Leviticus 19:23–25, You shall count their fruit. We are to honor YHVH and give him his due in all areas of life including our fruit trees. This principle of reaping and sowing and giving YHVH a portion of that which is his anyway is a universally applicable principle in the Scriptures. This principle applies NOT only to agricultural increase, but to every area of our lives in which we prosper, for the earth is YHVH’s and the fullness thereof (Ps 24:1), and everything belongs to him anyway. YHVH is simply lending everything to us (including our very lives) that which belongs to him, and we honor this fact by giving back to him a tenth of our increase.
There are some believers who say that giving YHVH the first fruits of our increase applies only to those involved in agricultural enterprises. If this were the case, then how do we account for Abraham’s tithing to Melchizedek from the spoils of war (Gen 14:20)? Furthermore, Solomon taught that we are to honor YHVH with the first fruits of all our labors (Prov 3:9). Moreover, Malachi taught that to not tithe is to rob YHVH and to invite the destroyer to ravage our finances (Mal 3:8–11). Yeshua taught the blessedness of giving (Luke 6:38), and Paul taught that we reap what we sow, and that if we sow nothing we will reap nothing (Gal 6:7–10). This universal principle doesn’t apply just to finances, but to all areas of life.
Do you have an attitude of honoring YHVH whenever possible by your giving of not only your treasure, but your time and talent as well? Giving is a lifestyle practice motivated by a heart attitude of love and gratitude, and a desire to please and honor your heavenly Father.
There are two kinds of people: givers and getters. Which one are you? Yeshua said that it’s more blessed to give than to get (Acts 20:35).
I struggle with this every month as we are living on social security and sometimes I (erroneously) think I can’t afford to tithe, then I realize we get to keep 90% when it’s all His anyway.
Does the word increase mean the same as income or does it mean more profit than last year?
It wouldn’t make any sense that only farmers have to tithe. Back in those days (when the Israelites took possession of the land), most people were farmers and I suppose, that’s why it talks about the first fruits of produce. We do know for example that every man over a certain age (20 ?) had to pay temple tax for the running of YHVH’s business, which was on top of the 10 % tithe money. I suppose people who were so poor that they had problems to feed themselves couldn’t contribute anything and could only hope, that the well to do would support them.
Being on government support can make one feel very poor indeed and one has to be very frugal in order to pay all one’s bills. On the other hand, we in Western societies have been spoiled and compared with the majority of people on the planet who are doing it very tough, our life is quite comfortable.
YHVH tells us He would fulfill all our needs (not necessarily our wants) if we trust him and tithe. (Mal’akhi 3:10)
Shalom to everyone,
Sonja
Natan,
You don’t muzzle the oxen when its treading out as much grain as you do.
John