Deuteronomy 14:22-23 - Be sure to set aside a tenth of
all that your fields produce each year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new
wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the
presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a
dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your
God always.
Moses spends this chapter discussing the matter of clean and
unclean foods…and finishes up with the importance of tithing. We could discuss
the food issue for an eternity… even the most avid Bible scholars disagree on
this point. But everyone agrees on the
importance of tithing.
Moses reminds us the measure should be at least 10%....but
Jesus gave us a deeper understanding of this practice in Luke 21. He watched
some rich people give what was probably a very mathematic 10% calculation of
their tithe…and a poor widow that gave everything she had as a tithe. He was
certainly more touched by that widow.
I am guilty …as usual…of worrying too much about the calculation
of my gift…or of paying bills and buying what I want and giving to God out of the
leftovers. The Bible is clear…it says “first
fruits.” Exodus 23:19 even says… “The best
of the firstfruits of your ground you shall bring into the
house of the Lord your God.”
I needed the reminder that everything thing God has placed
in my hands is really his. I need to
rethink this tithe thing…and make it more of a priority in my heart. I will add that it is very comforting to know that God loves my meager tithe…even less since
retirement….even more than some of the biggest tithes that go in those offering
envelopes. I just need to be double sure that my heart is right when I place
that amount in the offering plate.
Father…thank you for the reminder that tithing is an important
measure of my love for you. Forgive me
for the times when I have skipped the opportunity to give and support your
church. Help me to renew my passion to
allow you to decide how the resources you place in my hands are used. Amen.
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