Christian Education and Discipleship

Biblical Wealth - Part 5 of 8

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Education and Discipleship

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2004-08-15

Synopsis: John Weaver continues his series on biblical wealth by examining the first two of three tithes described in Scripture: the Levitical tithe and the poor tithe. He argues that the tithes belong to the Lord and are essential for preventing statism and building a godly society. The Levitical tithe supported the Levites, whose primary duty was education in God's law, and they were not to be poor but equal to or slightly above others. The poor tithe, collected every third year, was for the Levite, stranger, fatherless, and widow, and was to be administered locally with knowledge of recipients. Both tithes demonstrate God's care and enforce His sovereignty.

[John Weaver] Malachi 3, verse 7, if you would please. Even from the days of your fathers, you have gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But you said, wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me, but you say wherein have we robbed thee in tithes and offerings? You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed me, even this old nation. Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts.

[John Weaver] If I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. And all the nation shall call you blessed, for you shall be in a lightsome land, saith the Lord.

[John Weaver] Now, note, if you would please, let's just stop there today. I've been dealing with this series on biblical wealth, and last week I dealt with the theology of the tithes, and let me just take a moment and try to Rehearse and go over some of the things I've shown you just so we can try to tie things together. In this subject, we've looked at the source of wealth. Actually, the sovereignty and the source of wealth for Deuteronomy chapter 8 and verse 18, where God said that we're not to forget it is God who gives us the power to get wealth. And I pointed out in that first series, which I'll remind you again later, of how Greek philosophy and the teachings of Thomas Aquinas have filtered down into the average Christian household, and instead of having a biblical worldview and a biblical concept, most of us have a pagan or a Roman Catholic concept of wealth and try to divide everything into the secular and the sacred, when for the child of God, everything is sacred.

[John Weaver] Then we looked, of course, at the sovereignty and the subjects of wealth. Where in 1 Samuel chapter 2, the scripture says, it is the Lord who maketh rich, it is the Lord who maketh poor, it is the Lord who lifted up the beggar out of the dunghill, that he may set him among the princes. So once again, God in his sovereignty is the one who chooses the subjects of wealth.

[John Weaver] Now, I told you, understanding God's sovereignty, usually the hinges of God's blessing are two. First of all was covenantal obedience and secondly, individual responsibility. So the door of God's blessing usually swings upon covenantal obedience and individual responsibility.

[John Weaver] Now you and I may be covenantally obedient and we may be individually responsible and never have wealth. In that case, we just understand that's in the sovereignty of God. But when God does give wealth, It is usually based upon those two hinges and that door of blessing swings on those hinges. And then thirdly, we looked at the purpose of wealth. Because he said he gave wealth, why? That he may keep the covenant which he sware unto thy fathers.

[John Weaver] So we went back and saw, of course, that dominion mandate, that great charter and showed how everything is to be subdued and brought in subjection unto God for His honor and His glory." In other words, it is so that we may bring into fruition all that God has ordained and that we may serve Him and His Kingdom.

[John Weaver] Now, last week I began showing you on the importance of the tithes. And as I talked about the tithes, I want you to turn, by the way, to the book of Leviticus, chapter 27, to begin with. I told you that there was one important truth that you must always understand. And that is the tithes do not belong to an individual. They do not belong to a church. They do not belong to a corporation. They belong to Lord Himself. Because in Leviticus chapter 27 and verse 30, God says it very plainly. Leviticus 27 verse 30, the Word of God says, And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, it is the Lord's. It is wholly unto the Lord. So the tithes belong unto the Lord.

[John Weaver] They are to be used for the furtherance of his kingdom, for his honor, and his glory. Now last week, I wanted to prove one thing to you, and that is this. Without the tithes, statism usurps and replaces the kingdom of God with the kingdom of man. In other words, when you deny the tithes, all you're doing is putting yourself in the position where you can have a totalitarian and a tyrannical state. There can be no restoration of a Christian order apart from the restoration of the tithes.

[John Weaver] Now, you notice I keep saying tithes, and in Malachi chapter 3, he says in verse 8 that we have robbed him in tithes and in offerings. Then in verse 10, he says, bring you all the tithes into the storehouse. The reason the word tithes is in the plural is because there are three tithes mentioned in the Bible. Today, I'm going to cover the first two. I'm going to devote an entire message next week on the third tithe, because it is so misunderstood and so very seldom obeyed I want you to see that it is unique, and God has ordained it for a certain purpose. Now, today we're going to look at the first two tithes, and let me tell you that each tithe is important, and each one is designed for a particular purpose.

[John Weaver] The tithes demonstrate the care, concern, and compassion that are to be exhibited and exercised in the Christian's life. Now, the first tithe that we're going to look at, everyone knows about, That is the Levitical tithe. Sometimes it is called the social tithe. If you look in your Bibles to the book of Numbers, chapter 18, and notice verses 20 and 21. Numbers, chapter 18, verses 20 and 21. Watch carefully as I read these two verses. In fact, we're going to be looking a lot in the book of Numbers. Numbers, chapter 18, verse 20.

[John Weaver] And the Lord spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them. I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel. And behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance for their service, which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.

[John Weaver] Now, I'm going to stop right there. We're going to develop this a little more fully shortly. But note, if you would, in verse 21, I have given the children of Levi all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance.

[John Weaver] Now, you have to remember that the tithes belong unto the Lord. What does that imply? Since they are his, he is the one who designates to whom they are to be given and how they are to be used.

[John Weaver] Now, let me just tell you another simple principle. All three of these tithes that we're going to be looking at are based upon one's increase. Therefore, no tithe is more important than or greater than the other. All three have equal importance and equal significance.

[John Weaver] Now, the Levites were given unto Aaron and his family as a substitute for the firstborn of the children of Israel. If you will go back in your Bibles to the book of Numbers, chapter 3, you remember that God declared and decreed that the firstborn of everything was to be His. Not just the firstborn of cats and the firstborn of sheep, but even the firstborn of humans. They were to be His. So what God did in Numbers chapter 3 is he substituted the tribe of Levi for the firstborn among the Israelites. Notice Numbers 3 verse 5. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him, and they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle. and they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle and congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle." And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and his sons.

[John Weaver] They are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel. And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons. And they shall wait on the priest's office. And the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel, instead of all the firstborn that opened in the matrix among the children of Israel. Therefore, the Levites shall be mine, because all the firstborn are mine. For on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. Mine shall they be. I am the Lord."

[John Weaver] Note, if you would, what God did was this. He took the entire tribe of Levi instead of the firstborn of every child of Israel. Now, the Levitical order, therefore, consisted of the descendants of Levi's three sons, Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. Aaron, of course, and his issue constituted the priestly order. Now, the age and the qualifications for the Levitical service is also specified in Numbers chapter 4. God left nothing undone. In fact, In Numbers chapter 4, they were to serve from 30 to 50 years of age. The Levites were not included among the armies of Israel. You'll find that in Numbers chapter 1, Numbers chapter 2, Numbers chapter 26. So when the warriors were numbered in Israel, the tribe of Levite was never numbered. That does not mean, therefore, that the Levites were not warriors and could not fight. Many times you will find that individual Levites did indeed fight in battles. Some went to David. But I want you to note something, if you would. Look in your Bibles to Numbers chapter 1, if you would please, verse 51.

[John Weaver] And then we're going to Numbers 18. Number 1, verse 51. The Levites certainly had a warrior mentality. because of Numbers 1 in verse 51, and when the tabernacle is set in forward, the Levites shall take it down, and when the tabernacle is pitched, the Levites shall set it up, and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

[John Weaver] Now, who do you think is doing the executing? It's the Levites. They were armed, they had weapons, and they just put to death anybody who came near that tabernacle. If you look at Numbers chapter 18, And by the way, I preached a message on this in times past on warrior priests, and I demonstrated all the fighting abilities of the Levites. But in Numbers chapter 18, beginning there with verse 22, he says, Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come out of the tabernacle of the congregation.

[John Weaver] lest they bear sin and die. But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity, and it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance. But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an offering unto the Lord, I have given to the Levites to inherit. Therefore, I said unto them, among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance." Now, note if you would, they are charged with the protection of the tabernacle. They're also charged later on with the protection of Aaron and all of his sons. Now, it was the duty, therefore, of the Levites, number one, to pick up and move that tent wherever the children of Israel traveled. It was also their duty to set up that tent and they were to wait upon them and do the services of the sanctuary. Note, if you would, they were wholly consecrated unto the Lord.

[John Weaver] For instance, verse 26 of Numbers 18, look at it. I'm sorry, Numbers 18, verse 2. And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee. But thou and thy son shall minister before the tabernacle of witness." And we're talking about the Levites now. "...and they shall keep the charge, and the charge of the tabernacle, only they shall not come neither vessels nor the sanctuary, nor the altar, that neither they nor ye also die. In other words, there are limitations placed upon the Levites as well. And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation for all the service of the tabernacle, and the stranger shall not come nigh unto thee. And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar.

[John Weaver] There shall be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel. And I behold, look what God says, I've taken your brethren, the Levites, from among the children of Israel. To you they are given as a gift for the Lord to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation." So the children of Levite then were wholly given to the household of Aaron. Now, since they were wholly consecrated to the Lord, they had no territorial possessions. What does that mean?

[John Weaver] Do you remember when the land was divided between the twelve tribes? Guess what? Levite never had a division of the land. Why? Well, look at Numbers chapter 18 in verse 20. Here's why. We'll look at it in several passages. Numbers 18 verse 20. And the Lord spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them. I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel. Now, you've got to remember that Aaron was a Levite as well. So what is going to be said of Aaron is also going to be said of the Levites. If you would turn to Deuteronomy chapter 10 and look at verse 9. Deuteronomy 10 verse 9.

[John Weaver] Note what God says concerning Levi. Wherefore, Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren. The Lord is his inheritance according as the Lord thy God promised him. Once again, the tribe of Levi had no inheritance. Look at Deuteronomy chapter 18, verses 1 and 2. Deuteronomy 18, verses 1 and 2. This is repeated a number of times in scripture. Deuteronomy 18, verse 1, the priests, the Levites, And all the tribe of Levi shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel. They shall eat of the offerings of the Lord made by fire and his inheritance. Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren. The Lord is their inheritance, as he has said unto them.

