stewards of what He has already entrusted to us, ready to respond when needs arise. The heart of the matter The heart of this isn’t about rules or earning God’s favor, or working this out the exact same way my company has to plan its giving – it’s about recognition. Who provides your work? Who owns your business? And ultimately, who are you really working for? When every sale is seen as a gift from God, we naturally don’t want to waste it. We steward it, honor Him with it, and He multiplies it. When provision is treated casually and we give only from leftovers, our spending can follow the same pattern: extra lunches, convenience purchases, upgrading vehicles too soon, or not seeking efficiency. Committing to a business tithe recenters our hearts, reminding us that everything comes from God and should be managed with gratitude and intentionality. Personally, I believe that a 1% tithe on sales naturally encourages efficiency, which can grow a net 10% margin to 11% or 12% over time. Jesus rarely spoke in percentages but frequently addressed trust. Giving is meant to loosen money’s grip as a source of security and control. While no verse says, “Business owners must tithe,” Scripture consistently calls believers to honor God through stewardship, generosity, justice, and trust. When giving flows from these principles, it fulfills the heart of biblical teaching, even without a mandated number. Tithing that makes things possible Let me conclude with two pictures for your mind’s eye. The first is a man, let’s call him Bob. Bob comes to your shop every other day to vacuum up the sawdust. He lives in a supported residential home for adults with limitations. From a purely business perspective, Bob isn’t your most efficient choice; an assistant would get it done quicker and cheaper. But Bob doesn’t come just to vacuum; he comes to work, to contribute. God uses Bob to remind us that people are people, that He made them all, and He provides for them too. The second picture is a widowed woman in your community whose back fence had been knocked over in a windstorm. She couldn’t afford repairs. Because your generosity was pre-decided through the 1% tithe on your sales, you didn’t hesitate. You showed up, served her, and took care of her, a tithe of service. You may never know all the prayers she had been lifting, but God always provides. When planned, these acts of generosity can be part of your 1% of sales, Spirit-led, and used to meet needs where God places them. Neither of these moments will show up on financial statements, but both exist because God entrusted us to honor Him with our first fruits, not leftovers. Final encouragement When we tie giving to sales, generosity becomes automatic. Every sale becomes an opportunity to steward God’s provision, giving every dollar purpose and making every business decision an act of worship. Churches and charities benefit from steady month-to-month funding, and there’s no stress at year-end. Cash flow remains consistent, and we can respond immediately when needs arise – whether it’s someone like Bob or a widow in your community. Stewardship brings joy, as we see God’s kingdom at work through what He provides. When we give first and consistently, God multiplies the impact far beyond what we can measure. That is the power of a business tithe: thankfulness in action. The challenge is clear – push your company to grow from 1% to 2%, 3%, or even 4%, and watch how God multiplies faithful generosity.

“‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘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.’ ” – Mal. 3:10