The Tithe

Tithing, like gleaning, was a harvest law established when the people of God entered the promised land.

Set apart a tithe of all the yield of your seed that is brought in yearly from the field. Deuteronomy 14:22

The annual tithe, interestingly, was to be consumed by the giver, in the presence of the Lord, at the place that God chose, “so that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always.” v.23.

Every third year you shall bring out the full tithe of your produce for that year, and store it within your towns; the Levites, because they have no allotment (of land) or inheritance with you, as well as the resident aliens, the orphans and the widows in your towns, may come and eat their fill so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work that you undertake. Deuteronomy 14:28-29

This is the tithe that most churchgoers know. Ten percent of our earnings go to the church for support of the staff and facility, and for charitable gifts to the community and the world.

The Levites, like the foreigners, widows, and orphans, did not have land allotted to them by Joshua. Therefore, they had no means of providing food for themselves. The Levites, instead, were to dedicate themselves to the service of God, the care of the temple, and the offering of sacrifices.

To the Levites, I (God) have given every tithe in Israel for a possession in return for the service that they perform, the service in the tent of meeting. Number 18:21

How the Levites handled this influx of grain and wine, who got how much and why, is not known, but Moses instructs them to “set apart an offering from it to the Lord, a tithe of the tithe. v.26

God, through Moses, set up tithing as an obligation, not as a charitable act. More like the taxes which support our first responders, teachers and civil servants. Unlike countries with state religions, our taxes do not support our religious institutions, but we, as the people of God, are still called to support them.

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. Malachi 3:10

We live in a time of financial disclosure, salary negotiations, and 501(c)s. Churches cannot rely on income anymore than businesses can. We review how non profits and business use the money they receive; we demand tax returns from our candidates for office. Do we monitor how we spend our own resources as closely as we monitor how others spend theirs? Are we bringing the full tithe into the warehouse? Are we supporting those who are maintaining our temples and offering their service to God? Are we presenting our tithe to the Lord, at the place of His choosing, so that we remember to fear the Lord?

I also found that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them; so the Levites and the singers who had conducted the service, had gone back to their fields. So I remonstrated with the officials and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” Nehemiah 12:10

It was not the Levites and singers that Nehemiah considered forsaken; it was God and His house.

I am often tempted to consider my wants and needs before I consider the needs of God’s house. God reminds us to not forget the source of our wealth, the source of our resources, but to remember and honor Him with a small portion, a tithe, of all we have received.

Take care that you do not forget the Lord your God. When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them, … and all you have is multiplied, then do not exalt yourself … Remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth. Deuteronomy 8:12,18

Who am I honoring with my gifts, my wealth, my treasure?

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

Betsy