May 22 -- "The Tithe is His"

 Today's Reading: Leviticus 27

"The Tithe is His"

This verse is speaking about the practice of tithing, which was a way for the Israelites to give back to God a portion of what He had blessed them with. The word "tithe" means to give a tenth or 10 percent of one's income or resources, as an offering or donation to God. In this case, the Israelites were to give a tenth of their agricultural crops. The tithe was considered holy to the Lord and was to be given to support the work of the priests and Levites who served in the temple.

For the Israelites, tithing was a way to acknowledge God's sovereignty over all things, including their resources and finances. It was also a way to express their dependence upon God and their gratitude for His provision. Keep in mind that the tithe was not considered giving God something that belonged to the people, it was simply giving to God something that was already His. “Every tithe is the Lord’s.”

As Christ-followers, we are not under the same strict requirements for tithing as the Israelites were, but the principle of giving back to God and supporting His work remains important. We are called to give generously and sacrificially, recognizing that all we have comes from God and belongs to Him.

While the New Testament does not specifically command Christians to tithe, it does encourage generosity and giving as a way to honor God and support the work of the church and the ministry of the Gospel. Here are a few examples:

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 - "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

Luke 6:38 - "Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."

God wants us to trust Him with our finances and to be faithful in giving back to Him a portion of what He has blessed us with. As we do this, we express our dependence upon Him and demonstrate our love and devotion to Him.