A Cheerful Giver
Exodus 30:16: "You shall take the atonement money from the people of Israel and shall give it for the service of the tent of meeting, that it may bring the people of Israel to remembrance before the Lord, so as to make atonement for your lives."
As priests, Aaron and his sons were called to be consecrated before the Lord and to serve the Lord with the entirety of their being. Their work, though unique, was also a demonstration of how the people of Israel were to live before the Lord. All work was to be done as unto the Lord. In Exodus chapter 23, the Lord called his people to celebrate three Feast Days. These were holy days, set apart from every other day of the year, in which the Israelites were to bring their first fruits before the Lord. It was an acknowledgement that the Lord was the provider of all the gifts in their lives: first, the gift of their very lives; second, their salvation from the nation of Egypt and their slavery there; and third, for their daily provision.
As his holy and beloved people, the Lord longed that his people would worship him and acknowledge his perfect care for them. That worship and acknowledgement was demonstrated in offering the Lord their best. In this passage, the Lord was calling his people to a regular contribution to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting. Everyone had a responsibility for the building of the tabernacle, the upkeep of this tabernacle, and the care of the priests who worked on their behalf within the tabernacle. In the tabernacle, the Lord dwells with his people. The responsibility of the people is to care for that dwelling place. Daily, the priests made sacrifices on their behalf. Annually, the high priest represented them before the Lord on the Day of Atonement. It is through the work of the priests, through the tabernacle, that the sins of the Israelites were covered and that they could enter the presence of the Lord.
This offering is much like our tithe today. While we don't have a specified amount to give, as did these people in the wilderness or even those contributing ten percent to the temple, we do have the reminder that all that we are and all that we have comes from the Lord. Our tithe, our offering to God, is an acknowledgement that he is the provider.
Paul writes to the Corinthian church about the spirit in which they should give: "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. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:6-8). If God gives all things to us, why would we hold back what rightfully belongs to him? The Lord has entrusted all our gifts to us, and his desire is that we would give back to him, to his church, and to the work of his people. We give because he first gave to us!
Reflection:
What is your attitude towards tithing? Is it something you do reluctantly or something you bypass all together? Do you see that all your life, all that you have is a gift from God? In acknowledging that, can you ask the Lord to help you to open your hands and your bank account to reflect your gratitude for all that he has done for you and for how he continually provides for you?
As priests, Aaron and his sons were called to be consecrated before the Lord and to serve the Lord with the entirety of their being. Their work, though unique, was also a demonstration of how the people of Israel were to live before the Lord. All work was to be done as unto the Lord. In Exodus chapter 23, the Lord called his people to celebrate three Feast Days. These were holy days, set apart from every other day of the year, in which the Israelites were to bring their first fruits before the Lord. It was an acknowledgement that the Lord was the provider of all the gifts in their lives: first, the gift of their very lives; second, their salvation from the nation of Egypt and their slavery there; and third, for their daily provision.
As his holy and beloved people, the Lord longed that his people would worship him and acknowledge his perfect care for them. That worship and acknowledgement was demonstrated in offering the Lord their best. In this passage, the Lord was calling his people to a regular contribution to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting. Everyone had a responsibility for the building of the tabernacle, the upkeep of this tabernacle, and the care of the priests who worked on their behalf within the tabernacle. In the tabernacle, the Lord dwells with his people. The responsibility of the people is to care for that dwelling place. Daily, the priests made sacrifices on their behalf. Annually, the high priest represented them before the Lord on the Day of Atonement. It is through the work of the priests, through the tabernacle, that the sins of the Israelites were covered and that they could enter the presence of the Lord.
This offering is much like our tithe today. While we don't have a specified amount to give, as did these people in the wilderness or even those contributing ten percent to the temple, we do have the reminder that all that we are and all that we have comes from the Lord. Our tithe, our offering to God, is an acknowledgement that he is the provider.
Paul writes to the Corinthian church about the spirit in which they should give: "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. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:6-8). If God gives all things to us, why would we hold back what rightfully belongs to him? The Lord has entrusted all our gifts to us, and his desire is that we would give back to him, to his church, and to the work of his people. We give because he first gave to us!
Reflection:
What is your attitude towards tithing? Is it something you do reluctantly or something you bypass all together? Do you see that all your life, all that you have is a gift from God? In acknowledging that, can you ask the Lord to help you to open your hands and your bank account to reflect your gratitude for all that he has done for you and for how he continually provides for you?
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