As believers, we are called by God to follow after Jesus in all our actions and attitudes. How we relate to money in included in our following after Him.
As mentioned in my introduction to this series, my family and I have been impacted a number of times in our church attendance by what appears to be the pull of money on church leadership. During our Christian pilgrimage, a number of churches, through thier leadership, have made decisions that directly impacted our status within the body of believers.
Some of these instances provided us reason to dig into the Word, to find correction in our own personal relationship to money, to try to understand the wisdom of a church leader’s decision, and in the end to apply God’s will for our own finances.
Little did we know the tremendously corrosive power the love of money has over our own hearts, and by extrapolation, the church as a whole. This should not surprise the believer for Paul provided a harsh truth on this topic.
1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Alternately, the writer of Hebrews also provided no better command, (and for some believer’s no harder command) than found in Hebrews 13.
Hebrews 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Many of our experiences have included the topic of tithing in the church. Personally, our denominational background considers tithing to be Biblically mandated on the New Testament believer. I understand many denominations consider tithing to be an important commmittment of the believers relationship to the church body.
Let’s take a look at this topic, and consider each passage that contains a reference to tithing.
This post will consider Deuteronomy 14:28
Deuteronomy 14:28 – “At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns.
A short review
Deuteronomy 12:17 introduced a tithe described as one that the offerer would take part in. Not that the offerer would take part in the giving of the tithe by placing the offering on an altar – this never happens for the priest is the only one to do that. The offerer would not even deliver this tithe to the priest to place on the altar, or to put in some storehouse.
No, the offerer would consume this tithe. That still shocks me, for I understood all tithing was for the professional religious class.
Dueteronomy 14:23 added the intent of this tithe. The intent of this particular tithe was that the nation, and in particular the one partaking of the tithe might learn to fear the Lord always.
We now are taught of the third year tithe.
This third year tithe was to be stored up. If I understand this tithe properly, the faithful Israelite was to take the tithe of the third year, and instead of delivering it to the Levite in the place the Lord was to choose, was to keep it local.
Now there are some who interpret this tithe as an additional tithe that was to be collected on the third year, without impacting the tithe that was to be provided to the priest. Coincidentally those who advocate for this seem to be those who gain from this, but it may be a valid interpretation. I will let the reader consider.
I am of the opinion this tithe is not an additional burden on the faithful Israelite, but simply a redirecting of the yearly tithe to the poor of the land, those who had no land and that were within the gates.
A number of items rise to the surface in my thinking.
Direct sacrifice
This tithe did not enter the temple, or pass through the priests hands. Any produce that was offered up as a tithe was provided directly to the poor of the area. This act would provide the faithful Israelite a number of benefits.
First, the faithful Israelite would be in contact with the poorest of the land, with the most vulnerable, and with those who may be different. This should have a humbling effect on the offerer, causing a thankful spirit to rise up in thier hearts.
Secondly, this tithe would provide the potential of creating community with those inhabitants of the land who may not be comfortable to be around. Community is a continuing theme though the tithing commands, and as I study this topic, I am finding this benefit to the faithful Israelite a somewhat unexpected outcome of the tithing experience!
Local sacrifice
As for the tithe to be local, this reminds me of the last words the Lord directed to His people. Note that when the Master provided the future experiences of the disciples, He spoke locally first.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
As you may know, my wife and I were in training to take the gospel to the ends of the earth decades ago, and though we were not able, distant mission fields have always caught my attention. This passage is a corrective for myself, as the heart of God considers the people around me to be worthy of good news also. A bit of a rebuke!
One additional aspect of this tithe rises in my consideration. Moses directs the faithful Israelite to lay up his tithe for the local needs. Did not Paul speak similar language in 1 Corinthians?
1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.
Granted, this passage does not mention tithing, nor the poor, but there is the element of setting aside my goods, and storing these goods up for opportune times. For Paul, it was to be provided when he arrived, in order to minister for the poor in Jerusalem. Local? Not really, but this verse has provided much freedom for my wife and I in our giving. More on this topic later as we continue this series.
Motive
As for the motive behind this command, we have considered possible reasons for this command being the benefits of humility and community. Moses does not disapoint in providing the actual motive for this command.
In performing this command, the faithful Israelite would experience the blessing of the Lord in all the work of their hand. This blessing is brought up in a second passage, not describing a tithe, but in the allowance of the poor to glean the fields, of not completely stripping the field of product.
Both times the phrase “bless you in all the work of your hands” occurs, it is in relation to providing for the less fortunate, for those who cannot pay back.
God is seeking those who trust Him, who will translate His love into action for the poor, for those who can not pay back. This must not surprise us! Is this not His very character, for He has provided all our needs, and much more in our Savior. The abundance of blessing He has provided cannot be calculated. He has provided this massive blessing to the poorest, the most vulnerable and for those who are different. He has provided this massive blessing to us!
Let us be like Him in blessing those like us, the poor, the vulnerable and the stranger.
Thanks for joining and Considering The Bible with me. Your thoughts are always welcome, and I look forward to hearing of the faithfulness of God in your lives.
