When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.
Deuteronomy 26:12 NIV
Giving the tithe, or ten percent, was a practice commanded under the old covenant. Various passages refer to this practice, including this one. This chapter instructed Israel to take some of the firstfruits of their harvest, take them to the temple, and give them to the priests. This was their tithe.
But every third year, the people were to take that ten percent of their harvest and give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow who lived among them. These four groups of people were dependent on the generosity of others to survive. This tithe ensured that they would have enough to eat.
I do not believe that a legalistic tithe is required of God’s people under the new covenant. But I do believe that generosity is still expected from us. By all means, generously support the local church you are a part of. But do not forget the orphan and the widow, the immigrant, the homeless, and the poor around the world who are in great need today. The opportunities to help others, either financially or with your time and presence, are myriad.
I know that some abuse the generosity of others. But many are genuinely in need. If the Lord has blessed you, I would encourage you to give generously to the genuine needs of others around you. Be assured that God blesses the generous.
