Should I Tithe on a Work Bonus?

In the famous scene from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Clark Griswold puts a down payment on a swimming pool based on expected bonus—only his employer’s gift turns out to be a “Jelly of the Month” club.

I’m sure we can all relate: You’re expecting an upcoming financial windfall to fix everything—only things don’t always turn out how you planned.

If you are expecting a work bonus, what can you do with it? You might say, “I know exactly what to do with it! Spend it!” In fact, it’s all too easy to spend a bonus in advance before it even hits your account.

But instead of planning your next vacation, shopping spree, or home renovation, I encourage you to step back and ask, “What’s God’s will for this? What would the Lord have me do with this?”

Today, this blog will answer the question, “Should you tithe on a work bonus?” and cover some ways to be intentional with it. I don’t want to disappoint, but kidnapping your boss is not part of the plan!

Should You Tithe on a Work Bonus?

The Bible is clear you should tithe on your paycheck, but what about a bonus?

When it comes to miscellaneous income like a bonus, my policy surprises some people. I say: Leave it up to the IRS! If the IRS is taxing it, then you should give on it, too. For many, a bonus is a component of your total income for the year, so it will certainly appear on your tax return. The IRS is going to tax it, so you should be eager to give part of it to the Lord who provides your daily bread.

But maybe you aren’t so eager to tithe on it. This reminds me of something David said in the Psalms: “Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them” (Psalm 62:10). If you aren’t careful, you’ll think this Psalm doesn’t apply to you. Why is that? Because you haven’t stolen or intend to steal from anyone. But it’s all too easy to steal from God. The book of Malachi actually says that not tithing is robbing God (Malachi 3:8). If you think the bonus is free money so you shouldn’t tithe on it, check out my other blogs and resources to see how meaningful it can be to obey God in this way.

When the deposit hits your account, before your mind turns into a cash register, set aside your first and best for the Lord. Tithe on the gross amount of the bonus. Thank God that he’s given it to you, and honor him by giving him his share.

What About the Remaining 90%?

After you tithe on it, what happens to the rest? A bonus is a great windfall that you can use to glorify God in your financs situation in the following ways:

• Pay Off High Interest Debt: If you find yourself up to your eyeballs in debt, there’s no question where your bonus needs to go. The Bible has many warnings about spending money that you don’t have. One of the most common ones is Proverbs 22:7: “the borrower is the slave of the lender.” Getting a loan or using a credit card is not a sin—but it is wrong to owe more than you’re able to pay back. Are you a slave to the credit card company? You might be if you’re facing exorbitant interest rates that cause you to pay the amount you borrowed several times over. This is especially true if you’re just making minimum payments. When you get your bonus, make it top priority to pay off debt and avoid getting into more. The latest iPhone—or whatever your Achilles’ heel is—can wait. Don’t let instant gratification get the best of you, and focus on paying down your credit card or loan if you’re financially enslaved to it.
  
  
• Save the Bonus: Another great thing you can do with your bonus is save it. This probably sounds boring, but let me explain. Some people I know use their work bonuses and tax refunds like a line of credit. They live paycheck to paycheck and don’t have an emergency fund. So when unexpected expenses come up through the year, they go into credit card debt to take care of it. And then when their bonus or tax refund check comes in, they pay down on the debt or try to pay it off as best they can. Then once the slate’s cleared, they’re back at it, swiping that credit card again for the next emergency. And the cycle continues. Along the way, they’re accruing interest which increases the amount they owe and makes it harder to climb out of the debt cycle. Instead of perpetuating this pattern, what would it look like for you to put that bonus to the side and build an emergency fund? This way, you can be prepared for the unexpected. Don’t let it take you by surprise. Just make sure your emergency fund is in a separate bank account or financial institution from your normal spending account—or it will be all too easy to spend it on non-emergencies.
  
  
• Give It Away: Another thing you can do with your bonus is be generous over and above your tithe. Some of us don’t even know what sacrificial giving is like. Why is this? Because we can’t recognize our own greed when it’s staring us in the face. We make small promises that it’s just one more bonus, one more promotion, and one more move up in the company, and then I’ll give. Just one more raise, and then I’ll have enough to help others. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: If you’re not giving now, you won’t then. A change of circumstances is not going to change your heart. We just talked about making an investment in your future by making an emergency fund. Don’t neglect to make an eternal investment as well. See yourself as a steward of this new bonus! Let it pass through you for God’s glory. Give it to someone in need or donate it to a humanitarian organization or a Christian ministry. Let God multiply it, and see what he can do through your generosity.

• Enjoy It: The final thing you can do with your bonus may surprise you, but it’s biblical, I promise! You can enjoy it. It’s a gift of God’s grace to you. Maybe you’ve tithed on it and you’ve given some of it and your emergency fund is set. It’s time to enjoy the good gift God has given you! Decide how you’d like to spend the remainder in a way that blesses you and your family. 1 Timothy 6.17 says that “God . . . richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” Thank him for this gift of common grace.

Summary

Instead of spending your bonus before it hits your account, think about ways you can be intentional with it. Psalm 62:10 says: “if riches increase, set not your heart on them.” One final thought we can take from this is don’t put your trust in your work bonus. It’s easy to struggle financially and then say, “But I’m getting that bonus soon, so all my needs will be met.” If you think this way, you’re trusting in your bonus to provide instead of the Lord. Instead, go to Jesus with your financial struggles. Ask him for what you need. He cares about your practical, physical needs. Trust him to provide. The bonus is a form of his provision, certainly, but make sure your trust is in him first and foremost. Then thank him for the bonus when you do receive it. Like Clark Griswold learned the hard way, it’s never guaranteed.