[John Weaver] So they did receive no division of the land. Now, that did not mean that they had absolutely no place to live. Because out of all the other tribes, There were 48 cities that were assigned unto them, and 13 of those cities were just simply for the priests and the priest's family to dwell in. Then each of them also had what is called in the Bible suburbs or commons, and that was a place where they could have their herds and their flocks out in the fields as well. They also had their vineyards.

[John Weaver] You'll find that in Numbers chapter 35 verses 2 through 5. So they had these cities assigned to them throughout the land. They were scattered throughout all of Israel. Moreover, you will find that many of these cities In fact, six of them, six of the Levitical cities, were known as cities of refuge. That is, where someone who had slain someone innocently, or the way you and I would call it, accidentally, could run to, and then he would be protected from the avenger of blood. Also, nine of these cities were in Judah, three in Naphtali, and four in other tribes.

[John Weaver] We're talking about the commons there particularly. Thus, the Levites, therefore, were scattered throughout all of Israel. Why? Because, I'm going to show you, it was their responsibility to keep alive the knowledge and the service of God. Now, we just read how the Levites were to take down the tabernacle, move it, set it up. But still, although they could take it down and set it up, they had no business In the holy place, nor in the most holy place, that was reserved for Aaron and his sons.

[John Weaver] But now let me ask you a question. Did the Levites do anything other than move and set up the tabernacle? And the answer is emphatically yes. It is an interesting study just to go through your Bible and find out everything that the Levites did. But I want to tell you first and foremost, their primary duty was education. They were to educate the people. They were to educate civil authorities. They were to educate the congregation at large. Let me just show you. Look in your Bibles, first of all, to the book of Leviticus, chapter 10. I'm going to show you a number of other things that they did in just a moment. But Leviticus, chapter 10, verse 11. Leviticus 10, verse 11. Note, if you would, what the Bible says, here is why God gave these Levites.

[John Weaver] and that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses." So the Levites had a peculiar responsibility to teach all of the law of God. Look in Deuteronomy 17 and verse 18. Here's an interesting statement to show you once again they did teach civil authorities. Deuteronomy 17 verse 18. That passage deals when Israel selects a king. Notice what the Bible says, Deuteronomy 17 verse 18, and it shall be when he sit upon the throne of his kingdom that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests, the Levites, and it shall be with him He shall read therein all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law, and these statutes to do them." So the king then, the civil authority, had to have his own personal copy of the word of God. And naturally, it would be the Levites who would be teaching him and instructing him.

[John Weaver] You'll notice as you read your Bible, John was certainly one of those who instructed the king. There were numerous men who instructed the king. So, here they were teaching. Look in Deuteronomy 31, beginning there with verse 9. Deuteronomy 31, verse 9. This is one of my favorite passages. Deuteronomy 31, verse 9. And Moses commanded them, saying, at the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the Feast of the Tabernacles. Now look what happens. When all Israel has come to appear before the Lord by God, in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Now look what God demands. Gather the people together, men and women and children, and my stranger that is within my gates, that they may hear, and they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law. And that their children, which have not known anything, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in this land, whether you go over to Jordan to possess it."

[John Weaver] So you're going to find that many times it was indeed the Levites who were reading all of this law and instructing them. Look at Deuteronomy 33 and verse 10. Deuteronomy 33 and verse 10. Once again, God says they shall teach Jacob by judgment and Israel by law. They shall put incense before thee and whole burnt sacrifice on thine altar. So once again, the primary duty of the Levites was not just moving the tabernacle hither and yon, because after the wilderness wanderings, that tabernacle was set up and stayed set up in one particular place, especially Shiloh for a long period of time. So they were educators. I could read that in 2 Chronicles 17, verses 7-9, and also in Nehemiah 8, verse 9. That's where the people stood for a half a day while the Word of God was just being read to them. But you're also going to find that these Levites were also singers, musicians, and composers. Without turning there, you'll find that in First Chronicles 15, verses 16 through 24, and chapter 25, verses 1 through 7.

[John Weaver] You will also find that these Levites were also officers and judges. First Chronicles 23, verse 4. First Chronicles 26, verses 29 through 32. Well, who better to judge than those who know the law of God? It was their responsibility to teach. Moreover, the Levites were medical practitioners. Do you not remember in Leviticus 13, one of the things the priest had to do was to be able to examine leprosy and to know whether or not something was either leprosy or just simply a little infection in the skin. So he had to have a little medical knowledge as well. Now, I'm just pointing out to you that these Levites did more than move the tabernacle around.

[John Weaver] They were singers, musicians, composers, yes. They were judges and civil officers, yes. They were medical practitioners, yes. But their primary responsibility was education in the totality of the law of God. They had to know the law. They had to know how to apply the law.

[John Weaver] Now, let me remind you momentarily of the first message that I preached in this series. Because I showed you in the very first message how Greek philosophy has infiltrated Christian thought. And today instead of being biblical and having a Christian worldview, most of us are pagan to the core. Because somehow we have swallowed the lie of Greek philosophy and the teachings of Thomas Aquinas somehow that we are to despise material wealth and that somehow wealth is in and of itself evil. And therefore, today, we tend to think that anyone who is associated with the ministry in any way whatsoever should be rather poor.

[John Weaver] Now, I am certainly, I want you to understand, I am not teaching a prosperity gospel at this point. I am not talking about that. But I'm just showing you the concept that we have, which is absolutely, totally contrary to Scripture. Many of us, in fact, probably all of us have heard the old story about the young preacher who came to his first church. And let me tell you, any young preacher, when he gets to that first church, he wants everything right, and he wants to be right.

[John Weaver] And he was in a prayer meeting with some of the people, And as he was praying aloud, he prayed, Lord, keep me poor and humble. And when it came time for the old deacon to pray, he said, Lord, you've heard the request of the pastor. You just keep him humble, we'll keep him poor. Well, you understand what I'm talking about, and the reason I'm saying that is just to show you. that God's servants, even in the Old Testament, were never ever to be second-class or second-rate citizens.

[John Weaver] You see, although the Levites had no inheritance of the land in Israel, God Himself and the ministry was their part and their inheritance. And just simply because God Himself was their part and inheritance did not mean that they were to be poverty-stricken. The belief that the Levites or ministers of the word of God in any age should reveal their piety by their poverty is ungodly. I want you to stop and think that the tribe of Levi should have been quite wealthy. You say, what do you mean they should have been quite wealthy? Well, they should have been wealthy because they would be receiving a larger share of all the Israelites. There were twelve tribes. Remember that?

[John Weaver] One of them is taken now. That means eleven tribes. What is ten percent of eleven? You see, you automatically have another ten percent, but you've got to remember this. The half-tribe of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh basically formed another tribe on the other side of the river. So now you've got 12 tribes. So if all these people are tithing to the Levites, the Levites are getting 120%. You follow me?

[John Weaver] So the point I'm making is this, they would have had on the average 20% more than the average Israelite. Moreover, When you begin to read the scripture, you're going to find that if you're going to tithe on trees or fruit in Leviticus 27 verses 30 through 33 without turning there, if you're going to tithe on these things and you want to redeem it, in other words, you've got a good crop of pears and you just want those pears for yourself and you want to make some pear preserves. Well, God said, sure, you may redeem those pears, but what you have to do You have to pay the value of those pairs plus 20%. Moreover, God got the firstborn of all the cattle.

[John Weaver] Now, here you are tithing this nice young bull. You don't need him, but he's a firstborn. And the Levites have him in their pasture for a couple of years. And your old bull dies. Now you think about that young bull that you tithed. Well, you could redeem him. But you would have to pay his value plus 20%. You see what I'm saying? So it seems as if everything that happened, the Levites got usually about 20% more.

[John Weaver] Now, let me just point something out. And I want you to think about this. I've often said that if there is a congregation and you only had ten families in that congregation, only had ten, if each of those tithe faithfully, do you realize the pastor then, not counting the expenses of the building, etc., but if you tithe faithfully, the pastor then would be living equal to what all the other people are living. You follow me?

[John Weaver] Because I don't care if Doc made $100,000 a year and Henry made $10,000 a year and Ed made $70,000 a year. In other words, 10% of 10 is still 100%. In other words, I'd be living no better nor no less than anybody else. But however, when you begin to think that a pastor is to be held to a higher standard, for instance, he is to be given the hospitality.

[John Weaver] Now, the point I'm trying to make is very simple. I have more company in my house than you ever have at your house. There's probably not hardly ever a week that goes by that we do not have company of some sort. or some missionary passing through. You see what I'm saying? And it's interesting that about 20% more usually covers all of the extra expenses. It's amazing that I find this in the Bible, that everything that they did was usually about 20% more. Now, the point I'm trying to make is this. The fact that the Levites received the largest average on the yearly harvest gives us two very important principles.

[John Weaver] The first one is this. The Levites were not the poor in Israel. They were not the poor in Israel. That's all there is to it. Their life was not to be one of misery and one of poverty. They were, as a whole, to be equal to all the other members of society and slightly above them because of all the other expenses that they had.

[John Weaver] Now, the second thing is this. The services that the Levites provided were to be profitable not only for them, but also for the congregation as well. In fact, God said that the tithes that the Levites received were as though it were the corn of the threshing floor and the fullness of the winepress, Numbers 18, verse 27. So what does that mean? The Levites did not have the land.

[John Weaver] They weren't out there growing crops. They were studying and preaching and teaching and ministering. And God says your ministry as is, if, as if you had all of this. In other words, basically, the returns that they received from their ministerial services were no different in principle than the returns that the other Israelites received from their land, their trees, their herbs, their vineyards, and their flocks. In other words, it was the same thing. Simply because God was their inheritance and simply because God was their capital rather than farm and pasture land does not mean that the tribe of Levi He wants to be suffering and to be poor. No. Their capital... Are you listening? Their capital was the Lord and His Word.

[John Weaver] Now I want you to stop and think about that. Their capital was the Lord and His Word. If you and I have a sick animal in this congregation. We're going to see Dr. Holmes. What is his capital, his ability to minister to animals, to Dr. Animals? You see what I'm saying? If my neck needs cracking, I'll go to a good chiropractor. Why? Well, that's his ability. That's his ministry. That's his service. If I need a table made, I'll go see Henry. Now, however, if you want to be taught, if you want to hear the Word of God, who do you go see? Your pastor. You follow me? The knowledge of the Lord and the knowledge of His Word is capital just like operating instruments, just like a chiropractic table, just like a room full of bandsaws and drills and skill saws and that kind of thing. It's the capital.

