Reflection: Tithes

Priestly principles read like a foreign language to us. But we know that before Moses instituted them many of the ideas would have been familiar to the Israelites – like tithing. Ancient cultures sacrificed and gave tithes to their gods and kings.

This tithe, unique to other offerings, was specifically to support the priestly tribe of Levi. Unlike the other tribes, they had no land, no earthly inheritance. They lived on the taxes collected from the people (and in turn they tithed their tithe as an offering to God). This was God’s covenantal provision to support the priestly system of worship.

Obviously, we no longer have that priestly system. Through God’s incalculable gift, gone is the need for priest, for priestly stipends and for sacrifice.

Principles are still useful though, and ours, flowing out of gratitude for God’s grace, are much more expansive than a tithe:

wholehearted/sacrificial love for God: offer yourself as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1); and

magnanimous/sacrificial love for others (2 Corinthians 9:6-15).

Prayer:

“When I survey the wondrous cross, On which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God!

All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.

Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.”

(Hymn by Isaac Watts)