WHY TITHE AGAIN?
What was the intention of tithing? We saw last week, that it was to meet the needs of the needy. I suspect you may have missed a major point though. Deu 14:22 You shall truly tithe all the increase of your seed, that the field brings forth year by year. Deu 14:23 And you shall eat before the LORD your God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks; that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.
Think about it.
READ ALSO: SHOULD EVERYONE MARRY?
TITHE AND THE FEAR OF GOD
What is the fear of the Lord? We will keep it simple by saying it is the very high regard given to God for who He is that results in our esteeming Him above everyone else including our own selves.
It is a concept observable from Genesis to Revelation that is said to attract judgment when ignored.
The fear of God is the primary motivation apart from love (or along with love) that results in being a person or people acceptable to Him. It basically is the greatest aspiration God expects us to have without the clarity He has that directs His every action. That is, God is motivated by His complete knowledge of the past, present and future while no human being has that knowledge. And so, we must therefore step out in trust often when we are dealing with God’s instructions. When we object strongly to the demands of the Lord, the only thing left to keep us compliant is the FEAR OF THE LORD. It is not necessarily a negative emotion. (That is a function of the individual who is being tested by the instruction).
Where such a person is rebellious and wilful and lacking in trust in God’s wisdom, such a person may only obey due to fear of negative consequences from God. When one is humble and willing to undergo the Lord’s demands person because they trust His nature to be constantly good in spite of whatever is demanded, for such a person, the fear of God is a loving response to an all-knowing Deity.
Some Prominent Bible Characters Who Feared God
Genesis 22:12 And he said, “Lay not your hand upon the lad, neither do you anything unto him: for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son from me.”
Note that it wasn’t said that Abraham loved God. It was said that he feared God.
For those who think that is the Old Covenant approach, please note that it is not. Abraham was before the Law and is known as the Father of faith. BECAUSE FAITH IS SHOWN IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD.
Also note this about the Lord Jesus Christ who knew the Father more than anyone ever has: Hebrews 5:7-8 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered
Vine’s Expository Dictionary: Fear
Noun: 2124 – eulabeia: ignifies, firstly, “caution;” then, “reverence, godly fear,” Heb5:7; Heb12:28, in best mss., “reverence;” in general, “apprehension, but especially holy fear,” “that mingled fear and love which, combined, constitute the piety of man toward God.
The OT places its emphasis on the fear, the NT… on the love, though there was love in the fear of God’s saints then, as there must be fear in their love now” (Trench, Syn, xlviii).
In the Septuagint [a Greek translation of the Old Testament written before even the Lord Jesus Christ was born which helps us know the words they used so we can compare to the Greek based New Testament for similarity]., Jos 22:24; Pro 28:14.
READ ALSO: WASTED FASTING
Summary of This Fear-Faith Matter
Tithing is an act of faith motivated by a loving fear for God.
The point is that the fear of the Lord proves that they had to trust the Lord. You have to do it because He asks you to do it. Only then can you be assured of His full help and intervention on your behalf.
Like we saw with Abraham and his one son or with the Lord Jesus who could ask for 12 legions of angels but did not. Both rather chose to fear God and comply even when it was very dreadful. Giving a tithe was rooted in that same motivation.
But this is still not the full story.
To Be continued…
READ ALSO: SHOULD CHRISTIANS PAY TITHE? (PART 3)