[John Weaver] Now, the Levites, therefore, because the Lord was their capital, because the Lord was their resource and His word, they were therefore obligated to teach and apply and to carry out the implications of God's law into every area of their life. And to help other people do exactly the same.

[John Weaver] Now, let me show you something else. Look in your Bibles to the book of Leviticus chapter, I'm sorry, Numbers chapter 18. Numbers chapter 18. Talking about the Levites. I want to go back to Leviticus. Numbers chapter 18. And get ready, because I want to show you something in just a moment. Let's see. OK, now, Numbers chapter 18. Now, we've been talking about the Levitical tithes. Because all of Israel is tithing to the Levites who are teaching them the law of God. But guess what? The Levites were also obligated to tithe. Not only did the Levites receive tithes, but the Levites were obligated to tithe. Look in your Bibles, Numbers chapter 18 and beginning with verse 25. Numbers 18 verse 25. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Thus speaketh the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the Lord, even a tenth part of the tithe.

[John Weaver] And this is your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corner of the threshing floor, and as the fullness of the winepress. Thus you shall offer a heave offering unto the Lord of all your tithes which you receive in the children of Israel, and you shall give thereof the Lord's heave offering unto Aaron the priest. Out of all your gifts you shall offer every heave offering of the Lord of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it."

[John Weaver] Now, note if you would please, although the Levites received tithes, they were required to tithe. Now what do I mean by that and what is the implication of that? It means this. Just because a Levite was a Levite does not mean that he could pay a tithe to himself. Does not mean that he had to get out tithing. In other words, suppose you said, now brother, we were here in my tithes, thank you. Guess what? I'm now obligated to tithe. Well, to whom did these Levites tithe?

[John Weaver] They tithed to the high priest. The high priest and his family were the only persons in Israel who were not obligated to tithe. Why? It was through the High Priest that God Himself actually ruled Israel. Are you listening? The fact that the Levites had to tithe on the tithes they received establishes a biblical principle. What's the principle? It doesn't matter What a person's occupation is, doesn't matter what type of business you're involved in, no one is exempt from paying God his due. The only person exempt was that high priest, and the only reason he was exempt was because it was through him God actually ruled Israel. Now, do we have a high priest?

[John Weaver] You better believe we do. Our High Priest is no longer Aaron. Our High Priest is the Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 4 tells us He is our Great High Priest and it is through Jesus Christ that God sovereignly rules and reigns over all. Therefore we are obligated and required to tithe in recognition of His mediatorship and His priesthood It is through Jesus Christ that God rules the world. You remember Hebrews 1? The Bible said in times past, God spoke to the fathers by the prophets and by different ways. But he has in these last days spoken us through his Son by whom he made the world. So God now rules through Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] Now, what is the purpose of the Levitical time? The purpose of the Levitical tithe is to enforce upon the hearts and souls of men that God alone is the Lord and creator of man, his society, and his world. God is God. I want to show you this in the last message that I bring on the implications of the tithe. But as Samuel Chadwick, a pastor who lived from 1860 to 1912, said this, no man can rob God without starving his own soul. So there was the Levitical tithe.

[John Weaver] Very quickly, if you look in your Bibles, through the book of Deuteronomy chapter 14, here is the second tithe that I'm going to deal with today. It is the poor tithe. Now, I'm not going to go into great depth in this because I think it should be exceedingly obvious. But look in Deuteronomy chapter 14, beginning there with verse 28. Deuteronomy 14, verse 28. Please follow along. Deuteronomy 14, verse 28.

[John Weaver] At the end of three years, thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates. And the Levite, notice if you would, how God always remembers the Levites. And the Levites, because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow which are within thy gates shall come and shall eat and be satisfied that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest."

[John Weaver] Now hold right there and look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 26 and verse 12. We'll come back maybe and read a few other passages. Once again, God mentions this poor tithe. He says, well, now it's made an end of tithing. All the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is a year of tithing, and has given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates and be filled. And then God says something else there in reference to that. Now, the poor tithe was collected once every three years. The poor tithe also was 10 percent. Now, the poor tithe was for the Levite, not that he was poor, but God wanted to make sure that he was always remembered, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. Now, this is known as the poor tithe. Now, there were other means available.

[John Weaver] I'm going to cover some of them a little bit later. There were other means available of helping people who were in distress. There was the law of gleaning. There's what is known as poor loans. Because I'm going to be showing you in the not too distant future, probably two weeks from now, the difference between biblical charity and an act of mercy. There's some people we cannot help. Some people God forbids us to help. I'll mention that a little bit today. But there are other ways to help people besides the poor tithe. Because this poor tithe was once every three years. Now, let me make just at least six statements of principle concerning the poor tithe.

[John Weaver] I believe you can see them very clearly. First of all, if the poor tithe was faithfully tithed, The usurpation of government in this area would eventually disappear. Let me say that again. If the poor tithe was faithfully tithed, the usurpation of government in this area would eventually disappear. In a godly order, the group best instructed in the law will have far-reaching social services to render. Consequently, without the collection and distribution of the poor tithe, Either the state assumes control or wealthy individuals and certain foundations assume control of what you and I would know as social services or welfare.

[John Weaver] What does the tide do? The tithe places the control of society in the hands of the tithers. Not in the hands of the state. Not in the hands of wealthy individuals. Not in the hands of foundations. But it places it in the hands of the tithers. So the very first observation is this. If the poor tithe was faithfully given, as well as the Levitical tithe, it would knock the state out of the area that they have stolen this jurisdiction, and rendering it now to those who, a lot of times, do not deserve it. Number two, the poor tithe is a means of strengthening a godly society.

[John Weaver] It cannot be used to subsidize evil, sloth, or apostasy. Would you care to figure out in your mind what is the number one problem we have today with governmental welfare? They give it to people who don't deserve it. They're indiscriminate. If you don't work, you get it. If you have 40 babies, you get it. In other words, it is just simply today a means to make people more irresponsible. Because now they can have money and never work and never face any responsibility.

[John Weaver] My wife can tell you We heard a man talk about his brother-in-law. He was a black man. And his brother-in-law had, if I remember correctly, 36 children. Of course, not by a lie. He didn't have one. Thirty-six. That somebody's feeding, but not him. So you see what I'm saying? Social financing is necessary. There's a biblical plan for it. But dear friend, let me tell you something.

[John Weaver] Either the people of God will undertake it or the state will. And you and I cannot build a godly society apart from obedience to God's law. There are people that need help. And those people need to be helped on a biblical basis, but there are other people who should not ever be helped. I'll tell you that in just a moment.

[John Weaver] Thirdly, the poor tithe was given locally. What does that mean? Well, the proposition is clear. If the poor tithe is given locally, I know who I'm giving to. If Henry's sorry and won't work, and Ed's doing the best he can and still can't make it, I'm going to give mine to Ed. Henry can do without. He said, Brother Weaver, I don't think that's fair. I don't know whether you think it's fair or not, but it sure is biblical. You know what the Bible says in 2 Thessalonians 3 and verse 10? If any will not work, help me out, neither should he eat. It's just that simple. If any will not work, neither should he eat. As much as possible, we are to know the character of the people to whom we give our money. I'm not going to give money to a dope addict. I'm not going to give money to a drunkard. Now, if he's hungry, I might buy him a hamburger, but I'm not going to buy him a hamburger and hand it to him.

[John Weaver] I'm not going to give him the money and trust him to go buy the hamburger. But the point is, there's some folks we cannot help, we should not help. And gossip, a man's too lazy to work, neither should he eat. Now, I want you to understand, this does not mean that we cannot give nationally or internationally. There are times we can, but even when we do, We're responsible to know who we are helping and why we're helping.

[John Weaver] And if you look in your Bibles, the first Corinthians chapter 16, beginning there with verse one, first Corinthians 16 and verse one. But what the Bible says. First Corinthians 16, verse one. The apostle Paul says this.

[John Weaver] Now concerning the election for the Saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. And when I come, whomsoever you shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.

[John Weaver] And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me." Now what did Paul say? Paul said, we are taking up an offering for the poor in Jerusalem. There were There was a famine in Jerusalem. Paul said, look, to the churches of Galatia who were not in Jerusalem, not even near Jerusalem, this is the money to go to those poor in Jerusalem. But I tell you what you will do. You take it up, and whomever you appoint to take that money down there, they can take it, they can see for themselves that it is a genuine, legitimate need, and they can come back and report to you.

[John Weaver] Or if you like, if you want to send me along with them, fine, I'll go as well. But what is Paul saying? I want you to know to whom you're giving this money, and for what reason. So when the poor tithe was given locally, of course, That meant we knew. We knew the character of the people to whom we were giving. A fourth principle is this. Since the poor tithe teaches us to care for those who, through no fault of their own, who cannot care for themselves, in that sense of the word, we're like our Heavenly Father.

[John Weaver] You say, what are you talking about? Well, look in your Bibles, if you would, first of all, to Exodus 22. Exodus 22. And then we're going to Psalm 68, Exodus 22. And notice, if you would please, verse 22. Exodus 22, verse 22, God says, You shall not afflict any widow nor fatherless child. If thou afflict them in any wise and they cried all unto me, I will surely hear their cry. And my wrath will wax hot, and I will kill you with a sword, and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless." God said, you better not abuse the widows and the orphans. And then if you look in Psalm 68 verse 5, Psalm 68 verse 5, Psalm 68 verse 5, what does the Bible say about God? That He is a Father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows is God in his holy habitation. He's the father of the fatherless and a judge of the widows.

[John Weaver] So by aiding those individuals who are genuinely in need, who are deserving of need, it will keep them then from falling into what you and I would know as a chronic and debilitating poverty. Thus what it does is basically provide stability for the family. In fact, look in your Bible, Acts chapter 6. You will see the early church did this. In fact, this is the incident where the first deacons were chosen. And by the way, as you look at this text, I want you to understand that the first deacons were chosen not to run the church, not to run the pastor, not to control and manipulate, They were chosen for one reason.

[John Weaver] To be a servant to the pastors. To be a servant to help them in feeding the widows so that the preachers could give themselves to prayer and the study and the preaching of the word. Look at Acts chapter 6, beginning there with verse 1. And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there was a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews. Why? Because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. In other words, the Grecian widows were saying, oh man, y'all are giving more food to those Hebrew widows than you are. You don't love us. You don't like us. Huh. Then the twelve called the multitude of disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Did you hear that? It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look you out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we, we, we, that is the pastors or the preachers, whom we may appoint over this business.

