How does Numbers 18:30 guide us in giving offerings with a pure heart? Setting the Scene • In Numbers 18, God outlines how the Levites are supported by the tithes of Israel and, in turn, how the Levites must present a tithe of those tithes to the priests. • Verse 30 closes the instruction: “Therefore say to them, ‘When you have offered the best part, it will be credited to you as the produce of the threshing floor and the winepress.’ ” (Numbers 18:30) What the Verse Teaches • God notices quality: “the best part.” • God credits the giver’s heart: the Levites receive produce secondhand, yet their offering is still “credited” as if it were their own harvest. • God links giving to worship: every tithe becomes an act of praise, not mere obligation. Guiding Principles for Giving with a Pure Heart 1. Give the first and finest, not the leftovers – Proverbs 3:9: “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your harvest.” – Pure-hearted giving starts by putting God first in the budget and the calendar. 2. Recognize everything comes from Him – 1 Chronicles 29:14: “Everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your hand.” – Gratitude keeps motives clean; pride clouds them. 3. Accept your responsibility, whatever your role – The Levites already lived on gifts, yet God still required them to give. – No believer is exempt; generosity expresses faith, not surplus. 4. Trust God’s credit system – He “credits” the offering; He alone measures its worth (Luke 21:1-4, the widow’s mites). – A pure heart rests in divine approval, not human applause. 5. Guard against ritual without relationship – Isaiah 1:11-17 warns of empty sacrifices. – Regular self-examination (2 Corinthians 13:5) keeps giving sincere. Practical Steps • Before giving, pause and thank God for the income or provision you’re about to share. • Set aside your offering first when you receive payment. • Periodically review where your money goes; align spending with kingdom priorities (Matthew 6:33). • If your income is irregular, determine a percentage in advance so giving remains intentional, not impulsive. • Include non-monetary “firstfruits” such as time and skills (Romans 12:1). Encouragement for Today When we bring God our best with gratitude, He counts it as truly ours, no matter the source or size. Numbers 18:30 assures us that the Lord sees both the gift and the giver’s heart—and He delights to credit pure, wholehearted offerings. |
    |