Faith vs. Finances Can you tithe and still get out of debt?

BY TIM GRANT PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE

For people struggling with debt, every dollar counts.

But what happens when 10% of your income is already committed — not to a bill, but to God?

Shadyside-based financial coach Shay Port works with clients who are deeply committed to tithing, even as they juggle credit card balances, car notes and overdue bills.

Mathematically, redirecting that money to debt payments would speed up their debt payoff. But spiritually, they fear stopping tithes could bring hardship. Tithing, they believe, is a financial act of obedience that God commanded from the Israelites in the Old Testament. The law of tithing required Israelites to give a tenth of their livestock and other possessions to support the Levites and the temple.

In the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s latest “In Conversation” feature, Ms. Port opens up about navigating the delicate line between honoring a client’s beliefs and guiding them to financial freedom.

PG: Many of your clients are deeply committed to tithing, even when they’re struggling with debt. How do you approach the conversation without challenging their faith?

Ms. Port: I get into this discussion far more often than you can possibly imagine. It is very, very common. It’s the classic adage that you can’t help other people until you help yourself. If you’re going to make a commitment to the church, then it works best if you can also make a commitment to yourself in an equal amount. You don’t want to become the charity you are giving money to.

People are sometimes tithing away their ability to get by. I have clients who are tithing while, at the same time, going to the Salvation Army to ask for money to pay their water bill. It’s sometimes tied to a belief that they won’t be blessed and things won’t go well if they don’t keep tithing.

PG: Mathematically, putting tithe money toward debt would get them out of financial trouble faster. How do you help clients weigh the financial impact against their spiritual beliefs?

Ms. Port: I have a client who has significant debt and continues to tithe. Her debts have 25% interest. So, that tithing of $300 a month is actually costing $75 more to pay.

People don’t always understand the full cost of not paying off debt. They think it’s only $300. But it’s more. You have to multiply it by the debt interest rate that you are not paying off and that’s what it’s really costing you.

Religion is a powerful motivator for some people, and in some cases their religious beliefs have held them back from getting out of debt quicker. I think a solution would be to get help with being able to do both — honor your beliefs and also get out of debt.

PG: How do you handle situations where a client’s debt is causing significant stress in their life, yet they refuse to adjust their tithing?

Ms. Port: I had a client who had six children and they didn’t have enough money to pay their bills and the father was still tithing a large amount of money to the church every month. And I explained that he was tithing the exact amount he needed to pay his bills.

He said, “That’s too bad, because that money has to go to the church. It just has to. There’s no option.” So, I said “Are you willing to let your own family be hungry rather than not tithe to the church?” He said “I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do.” It was non-negotiable. It was my advice to reduce other bills or figure out how to increase income because a budget that doesn’t work, even to accommodate tithing, still doesn’t work.

PG: What strategies do you use to help clients stay true to their faith while still making smart financial choices?

Ms. Port: If you are really struggling to tithe and also afford your bills, there are some deductions to your income that count towards reducing your mandatory 10% tithe. For instance, you may not need to tithe on pension income because you tithed already when you earned it.

There are some other scenarios that you may want to ask your pastor or rabbi about that might help you reduce your tithing commitment while you’re getting into a better place with your finances.

PG: What if the debt is large and the income too small to actually afford tithing?

Ms. Port: If this is the case, then it may make sense to stop tithing or at least reduce it temporarily.

This is a moment that most likely calls for a complete restructuring of how you are managing your personal finances. Consider that you can best help others when you yourself are not struggling.

But ultimately, tithing may not be the root of their problem. Tithing isn’t what got them into a bad situation. The problem, in many cases, is overspending in general. Or not knowing how to manage their personal finances.