[John Weaver] What business? The business of waiting on the widows and taking care of them. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the Word. Why were the first deacons chosen? To relieve the preachers from this obligation of taking care of the widows so that they could give themselves to the education of the people through study and through prayer. But note, if you would please, these widows were being taken care of, and that was the reason those deacons were appointed to begin with, was to take care of the widows.

[John Weaver] I was preaching in Mobile, Alabama. And there was a fellow there who was an air-conditioning man. He came to church one night, and his hand and his arm was just swelled like a balloon. And I called his name. I said, what in the world happened to you? Well, he said, I was pulling the window unit out, and I stuck my hand in it, and a black widow bit me. This fellow was a deacon.

[John Weaver] I said, now I'm going to tell you. When the Bible tells you to take care of the widows, that is not what he's talking about. It's not spiders that you're to be taking care of, you know. You don't feed them, you feed men and women who have needs. But that's exactly what we're talking about. But I want you to understand something about this poor tithe. Although we help people who have genuine needs, we cannot help them in such a way where the recipient becomes dependent upon the giver. The help cannot be a permanent arrangement.

[John Weaver] It is not a welfare system. It is a means to help individuals become self-reliant and to give them the edge that they need to get back on their feet. Now, number five. Since the poor tithes were collected every third year, that means that if we were to give annually, that we would be giving approximately an additional 3.33% or 3.33%. Which goes into a benevolent fund. By the way, whether most of you know it or not, we do have a benevolent fund.

[John Weaver] We do have some shackles in it. Not a great deal. But that fund has been used to help even some of our own people when they were out of work or when things cropped up with unexpected illness and sickness and things like that, that they could not handle at that particular time. It's been used for witness. It's been used the way it should be used.

[John Weaver] Now, the point I'm trying to make is this. In the Old Testament, you've got to remember, they were basically an agricultural economy. We're not necessarily that today. But the reason this was given every third year was to teach them to be frugal and future oriented. They knew it was going to be in another three years before another poor tide would come around. So they better learn to make use of what they have and they better plan for the future.

[John Weaver] And here's the sixth one, and I'll close with this one. If we are to give to those who are worthy of receiving. It means that we must know the recipient. And the recipient must know us. Look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 14. When it comes to the poor tithe, I want you to understand that you are to know the individuals that you give to, and they're to know you. Deuteronomy chapter 14, look in verse 29.

[John Weaver] And the Levite, because he hath no partner or inheritance with thee, And the stranger and the fatherless and the widow which are within thy gates shall come and eat and be satisfied that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest." Now, if they come and eat with you and you share with them, what does that mean? You know them, they know you.

[John Weaver] Now, our church, for years, has helped wives whose husbands were in prison for the faith's sake. We still do. You see what that is doing? That's not saying that here's somebody that is so poor, usually, that they can't exist. No. But the head of the household The breadwinner has been taken away. Now, what is happening? The monies that we send still maintains the strength of that family until that breadwinner is out again and can go back to earning money. You know, it's amazing to me, and this is the truth, and we have done this as a church, for years, I don't even know how many, I guess ever since we've been in existence. But every man, every family that we have ever helped, when they got out of prison and got back on their feet, and I would say usually I would try to at least keep going another month or so after they were out But everyone without an exception has called me and said, Pastor, I've got a job. I'm working.

[John Weaver] We're thankful for the help. Please stop sending us money and use it for someone else who now needs it more than we do. Everyone without exception. I'm going to show you later on that biblical charity is for the strengthening of a godly society. Even the poor type strengthens a godly society. Let's pray. Father, we thank you today for Jesus Christ, for the Word of God, for His truth. Lord, help us to understand that there are indeed implications In these ties, we will either obey Thee and be ruled by Thee, or disobey Thee and be ruled by man. We cannot sin against Thee without destroying ourselves. Help us to see that in order to have a godly society, we must follow Your law, Your word, Your truth.

[John Weaver] Make us obedient in every area of our lives. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

Biblical Wealth - Part 5 of 8

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	81904132019
Subject	Education and Discipleship
Course	Christian Education and Discipleship
Genre	Sermon
Date	2004-08-15
Dictation Name
Book	Book 052: Biblical Wealth — Chapter 5
Source Timed Segments	84

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Review of Series

Weaver reviews previous messages on the source, sovereignty, and purpose of wealth, emphasizing that God gives wealth based on covenantal obedience and individual responsibility.

Malachi 3, verse 7, if you would please.

Scripture Reading — Malachi 3:7-12

"Even from the days of your fathers, you have gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But you said, wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me, but you say wherein have we robbed thee in tithes and offerings? You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed me, even this old nation. Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts."

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 8:18

"If I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. And all the nation shall call you blessed, for you shall be in a lightsome land, saith the Lord." Now, note, if you would please, let's just stop there today. I've been dealing with this series on biblical wealth, and last week I dealt with the theology of the tithes, and let me just take a moment and try to rehearse and go over some of the things I've shown you just so we can try to tie things together. In this subject, we've looked at the source of wealth. Actually, the sovereignty and the source of wealth from Deuteronomy chapter 8 and verse 18, where God said that we're not to forget it is God who gives us the power to get wealth. And I pointed out in that first series, which I'll remind you again later, of how Greek philosophy and the teachings of Thomas Aquinas have filtered down into the average Christian household, and instead of having a biblical worldview and a biblical concept, most of us have a pagan or a Roman Catholic concept of wealth and try to divide everything into the secular and the sacred, when for the child of God, everything is sacred.

Then we looked, of course, at the sovereignty and the subjects of wealth. Where in 1 Samuel chapter 2, the scripture says, it is the Lord who maketh rich, it is the Lord who maketh poor, it is the Lord who lifted up the beggar out of the dunghill, that he may set him among the princes. So once again, God in his sovereignty is the one who chooses the subjects of wealth. Now, I told you, understanding God's sovereignty, usually the hinges of God's blessing are two. First of all was covenantal obedience and secondly, individual responsibility. So the door of God's blessing usually swings upon covenantal obedience and individual responsibility.

Now you and I may be covenantally obedient and we may be individually responsible and never have wealth. In that case, we just understand that's in the sovereignty of God. But when God does give wealth, it is usually based upon those two hinges and that door of blessing swings on those hinges. And then thirdly, we looked at the purpose of wealth. Because he said he gave wealth, why? That he may keep the covenant which he sware unto thy fathers.

So we went back and saw, of course, that dominion mandate, that great charter and showed how everything is to be subdued and brought in subjection unto God for His honor and His glory. In other words, it is so that we may bring into fruition all that God has ordained and that we may serve Him and His Kingdom.

The Tithes Belong to the Lord

The tithes are not owned by individuals or churches but are holy to the Lord, as stated in Leviticus 27:30.

Now, last week I began showing you on the importance of the tithes. And as I talked about the tithes, I want you to turn, by the way, to the book of Leviticus, chapter 27, to begin with. I told you that there was one important truth that you must always understand. And that is the tithes do not belong to an individual. They do not belong to a church. They do not belong to a corporation. They belong to Lord Himself. Because in Leviticus chapter 27 and verse 30, God says it very plainly. Leviticus 27 verse 30, the Word of God says,

Scripture Reading — Leviticus 27:30

"And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, it is the Lord's. It is wholly unto the Lord."

So the tithes belong unto the Lord.

They are to be used for the furtherance of his kingdom, for his honor, and his glory. Now last week, I wanted to prove one thing to you, and that is this. Without the tithes, statism usurps and replaces the kingdom of God with the kingdom of man. In other words, when you deny the tithes, all you're doing is putting yourself in the position where you can have a totalitarian and a tyrannical state. There can be no restoration of a Christian order apart from the restoration of the tithes.

The Three Tithes and Their Purpose

There are three tithes in Scripture; today's message covers the first two: the Levitical tithe and the poor tithe.

Now, you notice I keep saying tithes, and in Malachi chapter 3, he says in verse 8 that we have robbed him in tithes and in offerings. Then in verse 10, he says, bring you all the tithes into the storehouse. The reason the word tithes is in the plural is because there are three tithes mentioned in the Bible. Today, I'm going to cover the first two. I'm going to devote an entire message next week on the third tithe, because it is so misunderstood and so very seldom obeyed I want you to see that it is unique, and God has ordained it for a certain purpose. Now, today we're going to look at the first two tithes, and let me tell you that each tithe is important, and each one is designed for a particular purpose.

The tithes demonstrate the care, concern, and compassion that are to be exhibited and exercised in the Christian's life. Now, the first tithe that we're going to look at, everyone knows about, that is the Levitical tithe. Sometimes it is called the social tithe. If you look in your Bibles to the book of Numbers, chapter 18, and notice verses 20 and 21. Numbers, chapter 18, verses 20 and 21. Watch carefully as I read these two verses. In fact, we're going to be looking a lot in the book of Numbers. Numbers, chapter 18, verse 20.

The Levitical Tithe: Support for the Levites

The Levites were given the tithe as an inheritance for their service, as they had no land inheritance; the Lord was their inheritance.

"And the Lord spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them. I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel. And behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance for their service, which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation." Now, I'm going to stop right there. We're going to develop this a little more fully shortly. But note, if you would, in verse 21, "I have given the children of Levi all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance."

Now, you have to remember that the tithes belong unto the Lord. What does that imply? Since they are his, he is the one who designates to whom they are to be given and how they are to be used. Now, let me just tell you another simple principle. All three of these tithes that we're going to be looking at are based upon one's increase. Therefore, no tithe is more important than or greater than the other. All three have equal importance and equal significance.

Now, the Levites were given unto Aaron and his family as a substitute for the firstborn of the children of Israel. If you will go back in your Bibles to the book of Numbers, chapter 3, you remember that God declared and decreed that the firstborn of everything was to be His. Not just the firstborn of cats and the firstborn of sheep, but even the firstborn of humans. They were to be His. So what God did in Numbers chapter 3 is he substituted the tribe of Levi for the firstborn among the Israelites. Notice Numbers 3 verse 5.

Scripture Reading — Numbers 3:5-13

"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him, and they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle. And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle and congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and his sons."

"They are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel. And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons. And they shall wait on the priest's office. And the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel, instead of all the firstborn that opened in the matrix among the children of Israel. Therefore, the Levites shall be mine, because all the firstborn are mine. For on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. Mine shall they be. I am the Lord."

The Levites' Duties and Education Role

The Levites' primary duty was to teach God's law to all Israel, including civil authorities, and they also served as judges, musicians, and medical practitioners.

But now let me ask you a question. Did the Levites do anything other than move and set up the tabernacle? And the answer is emphatically yes. It is an interesting study just to go through your Bible and find out everything that the Levites did. But I want to tell you first and foremost, their primary duty was education. They were to educate the people. They were to educate civil authorities. They were to educate the congregation at large. Let me just show you. Look in your Bibles, first of all, to the book of Leviticus, chapter 10. I'm going to show you a number of other things that they did in just a moment. But Leviticus, chapter 10, verse 11. Leviticus 10, verse 11. Note, if you would, what the Bible says, here is why God gave these Levites.

"and that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses." So the Levites had a peculiar responsibility to teach all of the law of God. Look in Deuteronomy 17 and verse 18. Here's an interesting statement to show you once again they did teach civil authorities. Deuteronomy 17 verse 18. That passage deals when Israel selects a king. Notice what the Bible says, Deuteronomy 17 verse 18, "and it shall be when he sit upon the throne of his kingdom that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests, the Levites, and it shall be with him He shall read therein all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law, and these statutes to do them." So the king then, the civil authority, had to have his own personal copy of the word of God. And naturally, it would be the Levites who would be teaching him and instructing him.

You'll notice as you read your Bible, John was certainly one of those who instructed the king. There were numerous men who instructed the king. So, here they were teaching. Look in Deuteronomy 31, beginning there with verse 9. Deuteronomy 31, verse 9. This is one of my favorite passages. Deuteronomy 31, verse 9. "And Moses commanded them, saying, at the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the Feast of the Tabernacles." Now look what happens. "When all Israel has come to appear before the Lord by God, in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing." Now look what God demands.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 17:18-19

"Gather the people together, men and women and children, and my stranger that is within my gates, that they may hear, and they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law. And that their children, which have not known anything, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in this land, whether you go over to Jordan to possess it."

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 31:9-13

So you're going to find that many times it was indeed the Levites who were reading all of this law and instructing them. Look at Deuteronomy 33 and verse 10. Deuteronomy 33 and verse 10. Once again, God says "they shall teach Jacob by judgment and Israel by law. They shall put incense before thee and whole burnt sacrifice on thine altar." So once again, the primary duty of the Levites was not just moving the tabernacle hither and yon, because after the wilderness wanderings, that tabernacle was set up and stayed set up in one particular place, especially Shiloh for a long period of time. So they were educators. I could read that in 2 Chronicles 17, verses 7-9, and also in Nehemiah 8, verse 9. That's where the people stood for a half a day while the Word of God was just being read to them. But you're also going to find that these Levites were also singers, musicians, and composers. Without turning there, you'll find that in First Chronicles 15, verses 16 through 24, and chapter 25, verses 1 through 7.

You will also find that these Levites were also officers and judges. First Chronicles 23, verse 4. First Chronicles 26, verses 29 through 32. Well, who better to judge than those who know the law of God? It was their responsibility to teach. Moreover, the Levites were medical practitioners. Do you not remember in Leviticus 13, one of the things the priest had to do was to be able to examine leprosy and to know whether or not something was either leprosy or just simply a little infection in the skin. So he had to have a little medical knowledge as well. Now, I'm just pointing out to you that these Levites did more than move the tabernacle around.

They were singers, musicians, composers, yes. They were judges and civil officers, yes. They were medical practitioners, yes. But their primary responsibility was education in the totality of the law of God. They had to know the law. They had to know how to apply the law.

The Levites' Economic Status

Contrary to pagan notions, the Levites were not to be poor; they received about 20% more than the average Israelite, reflecting that their capital was the Lord and His Word.

Now, I am certainly, I want you to understand, I am not teaching a prosperity gospel at this point. I am not talking about that. But I'm just showing you the concept that we have, which is absolutely, totally contrary to Scripture. Many of us, in fact, probably all of us have heard the old story about the young preacher who came to his first church. And let me tell you, any young preacher, when he gets to that first church, he wants everything right, and he wants to be right. And he was in a prayer meeting with some of the people, and as he was praying aloud, he prayed, "Lord, keep me poor and humble." And when it came time for the old deacon to pray, he said, "Lord, you've heard the request of the pastor. You just keep him humble, we'll keep him poor." Well, you understand what I'm talking about, and the reason I'm saying that is just to show you that God's servants, even in the Old Testament, were never ever to be second-class or second-rate citizens.

You see, although the Levites had no inheritance of the land in Israel, God Himself and the ministry was their part and their inheritance. And just simply because God Himself was their part and inheritance did not mean that they were to be poverty-stricken. The belief that the Levites or ministers of the word of God in any age should reveal their piety by their poverty is ungodly. I want you to stop and think that the tribe of Levi should have been quite wealthy. You say, what do you mean they should have been quite wealthy? Well, they should have been wealthy because they would be receiving a larger share of all the Israelites. There were twelve tribes. Remember that?

One of them is taken now. That means eleven tribes. What is ten percent of eleven? You see, you automatically have another ten percent, but you've got to remember this. The half-tribe of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh basically formed another tribe on the other side of the river. So now you've got 12 tribes. So if all these people are tithing to the Levites, the Levites are getting 120%. You follow me?

So the point I'm making is this, they would have had on the average 20% more than the average Israelite. Moreover, when you begin to read the scripture, you're going to find that if you're going to tithe on trees or fruit in Leviticus 27 verses 30 through 33 without turning there, if you're going to tithe on these things and you want to redeem it, in other words, you've got a good crop of pears and you just want those pears for yourself and you want to make some pear preserves. Well, God said, sure, you may redeem those pears, but what you have to do you have to pay the value of those pears plus 20%. Moreover, God got the firstborn of all the cattle.

Now, here you are tithing this nice young bull. You don't need him, but he's a firstborn. And the Levites have him in their pasture for a couple of years. And your old bull dies. Now you think about that young bull that you tithed. Well, you could redeem him. But you would have to pay his value plus 20%. You see what I'm saying? So it seems as if everything that happened, the Levites got usually about 20% more.

Now, let me just point something out. And I want you to think about this. I've often said that if there is a congregation and you only had ten families in that congregation, only had ten, if each of those tithe faithfully, do you realize the pastor then, not counting the expenses of the building, etc., but if you tithe faithfully, the pastor then would be living equal to what all the other people are living. You follow me? Because I don't care if Doc made $100,000 a year and Henry made $10,000 a year and Ed made $70,000 a year. In other words, 10% of 10 is still 100%. In other words, I'd be living no better nor no less than anybody else. But however, when you begin to think that a pastor is to be held to a higher standard, for instance, he is to be given the hospitality.

Now, the point I'm trying to make is very simple. I have more company in my house than you ever have at your house. There's probably not hardly ever a week that goes by that we do not have company of some sort, or some missionary passing through. You see what I'm saying? And it's interesting that about 20% more usually covers all of the extra expenses. It's amazing that I find this in the Bible, that everything that they did was usually about 20% more. Now, the point I'm trying to make is this. The fact that the Levites received the largest average on the yearly harvest gives us two very important principles.

The first one is this. The Levites were not the poor in Israel. They were not the poor in Israel. That's all there is to it. Their life was not to be one of misery and one of poverty. They were, as a whole, to be equal to all the other members of society and slightly above them because of all the other expenses that they had.

Now, the second thing is this. The services that the Levites provided were to be profitable not only for them, but also for the congregation as well. In fact, God said that the tithes that the Levites received were as though it were the corn of the threshing floor and the fullness of the winepress, Numbers 18, verse 27. So what does that mean? The Levites did not have the land. They weren't out there growing crops. They were studying and preaching and teaching and ministering. And God says your ministry as is, as if you had all of this. In other words, basically, the returns that they received from their ministerial services were no different in principle than the returns that the other Israelites received from their land, their trees, their herbs, their vineyards, and their flocks. In other words, it was the same thing. Simply because God was their inheritance and simply because God was their capital rather than farm and pasture land does not mean that the tribe of Levi wants to be suffering and to be poor. No. Their capital... Are you listening? Their capital was the Lord and His Word.

Now I want you to stop and think about that. Their capital was the Lord and His Word. If you and I have a sick animal in this congregation, we're going to see Dr. Holmes. What is his capital, his ability to minister to animals, to doctor animals? You see what I'm saying? If my neck needs cracking, I'll go to a good chiropractor. Why? Well, that's his ability. That's his ministry. That's his service. If I need a table made, I'll go see Henry. Now, however, if you want to be taught, if you want to hear the Word of God, who do you go see? Your pastor. You follow me? The knowledge of the Lord and the knowledge of His Word is capital just like operating instruments, just like a chiropractic table, just like a room full of bandsaws and drills and skill saws and that kind of thing. It's the capital.

The Levites' Obligation to Tithe

The Levites were required to tithe a tenth of the tithes they received to the high priest, establishing that no one is exempt from tithing except the high priest, who foreshadows Christ.

Now, let me show you something else. Look in your Bibles to the book of Leviticus chapter, I'm sorry, Numbers chapter 18. Numbers chapter 18. Talking about the Levites. I want to go back to Leviticus. Numbers chapter 18. And get ready, because I want to show you something in just a moment. Let's see. OK, now, Numbers chapter 18. Now, we've been talking about the Levitical tithes. Because all of Israel is tithing to the Levites who are teaching them the law of God. But guess what? The Levites were also obligated to tithe. Not only did the Levites receive tithes, but the Levites were obligated to tithe. Look in your Bibles, Numbers chapter 18 and beginning with verse 25. Numbers 18 verse 25.

Scripture Reading — Numbers 18:25-28

"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Thus speaketh the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the Lord, even a tenth part of the tithe."

"And this is your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corner of the threshing floor, and as the fullness of the winepress. Thus you shall offer a heave offering unto the Lord of all your tithes which you receive in the children of Israel, and you shall give thereof the Lord's heave offering unto Aaron the priest. Out of all your gifts you shall offer every heave offering of the Lord of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it." Now, note if you would please, although the Levites received tithes, they were required to tithe. Now what do I mean by that and what is the implication of that? It means this. Just because a Levite was a Levite does not mean that he could pay a tithe to himself. Does not mean that he had to get out tithing. In other words, suppose you said, now brother, we were here in my tithes, thank you. Guess what? I'm now obligated to tithe. Well, to whom did these Levites tithe?

