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Jun 01, 2022 18:30pm

Gift Giving

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Kids can be fairly easy to get gifts for, but what do you get the one who has everything? Is your dad like that? Maybe you struggle with finding out exactly what to give each year to the man who has given you a great deal. You recognize the sacrifices he has made to provide for you and a small gift just doesn’t feel adequate. But every year, he opens your gift and he loves it.

The Lord has just acknowledged Aaron as the head of the priests and to be in charge of the tabernacle. The Levites will all serve in some form within the tabernacle, but will answer to Aaron. In Numbers 18, the Lord tells Aaron that the Levites will have no inheritance among the children of Israel, their inheritance will be the Lord and service to Him. They considered it a great honor!

And then the Lord gives instructions about offerings made into Him, and says the priests also had to give an offering.

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe. And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress. Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the LORD’S heave offering to Aaron the priest.” (Numbers 18:25-28)

Tithes, an offering made unto the Lord from the first fruits. Only of the best would you select to give back to God. He blessed the people and the people then gave back at least a tenth of what had been given them. No one was exempt. Even the priests were required to give.

What has God blessed you with? And what have you given to Him in return? It’s hard sometimes when you are trying to find how to give to the One who has everything. You recognize the sacrifices He has made to provide for you and a small gift just doesn’t feel adequate. But the Lord asks that you give from the heart.

“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Are you giving to the Lord? It’s not just the elders of the church that are required to give, God commanded all to give. Tithes help the church continue its work and ministry to the community in which it serves. Even during the pandemic, the church is still serving. If you aren’t able to make services, you should still find a way to give. Support your church, your pastor, and the ministries within your church. I can’t tell you how much to give, but I encourage you to pray about it. How has the Lord blessed you this year? How can you use that to turn around and bless the church?