2 Corinthians 7-10, Deuteronomy 15: 4-10

Mike Davies

Most days I hear something about financial troubles, job losses, falling incomes and so on. We have become so used to it we can harden out hearts to the devastation that can come through a change in a financial circumstance, loss of homes, increasing debt, loss of sleep, marital stress, sickness, and so on.

Over the years I have heard a lot of financial teaching most of it good and Bible based but some has been legalistic and has placed an unrealistic burden on many. Some of the teaching has raised expectations of a good financial return - this should not be the motive for our giving as this can be an emotional pull and for the wrong heart reasons. Although I must state that as the church does operate on a principle of giving and receiving we need to remember in the process of dealing with money that we are not to make an idol of it.

Paul writes to the Church in Corinth: "I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others." (2 Corinthians 8:8) and then he goes on to say, "And in this I give you advice." (2 Corinthians 8:10). Paul is talking about the grace of giving and tells us it is not a commandment but advice that he gives.

God gives us the ability to produce wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18) and if this is the case then you can be sure he gives us the pattern for how it is to be spent. The Bible reveals that God is our provider (Jehovah Jireh) and we need to view our finances through Him. Deuteronomy 15: 4-10 provides some Biblical principles for our finances.

Now when God took His people from slavery in Egypt and into the wilderness he had an economic plan, which would eventually lead them to the land of milk and honey. Have you ever thought about it? They were in slavery they had no idea how to handle large amounts of money, how to run nations, how to set up schools, how to run households but God had a plan which would make them prosperous which would be the envy of others for the years to come.

Thirteen tribes entered the Promised Land...(Ephraim & Manasseh sons of Joseph), twelve were then given land. The tribe of Levi was given no land (Numbers 1:49-50). Everyone apart from the Levites was given an equal opportunity to create wealth. If you fell on hard times it was not the end of the road. Destitute people needed to be cared for, everyone else should work (2 Thessalonians 3:9-10).

God wanted to provide for everyone as they crossed the Jordan (remembering that this plan applies to us also).

Everyone who is part of Israel, except the Levites, works the land to provide for themselves and their families. The Levites provision and the provision for building the temple are provided for by the tithes and offerings. There was a special tithe for the widows, orphans, strangers and aliens (the poor, especially destitute).

1 Corinthians 9:14 states, "...the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel."

When the harvest started coming in, a First Fruits offering was brought to the priest (Deuteronomy 18:4 & Exodus 22:29). Rabbis worked out that this represented approximately 2.5% of the final crop. 2 Chronicles 31:4-5 and Nehemiah 12:44 provide further background information. If First Fruits were eaten the rest of the crop was cursed. The First Fruits offering is also called the Heave Offering or Terumah.

First it had to be lifted high to the Lord then according to the instructions it had to be placed in the hands of the man in spiritual authority over your life. When the full harvest was in: (a First Fruit offering has already been made). The tithes were then brought in. (Three of them).

• First Tithe: Taken to the temple as the provision for all of those working fulltime there. (Priests, Gatekeepers, all the different orders of Levites).

• Second tithe: Stored up for themselves to be consumed by the worshipper in his pilgrimages to Jerusalem three times a year. This tithe provided funds for travel, sacrifices and lost wages.

• Third tithe: (also called the poor tithe) Replaced the second tithe in the third and sixth year of a seven year cycle in which the land was allowed to lie fallow.