They tithed to the high priest. The high priest and his family were the only persons in Israel who were not obligated to tithe. Why? It was through the High Priest that God Himself actually ruled Israel. Are you listening? The fact that the Levites had to tithe on the tithes they received establishes a biblical principle. What's the principle? It doesn't matter what a person's occupation is, doesn't matter what type of business you're involved in, no one is exempt from paying God his due. The only person exempt was that high priest, and the only reason he was exempt was because it was through him God actually ruled Israel. Now, do we have a high priest?

You better believe we do. Our High Priest is no longer Aaron. Our High Priest is the Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 4 tells us He is our Great High Priest and it is through Jesus Christ that God sovereignly rules and reigns over all. Therefore we are obligated and required to tithe in recognition of His mediatorship and His priesthood. It is through Jesus Christ that God rules the world. You remember Hebrews 1? The Bible said in times past, God spoke to the fathers by the prophets and by different ways. But he has in these last days spoken us through his Son by whom he made the world. So God now rules through Jesus Christ.

Now, what is the purpose of the Levitical tithe? The purpose of the Levitical tithe is to enforce upon the hearts and souls of men that God alone is the Lord and creator of man, his society, and his world. God is God. I want to show you this in the last message that I bring on the implications of the tithe. But as Samuel Chadwick, a pastor who lived from 1860 to 1912, said this, "no man can rob God without starving his own soul." So there was the Levitical tithe.

The Poor Tithe: Care for the Needy

The poor tithe, collected every third year, was for the Levite, stranger, fatherless, and widow, and was to be given locally with knowledge of recipients.

Very quickly, if you look in your Bibles, through the book of Deuteronomy chapter 14, here is the second tithe that I'm going to deal with today. It is the poor tithe. Now, I'm not going to go into great depth in this because I think it should be exceedingly obvious. But look in Deuteronomy chapter 14, beginning there with verse 28. Deuteronomy 14, verse 28. Please follow along. Deuteronomy 14, verse 28.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 26:12

"At the end of three years, thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates. And the Levite, notice if you would, how God always remembers the Levites. And the Levites, because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow which are within thy gates shall come and shall eat and be satisfied that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest."

Now hold right there and look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 26 and verse 12. We'll come back maybe and read a few other passages. Once again, God mentions this poor tithe. He says,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 26:12

"well, now it's made an end of tithing. All the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is a year of tithing, and has given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates and be filled."

And then God says something else there in reference to that. Now, the poor tithe was collected once every three years. The poor tithe also was 10 percent. Now, the poor tithe was for the Levite, not that he was poor, but God wanted to make sure that he was always remembered, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. Now, this is known as the poor tithe. Now, there were other means available.

I'm going to cover some of them a little bit later. There were other means available of helping people who were in distress. There was the law of gleaning. There's what is known as poor loans. Because I'm going to be showing you in the not too distant future, probably two weeks from now, the difference between biblical charity and an act of mercy. There's some people we cannot help. Some people God forbids us to help. I'll mention that a little bit today. But there are other ways to help people besides the poor tithe. Because this poor tithe was once every three years. Now, let me make just at least six statements of principle concerning the poor tithe.

Principles of the Poor Tithe

Six principles: it prevents state usurpation, strengthens godly society, is given locally, reflects God's character, promotes self-reliance, and requires personal knowledge of recipients.

I believe you can see them very clearly. First of all, if the poor tithe was faithfully tithed, the usurpation of government in this area would eventually disappear. Let me say that again. If the poor tithe was faithfully tithed, the usurpation of government in this area would eventually disappear. In a godly order, the group best instructed in the law will have far-reaching social services to render. Consequently, without the collection and distribution of the poor tithe, either the state assumes control or wealthy individuals and certain foundations assume control of what you and I would know as social services or welfare. What does the tithe do? The tithe places the control of society in the hands of the tithers. Not in the hands of the state. Not in the hands of wealthy individuals. Not in the hands of foundations. But it places it in the hands of the tithers. So the very first observation is this. If the poor tithe was faithfully given, as well as the Levitical tithe, it would knock the state out of the area that they have stolen this jurisdiction, and rendering it now to those who, a lot of times, do not deserve it. Number two, the poor tithe is a means of strengthening a godly society.

It cannot be used to subsidize evil, sloth, or apostasy. Would you care to figure out in your mind what is the number one problem we have today with governmental welfare? They give it to people who don't deserve it. They're indiscriminate. If you don't work, you get it. If you have 40 babies, you get it. In other words, it is just simply today a means to make people more irresponsible. Because now they can have money and never work and never face any responsibility.

My wife can tell you we heard a man talk about his brother-in-law. He was a black man. And his brother-in-law had, if I remember correctly, 36 children. Of course, not by a lie. He didn't have one. Thirty-six. That somebody's feeding, but not him. So you see what I'm saying? Social financing is necessary. There's a biblical plan for it. But dear friend, let me tell you something.

Either the people of God will undertake it or the state will. And you and I cannot build a godly society apart from obedience to God's law. There are people that need help. And those people need to be helped on a biblical basis, but there are other people who should not ever be helped. I'll tell you that in just a moment. Thirdly, the poor tithe was given locally. What does that mean? Well, the proposition is clear. If the poor tithe is given locally, I know who I'm giving to. If Henry's sorry and won't work, and Ed's doing the best he can and still can't make it, I'm going to give mine to Ed. Henry can do without. He said, Brother Weaver, I don't think that's fair. I don't know whether you think it's fair or not, but it sure is biblical. You know what the Bible says in 2 Thessalonians 3 and verse 10?

Scripture Reading — 2 Thessalonians 3:10

"If any will not work, help me out, neither should he eat."

It's just that simple. If any will not work, neither should he eat. As much as possible, we are to know the character of the people to whom we give our money. I'm not going to give money to a dope addict. I'm not going to give money to a drunkard. Now, if he's hungry, I might buy him a hamburger, but I'm not going to buy him a hamburger and hand it to him.

I'm not going to give him the money and trust him to go buy the hamburger. But the point is, there's some folks we cannot help, we should not help. And gossip, a man's too lazy to work, neither should he eat. Now, I want you to understand, this does not mean that we cannot give nationally or internationally. There are times we can, but even when we do, we're responsible to know who we are helping and why we're helping. And if you look in your Bibles, the first Corinthians chapter 16, beginning there with verse one, first Corinthians 16 and verse one. But what the Bible says. First Corinthians 16, verse one. The apostle Paul says this.

"Now concerning the election for the Saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. And when I come, whomsoever you shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem." "And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me." Now what did Paul say? Paul said, we are taking up an offering for the poor in Jerusalem. There was a famine in Jerusalem. Paul said, look, to the churches of Galatia who were not in Jerusalem, not even near Jerusalem, this is the money to go to those poor in Jerusalem. But I tell you what you will do. You take it up, and whomever you appoint to take that money down there, they can take it, they can see for themselves that it is a genuine, legitimate need, and they can come back and report to you.

Or if you like, if you want to send me along with them, fine, I'll go as well. But what is Paul saying? I want you to know to whom you're giving this money, and for what reason. So when the poor tithe was given locally, of course, that meant we knew. We knew the character of the people to whom we were giving. A fourth principle is this. Since the poor tithe teaches us to care for those who, through no fault of their own, who cannot care for themselves, in that sense of the word, we're like our Heavenly Father.

You say, what are you talking about? Well, look in your Bibles, if you would, first of all, to Exodus 22. Exodus 22. And then we're going to Psalm 68, Exodus 22. And notice, if you would please, verse 22. Exodus 22, verse 22, God says,

Scripture Reading — Exodus 22:22-24

"You shall not afflict any widow nor fatherless child. If thou afflict them in any wise and they cried all unto me, I will surely hear their cry. And my wrath will wax hot, and I will kill you with a sword, and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless."

God said, you better not abuse the widows and the orphans. And then if you look in Psalm 68 verse 5, Psalm 68 verse 5, Psalm 68 verse 5, what does the Bible say about God? That He is a Father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows is God in his holy habitation. He's the father of the fatherless and a judge of the widows.

So by aiding those individuals who are genuinely in need, who are deserving of need, it will keep them then from falling into what you and I would know as a chronic and debilitating poverty. Thus what it does is basically provide stability for the family. In fact, look in your Bible, Acts chapter 6. You will see the early church did this. In fact, this is the incident where the first deacons were chosen. And by the way, as you look at this text, I want you to understand that the first deacons were chosen not to run the church, not to run the pastor, not to control and manipulate, they were chosen for one reason. To be a servant to the pastors. To be a servant to help them in feeding the widows so that the preachers could give themselves to prayer and the study and the preaching of the word. Look at Acts chapter 6, beginning there with verse 1. "And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there was a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews." Why? "Because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration." In other words, the Grecian widows were saying, oh man, y'all are giving more food to those Hebrew widows than you are. You don't love us. You don't like us. Huh. "Then the twelve called the multitude of disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables." Did you hear that? It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. "Wherefore, brethren, look you out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we, we, we, that is the pastors or the preachers, whom we may appoint over this business."

What business? The business of waiting on the widows and taking care of them. "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the Word." Why were the first deacons chosen? To relieve the preachers from this obligation of taking care of the widows so that they could give themselves to the education of the people through study and through prayer. But note, if you would please, these widows were being taken care of, and that was the reason those deacons were appointed to begin with, was to take care of the widows. I was preaching in Mobile, Alabama. And there was a fellow there who was an air-conditioning man. He came to church one night, and his hand and his arm was just swelled like a balloon. And I called his name. I said, what in the world happened to you? Well, he said, I was pulling the window unit out, and I stuck my hand in it, and a black widow bit me. This fellow was a deacon.

I said, now I'm going to tell you. When the Bible tells you to take care of the widows, that is not what he's talking about. It's not spiders that you're to be taking care of, you know. You don't feed them, you feed men and women who have needs. But that's exactly what we're talking about. But I want you to understand something about this poor tithe. Although we help people who have genuine needs, we cannot help them in such a way where the recipient becomes dependent upon the giver. The help cannot be a permanent arrangement.

It is not a welfare system. It is a means to help individuals become self-reliant and to give them the edge that they need to get back on their feet. Now, number five. Since the poor tithes were collected every third year, that means that if we were to give annually, that we would be giving approximately an additional 3.33% or 3.33%. Which goes into a benevolent fund. By the way, whether most of you know it or not, we do have a benevolent fund. We do have some shekels in it. Not a great deal. But that fund has been used to help even some of our own people when they were out of work or when things cropped up with unexpected illness and sickness and things like that, that they could not handle at that particular time. It's been used for witness. It's been used the way it should be used.

Now, the point I'm trying to make is this. In the Old Testament, you've got to remember, they were basically an agricultural economy. We're not necessarily that today. But the reason this was given every third year was to teach them to be frugal and future oriented. They knew it was going to be in another three years before another poor tithe would come around. So they better learn to make use of what they have and they better plan for the future. And here's the sixth one, and I'll close with this one. If we are to give to those who are worthy of receiving, it means that we must know the recipient. And the recipient must know us. Look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 14. When it comes to the poor tithe, I want you to understand that you are to know the individuals that you give to, and they're to know you. Deuteronomy chapter 14, look in verse 29.

"And the Levite, because he hath no partner or inheritance with thee, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow which are within thy gates shall come and eat and be satisfied that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest." Now, if they come and eat with you and you share with them, what does that mean? You know them, they know you.

Application and Conclusion

The church has practiced these principles by helping families of imprisoned believers, and biblical charity strengthens society. Obedience to God's tithes is essential for a godly order.

Now, our church, for years, has helped wives whose husbands were in prison for the faith's sake. We still do. You see what that is doing? That's not saying that here's somebody that is so poor, usually, that they can't exist. No. But the head of the household, the breadwinner has been taken away. Now, what is happening? The monies that we send still maintains the strength of that family until that breadwinner is out again and can go back to earning money. You know, it's amazing to me, and this is the truth, and we have done this as a church, for years, I don't even know how many, I guess ever since we've been in existence. But every man, every family that we have ever helped, when they got out of prison and got back on their feet, and I would say usually I would try to at least keep going another month or so after they were out, but everyone without an exception has called me and said, "Pastor, I've got a job. I'm working."

"We're thankful for the help. Please stop sending us money and use it for someone else who now needs it more than we do." Everyone without exception. I'm going to show you later on that biblical charity is for the strengthening of a godly society. Even the poor tithe strengthens a godly society. Let's pray. Father, we thank you today for Jesus Christ, for the Word of God, for His truth. Lord, help us to understand that there are indeed implications in these tithes. We will either obey Thee and be ruled by Thee, or disobey Thee and be ruled by man. We cannot sin against Thee without destroying ourselves. Help us to see that in order to have a godly society, we must follow Your law, Your word, Your truth.

Make us obedient in every area of our lives. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Sovereignty of God in Wealth

Summary: God is the source and sovereign distributor of wealth, giving it according to His purposes and often through covenantal obedience and individual responsibility.

Evidence: Weaver reviews Deuteronomy 8:18 and 1 Samuel 2, stating, 'it is the Lord who maketh rich, it is the Lord who maketh poor.'

The Tithes as the Lord's Property

Summary: The tithes belong to the Lord and are to be used for His kingdom, not owned by individuals or institutions.

Evidence: Leviticus 27:30 is cited: 'all the tithe of the land... is the Lord's. It is wholly unto the Lord.'

Prevention of Statism through Tithing

Summary: Without the tithes, the state usurps God's role, leading to tyranny; restoration of tithing is necessary for a Christian order.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'Without the tithes, statism usurps and replaces the kingdom of God with the kingdom of man.'

The Levites as Educators and Their Economic Provision

Summary: The Levites' primary role was teaching God's law, and they were to be adequately supported, not impoverished, as their capital was the Lord and His Word.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Their capital was the Lord and His Word,' and explains they received about 20% more than average Israelites.

Universal Obligation to Tithe

Summary: All, including Levites, must tithe; only the high priest (ultimately Christ) is exempt, signifying God's rule through Christ.

Evidence: Numbers 18:25-28 shows Levites tithing to Aaron; Weaver says, 'no one is exempt from paying God his due.'

Local and Discerning Charity

Summary: The poor tithe was given locally, requiring knowledge of recipients' character; help should not subsidize sloth or evil.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 14:28-29 and 2 Thessalonians 3:10 are cited; Weaver says, 'If any will not work, neither should he eat.'

Key Arguments

Tithing Prevents State Control

Summary: Faithful tithing places social services under the control of tithers, not the state or wealthy elites, preventing governmental overreach.

Evidence: Weaver argues, 'If the poor tithe was faithfully tithed, the usurpation of government in this area would eventually disappear.'

The Levites Were Not to Be Poor

Summary: The belief that ministers should be poor is ungodly; the Levites' inheritance was the Lord, and they were to live equal to or above others.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'The belief that the Levites or ministers of the word of God in any age should reveal their piety by their poverty is ungodly.'

Tithing Reflects God's Rule through Christ

Summary: Tithing acknowledges Christ as the ultimate High Priest through whom God rules; it is an act of recognizing His mediatorship.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Therefore we are obligated and required to tithe in recognition of His mediatorship and His priesthood.'

Charity Must Be Discerning and Temporary

Summary: Help should be given to those genuinely in need, not to enable laziness, and should aim to make recipients self-reliant, not dependent.

Evidence: Weaver explains, 'The help cannot be a permanent arrangement. It is not a welfare system.'

Biblical Charity Strengthens Society

Summary: Properly administered charity, like the poor tithe, provides stability for families and strengthens a godly society.

Evidence: Weaver notes that helping families of imprisoned believers maintained family strength until the breadwinner returned.

Scripture References

Malachi 3:7-12

Context: God accuses Israel of robbing Him in tithes and offerings and promises blessing if they bring the full tithe.

Deuteronomy 8:18

Context: God gives the power to get wealth to establish His covenant.

1 Samuel 2:7-8

Context: The Lord makes poor and rich; He lifts the beggar to set him among princes.

Leviticus 27:30

Context: All the tithe of the land is the Lord's; it is holy unto the Lord.

Numbers 18:20-21

Context: The Levites have no inheritance; the tithe is given to them for their service.

Numbers 3:5-13

Context: The Levites are taken instead of the firstborn of Israel to serve the tabernacle.

Numbers 1:51

Context: The Levites are to take down and set up the tabernacle; strangers who come near are to be put to death.

Numbers 18:22-24

Context: The Levites bear the iniquity of the sanctuary and have no inheritance; the tithe is their inheritance.

Deuteronomy 10:9

Context: Levi has no part or inheritance; the Lord is his inheritance.

Deuteronomy 18:1-2

Context: The priests and Levites have no inheritance; they eat the offerings of the Lord.

Leviticus 10:11

Context: The priests are to teach the children of Israel all the statutes of the Lord.

Deuteronomy 17:18-19

Context: The king is to write a copy of the law from the priests and read it all his life.

Deuteronomy 31:9-13

Context: The law is to be read before all Israel every seven years at the Feast of Tabernacles.

Deuteronomy 33:10

Context: They shall teach Jacob thy judgments and Israel thy law.

Numbers 18:25-28

Context: The Levites are to offer a heave offering of a tenth of the tithes they receive to the Lord.

Deuteronomy 14:28-29

Context: At the end of three years, the tithe is to be laid up for the Levite, stranger, fatherless, and widow.

Deuteronomy 26:12

Context: The tithe of the third year is given to the Levite, stranger, fatherless, and widow.

2 Thessalonians 3:10

Context: If any would not work, neither should he eat.

1 Corinthians 16:1-4

Context: Paul instructs the church to collect for the saints and send it by approved messengers.

Exodus 22:22-24

Context: God commands not to afflict widows or fatherless children; He will hear their cry and execute judgment.

Historical References

Greek philosophy and Thomas Aquinas

Context: Weaver argues that Greek dualism and Aquinas's teachings have led Christians to despise material wealth and divide life into secular and sacred.

Samuel Chadwick (1860-1912)

Context: A pastor quoted as saying, 'no man can rob God without starving his own soul.'

Important Quotes

Without the tithes, statism usurps and replaces the kingdom of God with the kingdom of man.

Significance: Summarizes the argument that tithing is essential to prevent governmental overreach and maintain God's order.

The belief that the Levites or ministers of the word of God in any age should reveal their piety by their poverty is ungodly.

Significance: Challenges the common notion that ministers should be poor, asserting biblical support for their adequate provision.

Their capital was the Lord and His Word.

Significance: Defines the Levites' true resource, equating their ministerial knowledge with other professions' tools.

No man can rob God without starving his own soul.

Significance: A quote from Samuel Chadwick emphasizing the spiritual consequence of withholding tithes.

If any will not work, neither should he eat.

Significance: Biblical principle used to argue that charity should not enable laziness.

Discussion Questions

How does the concept that 'the tithes belong to the Lord' change our perspective on giving?

Context: Weaver emphasizes that tithes are not ours to direct but are holy to God, based on Leviticus 27:30.

In what ways might the church today be guilty of 'robbing God' in tithes and offerings, and what are the consequences?

Context: Malachi 3:8-9 is cited, where God accuses Israel of robbing Him and being cursed.

What would a society look like if the poor tithe were faithfully practiced today?

Context: Weaver argues that faithful tithing would eliminate state welfare and place social services under godly control.

How should we balance the command to help the needy with the principle that 'if any will not work, neither should he eat'?

Context: Weaver discusses the need for discernment in charity, citing 2 Thessalonians 3:10.

What does it mean for a pastor or minister to have 'the Lord and His Word' as their capital, and how should that affect a congregation's support?

Context: Weaver explains that the Levites' capital was spiritual, not land, and they were to be supported accordingly.

Why is it significant that the Levites themselves were required to tithe, and how does this apply to all believers?

Context: Numbers 18:25-28 shows Levites tithing to the high priest, establishing that no one is exempt from tithing.

Applications

Faithful Tithing as an Act of Worship

Summary: Believers should tithe faithfully, recognizing that the tithe belongs to the Lord and is an act of obedience and worship.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'the tithes belong unto the Lord' and that tithing acknowledges God's sovereignty.

Supporting Ministers Adequately

Summary: Churches should ensure that pastors and ministers are supported financially so they can focus on teaching and ministry, not be impoverished.

Evidence: Weaver argues that the Levites were not to be poor and that their capital was the Lord and His Word.

