Share Your Blessings with the Needy
Scripture Passage: Deuteronomy 26:12-19 (NASB)
12 “When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the orphan, and to the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. 13 And you shall say before the Lord your God, ‘I have removed the sacred portion from my house, and have also given it to the Levite, the stranger, the orphan, and the widow, in accordance with all Your commandments which You have commanded me; I have not violated or forgotten any of Your commandments. 14 I have not eaten of it while mourning, nor have I removed any of it while I was unclean, nor offered any of it to the dead. I have listened to the voice of the Lord my God; I have acted in accordance with everything that You have commanded me. 15 Look down from Your holy dwelling place, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel, and the ground which You have given us, a land flowing with milk and honey just as You swore to our fathers.’
16 “This day the Lord your God commands you to perform these statutes and ordinances. Therefore you shall be careful to perform them with all your heart and with all your soul. 17 Today you have declared the Lord to be your God, and hat you will walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments, and His ordinances, and listen to His voice. 18 And the Lord has today declared you to be His people, His personal possession, just as He promised you, and that you are to keep all His commandments; 19 and that He will put you high above all the nations which He has made, for glory, fame, and honor; and that you shall be a consecrated people to the Lord your God, just as He has spoken.”
SUMMARY
Moses instructs that after paying the tithe of the third year, the Israelites are to then give it to the Levite, stranger, orphan, and to the widow so that they'll be provided for. The Israelites are to obey all of these instructions with all their heart and soul. In doing so, they declare that they are consecrated people of God. The Lord delights in the Israelites' heart of full obedience.
MEDITATION & REFLECTION
Throughout Deuteronomy, I see God being caring and fair towards His people. His laws are made to care for those who are neglected and protect those who are disadvantaged. In this particular passage, God wants the Israelites to give a portion of their tithes to the Levites, strangers, orphans, and widows so that they may be satisfied. Moses tells the people to carefully obey and do these things "with all your heart and with all your soul". This shows the Lord that they choose to walk in His ways and listen to His voice. Whenever I keep commands, whether they are from my family or God, I don't do it with all my heart especially if it's against my own comfort and benefit. I don't follow through all the way which results in incomplete obedience. But through today's passage, I see that full obedience moves the heart of God as well as benefits others who need the blessings from that obedience. Everything is from God and belongs to God. I am to obey and use the fruits God has given me to give others their fair portion.
APPLICATION
These days, I've been struggling with tithing as well as giving generously to those in need. I work hard to provide for myself as well as pay for things such as student loans. When I do keep God's commands and give, I don't do it with all my heart and soul. I feel like I deserve all the fruits of my labor, but I realize that God is the one who gives to me. Everything is from God, so everything rightfully belongs to HIm. He delights when I steward His blessings well and give back to Him and others. I will be wiser with my finances so that I won't feel like I don't have enough to give and fully obey God.
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that I will fully obey you with a grateful heart. Help me see how abundantly you've blessed me and pass on that blessing to others. Lord, I choose to walk in your ways with all my heart and soul. I pray that you will be in my finances as I responsibly set aside the best portion for you and for others. I pray for the strangers, the orphans, and the widows in my life. Help me honor them and do my part in giving them their portion. I thank you and pray all this in Jesus' name, Amen.
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