Note how God feels about His name being blasphemed. How casually we curse God today due to lack of fear of God. However, His commandment has been given to instruct us, even warn us.
God expects us to give Him our 1st and our best in our giving to support the work of the Levites (local church in today's context). Not the leftovers. Andy Stanley says our priorities are often shown below, but this is not God's direction:
- spend (on ourselves)
- pay debts (what we over spent on ourselves)
- pay our taxes (self-protection)
- Save (for ourselves)
- Give (if anything is left)
Our priorities in money management speak volumes about our spirituality - temporal vs. eternal, trusting God, etc. This is why tithing is embedded in the section on worship in Deuteronomy.
Exodus 34:21 gives a very interesting insight into the reasons for the Sabbath - no plowing or harvesting can be done on Sabbath Days. Taking a day of rest in seven is needed for our own well-beings. But there is also an element of trusting God for our sustenance.
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