7 Dec 2014

Still On Tithes And First FRUITS: 2 Chrn 31:10



On 14th of October, I wrote a two-part series on Biblical giving. The first article which was on Tithes generated a lot of traffic, and as you can see on my homepage, it is one of my most popular posts.

Today, I want to share with you one of my favorite bible verses (I haven't completed the series yet), and guess what? 

It is on tithes. Yes, you heard me right.

2 Chronicles 31: 1-10, especially vs 10. Let me show you from the KJV:

"Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.
2. And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD. He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the LORD. Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.
5. And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly. And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps. In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month. And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel. Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.
10. And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store." (Emphasis mine)


It never ceases to amaze me when pastors teach tithes/biblical giving, and they start and stop on Malachi 3:8-12. Or when they limit it cash, money and its equivalent.



The Concept of Tithing
Tithes, or the concept of tithes is a very lovely and beautiful concept. That is why you see it being introduced even before the Law when Abraham gave one-tenth of the spoils of war to Melchizedek in Genesis 14:17-20. 

[Actually, what Abraham paid was not (called) tithes, but a tradition practiced by kings of those times after they won a war. They sacrificed one-tenth of the spoils of war to the god who (they believed) gave them victory. And since Genesis was written by Moses who already knew Tithes under the law, he called it Tithes.] 


It is primarily a concept of giving back one-tenth of what God has given you by giving to (support) his 'full-time' Minister(s). It is an act of gratitude to, and trust in the one who supplies your victory/provision/wealth. Under the law, like I shared in the other article, there are 4 different types and it includes sharing it with the widows and poor too.

We see from 2 Chrn 31:1-10 that God blessed the people when they gave to his servants, the Levites for the furtherance of God's work. New Living Translation quotes vs 5 as "The people of Israel responded immediately and GENEROUSLY...." Little wonder they were blessed richly. 


2 Chronicles 31:10 is one of my favorite bible verses on money because we see further from this passage why God commanded the tithes (under the law in Num 18:24). It confirms that tithes is food/agricultural produce, and it is meant for all Levites (high priest, priests including the musicians, and their families), because they have no other work, inheritance or investments

And it also confirms the biblical principle that when you give generously and cheerfully to God, you will be blessed

Nothing More. Nothing Less!

How God views Giving
God's emphasis on giving has never been money/cash/gold, etc. (What we find today -an emphasis on cash ahead of all else, is a strange concept, foreign to scriptures.)

What does God emphasize on giving:

  1. The heart of the giver is more important than the gift. The motive counts more to God i.e why you give is more important than what you give, regardless of the size or cost of the gift. Matt. 5:23-24, 23:23, 26:6-11, Acts 5:1-10, 2 Cor 9:7
  2. How you give is more important than what you give or to whom you give. Your attitude isn't left out. Matt 6:1-4, 2 Cor 8:12, 9:7. See this article on Maimonides Ladder Of Charity.
  3. Finally, What is left (or kept) is more important than what you gave. Yes, the amount matters too as it tells how much you trust and honor God. Gen 4:3-7, Mark 12: 41-44, Acts 5: 1-10

Of First Fruits
The tithes and first FRUITS had a definite purpose - there was a reason for the commandment. Prov 3:9 (NLT) says "Honor the lord with your wealth and with the BEST part of everything you produce. (emphasis mine)

Biblical First FRUITS means only ONE thing- WHEN A FARMER HARVESTS, HE SHOULD GIVE GOD THE BEST PART (which is usually the FIRST part). Gen 4:4.
IT DOES NOT MEAN YOU SHOULD BRING YOUR FIRST SALARY/INCREASE/CONTRACT, ETC TO CHURCH OR A MAN OF GOD, or any other thing that is being preached today.

I reiterate that "If your church COMMANDS you to pay one-tenth of your pretax or post-tax salary, cash or other gifts, and then threatens you with Hell or the devorer of Malachi 3:11, then you should change church FAST because that teaching isn't biblical for Christians."

In summary
Whenever you give to God- his work, ministers or to charity, give with the mindset that it is God who has blessed you in the first instance and given you everything you have; made you everything you are. Don't give because a denomination or MOG forces/enforces it.

Shalom.








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