Everything is Gods

Deuteronomy 26

As the last few chapters have been focused around the different commandments from God, this chapter puts a different spin at looking at coveting. It is about tithing which would be the opposite of coveting.

When you get established (1-11)

This law was given to Israel so they know when they enter into the land that God is giving them and become established then they will need to give a tithe. They will take some of the first fruits of the crops and put them in a basket and bring them to the place of worship. They were commanded to tithe annually but this was a special tithe because it was to show everyone that  they were thankful for what God has done and the land that they were in. Everything they have was given to them by God. The land that they possess, the crops that the land produces, and the family that they have, everything was given by God. 

The farmer then would bring his tithe and then give a statement that would express that God was the provider for them. They would go through the history of Israel and express how God took care of their ancestors to them now and will continue to take care of them.

3rd Year Tithe (12-15)

This was another special tithe that Israel would need to participate in. Every three years they would take their tithe and give it to the Levites, the sojourner, the widows, and the fatherless. The farmers were to take care of those who could not take care of themselves. In Deuteronomy  14:27-28 explains some of the 3rd year tithe.

Again the farmer would make a statement of confession of their faithful observance to the commands of God. Within that statement they would be honest and share that the crops were not defiled and they were not offered to the dead (a practice of the surrounding nations as cult worship).The Relationship (16-19)In this section we see the relationship being described as verses 16-17 are Israel’s declaration of their responsibility to God and verses 18-19 is God’s responsibility of his covenant with his people. Israel needed to obey God’s voice and obey his commands. There is a blessing for Israel with their obedience, God is there for them and he calls them his people and his own.

For us as believers we need to know that everything we have is from God. He is the one that has provided all the money, food, toys, the ability to go to school and learn. He has even allowed us to receive the gifts that we do not deserve. God takes care of all our needs and gives us even more on a continual basis. We need to have the same act of appreciation with the things that God has given. I remember talking to an adult one time about giving and their response was that they will give what they feel they want to give since they have worked hard for their money. That is true that they have worked hard for the money they have, but God is the one that has allowed them to work hard, God is the one that has given them the job and opportunity to work. We should be most grateful and full of appreciation for what God has given us. I challenge you to have a giving heart and take what Matthew 25:35-40 says.