Tithe

"You shall surely tithe all the produce from what you sow, which comes out of the field every year. You shall eat in the presence of the Lord your God, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always." -Deuteronomy 14.22-23

Moses reminds the people that they are to give a tithe back to God. The people are to bring a portion of what the land produces and offer it to God. Grain, grapes, olives, and livestock were to be given back to God, because they are a gift from God. And in presenting a tithe to God they learn to fear God and to depend upon Him. Everything that they have is from God. He is the one who has given them the land, and He is the one who causes it to produce the crops that it produces. Without Him they have nothing.

We are in the same position. Everything we have is because of God. He is the one who allows us to work. He is the one who allows us to earn income. He is the one who goes above and beyond to provide for our needs, and wants. And He asks for a small tithe to be given out of gratitude to Him for all that He has provided.

Men, do you present your tithe to God? Do you offer back to Him some of what He has blessed you with? Do you live in a complete dependence upon God? If you aren't tithing I'm going to say that you aren't. The tithe represents something you could probably use, in some cases desperately, but in giving it to God you say, "I trust you to take care of me. I am grateful for what you have provided, and it is a joy to be able to give some back to You. Please continue to take care of me."

Everything we have is from God, and God could demand that we give the majority back to Him. But He doesn't. He allows us to keep a majority of what we have received, and requests a small amount. Let us not withhold from God. Let us joyfully offer, with gratitude, the tithe that God requests.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

God First

"You shall not delay the offering from your harvest and your vintage. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me. You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother seven days; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me." -Exodus 22.29-30

In the various laws that God gives to His people this one commands them to faith. God says that they are not to delay in presenting the offering of the harvest to Him. The first born son is to be dedicated to God, and the first born of the sheep and oxen are to be offered to Him as well. God's portion is to come first, not last and from the leftovers. God is to be given the best that we have to offer, and we trust in Him that what is left will be enough.

Most of us live in a world where we don't grow our own produce, (though I hope one day in the not too distant future to not be counted with that group) or raise our own meat animals. But we all live in a world where we need some kind of income. Men work, they earn money to provide for their families and save for retirement. But we are to write the first check to God.

Men, when do you pay your tithe? (Do you even give one?) Do you give to God first, trusting that what is left will cover the electric bill and pay for groceries? Or do you take care of your needs first, and if there happens to be something leftover, you might think about giving part of it to God?

God desires for, and commands, us to live lives of faith and trust in Him. When we offer the first portion to God we are saying that we trust Him. We are acknowledging His provision of what we have already earned, and declaring that we know God will provide all that we need if what is left is not enough. Men of God live in faith. They trust Him fully, and don't regret giving to God first.

Let us live lives of trust, knowing God will take care of us. Let us give to Him first, and watch as He honors our faithfulness.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor