Deuteronomy 14:22 says, Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. Moses told the Israelites that they were to tithe on all the increase that their crops brought forth. We sometimes seem to want to figure out the least that we can tithe, but I believe that God wants us to tithe on everything, and even give above that. We may receive less of a blessing from God because of our unwillingness to give generously to Him. Verse twenty-three adds, And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always. Moses said they were to eat before their God in the place He had chosen and that they were to bring all their tithes to Him there, so that they could learn to fear Him, or hold Him in the highest respect. We as followers of Christ, His people by our faith in Him as our Savior and Lord, need to bring our tithes and offerings to Him wherever He leads us to worship Him today. We are to hold God in awesome respect, but I do not believe we are to fear Him if that implies to be afraid of Him. God will always want what is best for us. Verse twenty-four states, And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: Moses then addressed what they were to do if they were too far away from the place that God designated for them to gather and worship Him and to bring everything to Him there. As Christians today, we are seldom to far away from a place of worship to bring our tithes and offerings to God there. Verse twenty-five adds, Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: Moses said if they were too far away to bring all the literal tithes of their crops and livestock to God at the place He designated as the central place of worship, that they were to sell the crops and livestock and bind the money they received for them to their hand and bring it to a place that God designated. God was still in charge. We generally are already being paid our increase in money, and all we need to do is bring our tithes and offerings to God at the place He designates. Verse twenty-six continues, And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household, This money was to then be used to buy food and drink to celebrate the goodness of God. Verse twenty-seven says, And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee. This was after the Levites received their portion. We must always remember to take care of those who serve God as ministers and any other area of service today with our tithes and offerings first. Then, the rest is to be used in a way that honors God and celebrates His goodness to us. Verse twenty-eight adds, At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates: Moses said that every third year they were to bring all the increase before God and lay it up within the gates of the place of worship that God had designated. Verse twenty-nine continues, And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest. Moses said that they were to do this so that the Levites, the strangers, the fatherless and the widows within the gates would have enough to eat and be satisfied. Then, the LORD would bless them. We today need to do all that we can to provide for those in full-time ministry and for widows and orphans, even if they are strangers to us. Then, God will richly bless us.
No comments:
Post a Comment