What does "present a tenth of that tithe" teach about stewardship? Setting the Scene Numbers 18 describes how the LORD provided for the Levites through Israel’s tithes. Yet even the Levites, who lived off those gifts, were commanded, “When you receive from the Israelites the tithe that I have given you as an inheritance, you must present an offering from it to the LORD— a tenth of the tithe” (Numbers 18:26). God required a “tithe of the tithe.” The Command in Numbers 18:26 • The Levites first received a full tithe from Israel. • From that income, they immediately returned a tenth to the LORD. • Their offering went to the priests for service in the Tabernacle (vv. 28–29). Key Stewardship Lessons • Every resource belongs to God, no matter how it reaches us. – Psalm 24:1; Haggai 2:8. • No one is exempt from giving. Spiritual leaders model generosity before they teach it. • God asks for first portions, not leftovers. The Levites gave off the top, demonstrating trust in God’s continued provision (Proverbs 3:9). • Stewardship is accountability. Receiving a trust means we also account for that trust (Luke 16:10). • Giving flows from gratitude, not surplus. The Levites lived on what remained, illustrating contentment and reliance on the LORD (1 Timothy 6:6–8). New Testament Echoes • Jesus commended precise tithing yet called for hearts fully devoted to God (Matthew 23:23). • Paul highlighted sacrificial generosity in Macedonia: “In a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity” (2 Corinthians 8:2). • Believers are “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9); like ancient Levites, we honor God by dedicating a portion of everything He entrusts to us. Putting It into Practice Today • Recognize every paycheck, gift, or resource as God’s. • Set aside His portion first; structure budgets around generosity, not the reverse. • Leaders—pastors, teachers, parents—model giving openly and joyfully. • Remember that stewardship extends beyond finances: time, talents, influence, and opportunities also deserve a “tithe.” • Expect God’s faithfulness. “Test Me in this… see if I will not open the windows of heaven” (Malachi 3:10). By commanding the Levites to “present a tenth of that tithe,” God underscores a timeless principle: faithful stewards give back to Him first, proving trust, gratitude, and obedience in all He supplies. |
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