BROADCASTS.com

\u201cBe sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year\u201d (Deuteronomy 14:22).

It may surprise some of you that I have never preached on this text, nor have I written any devotionals on it. And for good reasons. Since I choose to go through Deuteronomy, I need to break my own tradition. The first half won\u2019t do for Wilderness Wanderings because it is all about clean and unclean food; thankfully, we do not have to follow these codes anymore \u2013 I do like my pork.

The second half of the chapter is introduced with our text. Its implications are worked out in the following verses. Before I explain my avoidance of this text let\u2019s explore tithing in Israel. This is where the whole concept of the 10% tithe comes from. Each Israelite family was to set this aside for several purposes.

First, as Tony Campolo reminded the church years ago, Israel was to go and party (23, 26). Yep! You did hear that right. God instructed Israel to take their tithe (grain, wine, sheep, goats, etc.) to the place where God was worshipped. If they lived far away, they could sell their produce and buy what they liked close to the worship centre (26). There they would party. This celebration had a twofold purpose. They would rejoice in God for the provisions he had given, and they would learn to revere him (23).

Israel was to fear the Lord, but not in a stogy, somber, arms folded or terrified kind of way. Their fear and reverence for God came from paying attention to the care and love which he was pouring out. It was not fear of judgement that was to motivate Israel\u2019s faith, but joy, joy in the Lord.

If you are thinking that 10% is way too much to spend on one party, you are quit right. The Lord had established several Levite cities within the boundaries of Israel. The tribe of Levi did not receive an inheritance along with the rest of the tribes because they worked at the place of worship. They were dependent on God for provision. But God did not intend to airlift supplies into these towns.

Rather, he instructed the Israelites to leave part of their tithes in them (27). God would provide for the Levites through these tithes. Notice that God does not specify how much should be left there. These gifts for the Levites were also a food bank for those in need. Moses specifies the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows. In the ancient economy, these groups were the most vulnerable. Yet, in Israel they would have a place to go; there would be provision for those who fell on difficult times.

As such in Israel, the 10% tithe provided for the worship of God and those who administered that worship, but also to ensure that the needy would be cared for. However, the emphasis is not on the percentage. The emphasis throughout is on the relationship between God and his people. The people are to worship and revere God. They are to rejoice in all the material goods God provides and to liberally share them with those in need. As the Lord blesses them, they are to bless others. The chapter ends, \u201cso that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands\u201d (29).

It is this emphasis on joyfully and liberally passing on God\u2019s blessings that makes it way into the New Testament. The most explicit treatment of it is in 2 Corinthians 8-9, which includes this summary, \u201cAnd God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work\u201d (9:8). When I have needed to preach on giving, I have avoided the language of tithing and used this verse as my touch stone. Too much Christian preaching on tithing smells like law: \u201cYou must give 10%\u201d. I think it more Biblical to begin and end with, \u201cGod loves a cheerful giver\u201d (9:7).

So, how will you share the things God has blessed you with?