God’s shares in your money, not to take from it, but to multiply for He is the source of all riches. He wants to make you take part with Him in doing good. He can do it alone, but due to His humbleness He likes to do it through you.
• The earliest sharing in man’s belongings was the offering of sacrifices and burnt offerings.
That was in the very beginning of man’s creation, before the written law, for we read that the righteous Abel offered of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat; and the Lord respected Abel and his offering (Gen 4:1) Probably Abel received the idea from his father Adam who had received it from God Himself. This represents the beginning of Tradition.
The idea of sacrifices and burnt offerings continued throughout history.
We read about the burnt offerings which our father Noah offered on the altar when the ark landed, and God smelled a soothing aroma (Gen 8:20, 21). We also read about the sacrifices of our father Abraham and those of Job (Job 1: 5). The sacrifices, burnt offerings and offerings were enacted in the written law in the days of Moses the Prophet, as bearing symbols.
Actually the Sacrifice of Christ replaced the Passover Lamb (Ex 12), the burnt offering, the sin sacrifice, and the trespass sacrifice. However the peace offering of thanksgiving whose offerers are allowed to eat from is still offered by many people, through in a different way from the Old Testament.
• The tithes also are earlier than the written law. We read that our father Jacob, on seeing a ladder reaching between earth and heaven, said to God, “If God will be with me, and keep me… so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God… and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.” (Gen 28: 20-22).
Most probably Jacob received the tradition of giving the tithes from his grandfather Abraham who had given the tenth to Melchizedek the priest of God the Most High (Gen 14: 26).
Then God commanded His people to give the tithes in the days of Moses the Prophet.
The command extended to everything: the produce of the field, whether grain, seed, or fruit, and the wine and oil, and the tithes of the herd or the flock (Deut 12: 17; 14: 22, 23; Lev 27: 30, 32). Zacchaeus the tax-collector mentioned all this in brief in the words: “I give tithes of all that I possess.” (Lk 18: 12) And Jacob likewise said, “all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.” (Gen 28:22).
The priest who received the tithe from the people had to offer a tenth of that tithe, which was called a leave offering (Num 18: 26,28). Whoever did not pay the tithes was considered to have robbed the Lord, for He said in (Mal 3: 8-10) : “Will a man role God? Yet you have robbed Me!… in tithes and offerings … Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, and try Me … If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.”
The money not paid as tithes is unrighteous mammon.
It is robbing the Lord and injustice to the church and to the poor. Therefore the Lord said, “Make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.” (Lk 16: 9) Even if you were in need pay the tithes following the example of the widow ho paid out of her poverty (Lk 21: 4).
Some would ask: Can we give our relatives from the tithes?
Yes, you can, if they are in need; for the apostle says: “If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Tim 5: 8) So you can give, but not them only lest your giving be a mere duty towards your relatives or you reduce the rights of the poor who are more worthy.
How can we comply with the commandment of the tithes?
Whatever you receive set aside its tenth for the Lord.
Put first the tenth of your salary, of any other resources or income whether money or kind, in a certain box for the Lord. Let that not be last lest you forget or consider it unessential. Deduct the tithes directly from your revenues.
Know also that the tithe is the least limit for giving.
It is a Jewish commandment, but in Christianity the Scripture says: “Give to him who asks you,” “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… but … in heaven.” (Mt 5: 42; 6: 19,20) Do not consider that the tithe is the full payment due to God and close your heart against the needs of the poor’ with a peaceful conscience. Remember the words, “Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be heard.” (Prov 21: 13) Let love be firm in your heart and do not deal with God, with the church, and with the poor by accounts not by the heart!!
Whenever there is an opportunity to do good, do not close your heart under the pretext that you have paid the tithe.
Rather, go beyond the level of the tithes:
The Lord says, “Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 5: 20) No doubt they paid the tithes, so you ought to pay more with all your heart. Do not love your money more than you love the poor, and remember the words, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.” (Mt 19: 21) When you hear these words do not go away sorrowful like the rich young man who heard them first.
