Reading: Deuteronomy 14-16
Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that
the field bringeth forth year by year. 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(Deut. 14:22-23).
The subject of tithes can be a touchy one in today’s society.
As a general rule, we look upon the money we make as
a personal, private possession. Consequently, the concept of
a mandatory tithe is an uncomfortable subject among many
Christians. Many reject it outright. Others view it as a duty, a
tax levied by God. Just as we do with our government tax forms
each spring, we double- and triple-check for every conceivable
deduction that could possibly lower their bill to God. Yet God
never intended the act of tithing to be about the money, and
we are doing ourselves a grave disservice by reducing it to that
level. To God, tithing was done in recognition and celebration
of His blessings, and the tithes themselves were used to bring
His people together in love and fellowship, thus furthering His
kingdom on earth. 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. The tithes of the produce
from the ground and the herds were brought in recognition
of God as the source of all life’s mercies and blessings. God
claimed the tithes not because He needed the possessions but
as an essential part of worship and praise. When tithing, His
people gained far more than they lost. They brought their 10%
and gathered together with others who were similarly honoring
the Lord, and in God’s name, they created a feast from
the offerings of all. A mere 10% became a bountiful blessing
when added to everyone else’s. Honour the Lord with thy
substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine (Prov. 3:9-10). Together with God, we can do wonderful things. Christ rules
in love as Lord of His people, and He appeals to all willing
hearts to express His love on all levels—spiritually, physically,
and financially. For where your treasure is, there will your
heart be also (Luke 12:34). The self-centered, self-pleasing
person who lives only to get, to have, to hold, and to keep
will discover too late that life has become less satisfying with
the passing of every year. He will come to the end of his life
miserly and obsessed with his accumulated wealth, convinced
that everyone, from the government to Christian charities, is
trying to take it from him. In contrast, those who freely and
happily offer their tithes and gifts by joining with others and
combining their time, talents, and resources to further the
kingdom of God will lead rich and satisfying lives, regardless
of material possessions. Over the coming year, let us resolve to remember God’s
place in our lives. God stated: I am Alpha and Omega, the
beginning and the end, the first and the last (Rev. 22:13).
Everything we have already belongs to Him (I Cor. 10:26). With
joyful hearts, let us choose to come together and put our tithes
to work for the glory of God! My little children, let us not love in word, neither in
tongue; but in deed and in truth(I John 3:18). Thought For Today:A generous soul will never find themselves
tethered to the world. Christ Revealed:Through the year of release, which typifies Christ’s forgiveness
of our sins (Deut. 15:1). This should cause us to realize how important it is to forgive
others, even as He has forgiven us (Matthew 6:14-15). Be ye kind one to
another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake
hath forgiven you (Eph. 4:32). Word Studies:14:1 cut = disfigure; make any baldness = shave; 14:2 holy . . .
peculiar people = treasured possession, dedicated; 14:7 cloven = split; 14:8 swine
= pig; 14:23 fear = give reverential, heartfelt submission to; 14:25 turn = exchange;
14:26 bestow = spend for whatever you desire. Pray For Country:Switzerland (8,061,516) Central Europe • Major Languages: German,
French, Italian • Religious Freedom • 38.2% Roman Catholic; 26.9% Protestant;
4.9% Muslim; 5.7% Other Christian; 1.6% Other; 21.4% None; 1.3% Unspecified
• Prayer Suggestion: Pray with great faith and the Lord will answer (Matt. 21:22). Optional ReadingLuke 21