• There is also the commandment of the firstfruit
We read about it in (Gen 4: 4) when the righteous Abel offered of the firstborn of his flock and their fat. Then after the Low of Moses was given God put rules or this commandment concerning men, animals, fruits, or children:
“Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb… both of man and beast; it is Mine.” (Ex 13:2)
The firstborn were the portion of the Lord to minister to Him: They were afterwards replaced by the tribe of levi and Aaron’s children, yet the firstborn continued holy to the Lord and a sacrifice was offered for him in the temple. This happened to the Lord in compliance with the law (Lk 2: 22,23)
Who then of our children we ought to offer to the Lord?
If not the firstborn we ought at least to offer some of our children; if not the only son as our father Abraham did, at least one of the children in case he is called to be a priest, a monk, or a consecrated person.
The firstfruit offering is more powerful than the tithes.
The reason is that the firstborn is the sole child when born. When Hannah offered Samuel he was her only son, and when John became the Lord’s portion he was the only son to Zacharias and Elizabeth. The Lord Christ likewise was the firstborn and also the only Son to the Virgin, not only at His birth, but also all through His life. The firstborn has his great place and joy, so, giving him to the Lord means preferring the Lord to oneself.
The first produce of the land and the fruit of the tree:
God said, “The first of the firstfuits of your land you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God,” “You shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest… to be accepted on your behalf,” “You shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground… put it in a basket… the priest shall take the basket out of your hand and set it down before the altar of the Lord your God.” ( Ex 23: 19; Lev 23: 10; Deut 26 : 2-10).
The firstborn of the animals:
The Lord commanded, “Set apart to the Lord all that open the womb, that is, every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have; the males shall be the Lord’s. But every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb,” “All that open the womb are Mine, and every male among the firstborn among your livestock, whether ox or sheep…” (Ex 13: 12, 13; 34: 19)
The first of the ground meal:
The Lord says in (Ezek 44 : 30) : “You shall give to the priest the first of your ground meal, to cause a blessing to rest on your house.” So, the Lord takes from your firstfruits to bless everything. Even when He took the Levites instead of the firstborn, He required that the firstborn be redeemed with a sacrifice (Ex 13: 13, 15).
How can we fulfill the commandment of the firstfruit in our present days?
– You can give to the Lord your first salary in full.
– You can give to the Lord the first raise, the first increase in your salary on promotion, the first allowance you receive, the first overtime payment, everyone according to his profession.
God’s share in the vows:
It is a promise to God to give Him a certain thing in case you receive something good from Him, or some help or deliverance from some trouble.
See the beautiful words about vows in the Book of Ecclesiastes (Eccl 5: 2-6).
“Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not you heart utter anything hastily before God… When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it… Better not to vow than to vow and not pay… nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands? ”
Speaking about vows we mean money or life.
Do not make a vow which you cannot fulfill, as for instance, vowing celibacy though one cannot live such a life. Instead of making vows, express your desire as a prayer. Say to the Lord: “This is my wish, if you find it useful and possible to fulfill, grant it to me and give me the power to fulfill it. Let Your will be done in my life.”
The offerings:
The church remembers all these offerings in the Prayer for the Offerings, and mentions those who offer to the church the wine, the oil, the incense, the curtains, the lection books, the vessels of the altar … etc. The church prays that the Lord may recompense them for the perishable things with eternal things, and for the earthly things with the heavenly” The church prays for those who give much and those who give little and also for those who want to give but do not have, that is, for the mere intention to give.
Do you have a share in this Prayer of the offerings?
Some would offer flour for the “Lamb” bread, and others ask what the church needs instead of offering dozens of curtains or icons that lack harmony while these is a need for certain necessary things.
The Scripture provides us with examples of care for the poor?
(lev 23: 22) : “ When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field… nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger.”
(Ex 23: 10,11) : “Six years you shall sow your land… but the seventh year you shall let it rest… that the poor of your people may eat… the beasts of the field may eat.”
How can we apply this to our present life?
Suffice to remember the Lord’s words:
“None shall appear before Me empty.” (Ex 23 : 15; 34: 20)