Discerning Charity

Summary: When giving to the needy, believers should know the recipients and ensure help is given to those genuinely in need, not to enable laziness.

Evidence: Weaver cites 2 Thessalonians 3:10 and emphasizes local, personal knowledge in giving the poor tithe.

Temporary Assistance for Self-Reliance

Summary: Charity should be temporary and aimed at helping recipients become self-reliant, not creating dependency.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'The help cannot be a permanent arrangement. It is not a welfare system.'

Local Church Responsibility for Social Services

Summary: The church, not the state, should be the primary agent of social welfare, administered through tithing and local knowledge.

Evidence: Weaver argues that the poor tithe places control in the hands of tithers, not the state.

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T00:28:22Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T14:58:19Z

Clean Transcript

Biblical Wealth - Part 5 of 8

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Malachi 3, verse 7, if you would please. "Even from the days of your fathers, you have gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But you said, wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me, but you say wherein have we robbed thee in tithes and offerings? You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed me, even this old nation. Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts."
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"If I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. And all the nation shall call you blessed, for you shall be in a lightsome land, saith the Lord."
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Now, note, if you would please, let's just stop there today. I've been dealing with this series on biblical wealth, and last week I dealt with the theology of the tithes, and let me just take a moment and try to rehearse and go over some of the things I've shown you just so we can try to tie things together. In this subject, we've looked at the source of wealth. Actually, the sovereignty and the source of wealth from Deuteronomy chapter 8 and verse 18, where God said that we're not to forget it is God who gives us the power to get wealth. And I pointed out in that first series, which I'll remind you again later, of how Greek philosophy and the teachings of Thomas Aquinas have filtered down into the average Christian household, and instead of having a biblical worldview and a biblical concept, most of us have a pagan or a Roman Catholic concept of wealth and try to divide everything into the secular and the sacred, when for the child of God, everything is sacred.
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Then we looked, of course, at the sovereignty and the subjects of wealth. Where in 1 Samuel chapter 2, the scripture says, it is the Lord who maketh rich, it is the Lord who maketh poor, it is the Lord who lifted up the beggar out of the dunghill, that he may set him among the princes. So once again, God in his sovereignty is the one who chooses the subjects of wealth.
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Now, I told you, understanding God's sovereignty, usually the hinges of God's blessing are two. First of all was covenantal obedience and secondly, individual responsibility. So the door of God's blessing usually swings upon covenantal obedience and individual responsibility.
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Now you and I may be covenantally obedient and we may be individually responsible and never have wealth. In that case, we just understand that's in the sovereignty of God. But when God does give wealth, it is usually based upon those two hinges and that door of blessing swings on those hinges. And then thirdly, we looked at the purpose of wealth. Because he said he gave wealth, why? That he may keep the covenant which he sware unto thy fathers.
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So we went back and saw, of course, that dominion mandate, that great charter and showed how everything is to be subdued and brought in subjection unto God for His honor and His glory. In other words, it is so that we may bring into fruition all that God has ordained and that we may serve Him and His Kingdom.
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Now, last week I began showing you on the importance of the tithes. And as I talked about the tithes, I want you to turn, by the way, to the book of Leviticus, chapter 27, to begin with. I told you that there was one important truth that you must always understand. And that is the tithes do not belong to an individual. They do not belong to a church. They do not belong to a corporation. They belong to Lord Himself. Because in Leviticus chapter 27 and verse 30, God says it very plainly. Leviticus 27 verse 30, the Word of God says, "And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, it is the Lord's. It is wholly unto the Lord." So the tithes belong unto the Lord.
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They are to be used for the furtherance of his kingdom, for his honor, and his glory. Now last week, I wanted to prove one thing to you, and that is this. Without the tithes, statism usurps and replaces the kingdom of God with the kingdom of man. In other words, when you deny the tithes, all you're doing is putting yourself in the position where you can have a totalitarian and a tyrannical state. There can be no restoration of a Christian order apart from the restoration of the tithes.
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Now, you notice I keep saying tithes, and in Malachi chapter 3, he says in verse 8 that we have robbed him in tithes and in offerings. Then in verse 10, he says, bring you all the tithes into the storehouse. The reason the word tithes is in the plural is because there are three tithes mentioned in the Bible. Today, I'm going to cover the first two. I'm going to devote an entire message next week on the third tithe, because it is so misunderstood and so very seldom obeyed I want you to see that it is unique, and God has ordained it for a certain purpose. Now, today we're going to look at the first two tithes, and let me tell you that each tithe is important, and each one is designed for a particular purpose.
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The tithes demonstrate the care, concern, and compassion that are to be exhibited and exercised in the Christian's life. Now, the first tithe that we're going to look at, everyone knows about, that is the Levitical tithe. Sometimes it is called the social tithe. If you look in your Bibles to the book of Numbers, chapter 18, and notice verses 20 and 21. Numbers, chapter 18, verses 20 and 21. Watch carefully as I read these two verses. In fact, we're going to be looking a lot in the book of Numbers. Numbers, chapter 18, verse 20.
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"And the Lord spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them. I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel. And behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance for their service, which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation."
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Now, I'm going to stop right there. We're going to develop this a little more fully shortly. But note, if you would, in verse 21, "I have given the children of Levi all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance."
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Now, you have to remember that the tithes belong unto the Lord. What does that imply? Since they are his, he is the one who designates to whom they are to be given and how they are to be used.
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Now, let me just tell you another simple principle. All three of these tithes that we're going to be looking at are based upon one's increase. Therefore, no tithe is more important than or greater than the other. All three have equal importance and equal significance.
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Now, the Levites were given unto Aaron and his family as a substitute for the firstborn of the children of Israel. If you will go back in your Bibles to the book of Numbers, chapter 3, you remember that God declared and decreed that the firstborn of everything was to be His. Not just the firstborn of cats and the firstborn of sheep, but even the firstborn of humans. They were to be His. So what God did in Numbers chapter 3 is he substituted the tribe of Levi for the firstborn among the Israelites. Notice Numbers 3 verse 5. "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him, and they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle. And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle and congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and his sons."
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"They are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel. And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons. And they shall wait on the priest's office. And the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel, instead of all the firstborn that opened in the matrix among the children of Israel. Therefore, the Levites shall be mine, because all the firstborn are mine. For on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. Mine shall they be. I am the Lord."
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Note, if you would, what God did was this. He took the entire tribe of Levi instead of the firstborn of every child of Israel. Now, the Levitical order, therefore, consisted of the descendants of Levi's three sons, Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. Aaron, of course, and his issue constituted the priestly order. Now, the age and the qualifications for the Levitical service is also specified in Numbers chapter 4. God left nothing undone. In fact, in Numbers chapter 4, they were to serve from 30 to 50 years of age. The Levites were not included among the armies of Israel. You'll find that in Numbers chapter 1, Numbers chapter 2, Numbers chapter 26. So when the warriors were numbered in Israel, the tribe of Levite was never numbered. That does not mean, therefore, that the Levites were not warriors and could not fight. Many times you will find that individual Levites did indeed fight in battles. Some went to David. But I want you to note something, if you would. Look in your Bibles to Numbers chapter 1, if you would please, verse 51.
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And then we're going to Numbers 18. Number 1, verse 51. The Levites certainly had a warrior mentality. Because of Numbers 1 in verse 51, "and when the tabernacle is set in forward, the Levites shall take it down, and when the tabernacle is pitched, the Levites shall set it up, and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death."
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Now, who do you think is doing the executing? It's the Levites. They were armed, they had weapons, and they just put to death anybody who came near that tabernacle. If you look at Numbers chapter 18, and by the way, I preached a message on this in times past on warrior priests, and I demonstrated all the fighting abilities of the Levites. But in Numbers chapter 18, beginning there with verse 22, he says, "Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come out of the tabernacle of the congregation."
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"lest they bear sin and die. But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity, and it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance. But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an offering unto the Lord, I have given to the Levites to inherit. Therefore, I said unto them, among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance." Now, note if you would, they are charged with the protection of the tabernacle. They're also charged later on with the protection of Aaron and all of his sons. Now, it was the duty, therefore, of the Levites, number one, to pick up and move that tent wherever the children of Israel traveled. It was also their duty to set up that tent and they were to wait upon them and do the services of the sanctuary. Note, if you would, they were wholly consecrated unto the Lord.
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For instance, verse 26 of Numbers 18, look at it. I'm sorry, Numbers 18, verse 2. "And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee. But thou and thy son shall minister before the tabernacle of witness." And we're talking about the Levites now. "...and they shall keep the charge, and the charge of the tabernacle, only they shall not come neither vessels nor the sanctuary, nor the altar, that neither they nor ye also die." In other words, there are limitations placed upon the Levites as well. "And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation for all the service of the tabernacle, and the stranger shall not come nigh unto thee. And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar."
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"There shall be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel. And I behold, look what God says, I've taken your brethren, the Levites, from among the children of Israel. To you they are given as a gift for the Lord to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation." So the children of Levite then were wholly given to the household of Aaron. Now, since they were wholly consecrated to the Lord, they had no territorial possessions. What does that mean?
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Do you remember when the land was divided between the twelve tribes? Guess what? Levite never had a division of the land. Why? Well, look at Numbers chapter 18 in verse 20. Here's why. We'll look at it in several passages. Numbers 18 verse 20. "And the Lord spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them. I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel." Now, you've got to remember that Aaron was a Levite as well. So what is going to be said of Aaron is also going to be said of the Levites. If you would turn to Deuteronomy chapter 10 and look at verse 9. Deuteronomy 10 verse 9.
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Note what God says concerning Levi. "Wherefore, Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren. The Lord is his inheritance according as the Lord thy God promised him." Once again, the tribe of Levi had no inheritance. Look at Deuteronomy chapter 18, verses 1 and 2. Deuteronomy 18, verses 1 and 2. This is repeated a number of times in scripture. Deuteronomy 18, verse 1, "the priests, the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel. They shall eat of the offerings of the Lord made by fire and his inheritance. Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren. The Lord is their inheritance, as he has said unto them."
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So they did receive no division of the land. Now, that did not mean that they had absolutely no place to live. Because out of all the other tribes, there were 48 cities that were assigned unto them, and 13 of those cities were just simply for the priests and the priest's family to dwell in. Then each of them also had what is called in the Bible suburbs or commons, and that was a place where they could have their herds and their flocks out in the fields as well. They also had their vineyards.
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You'll find that in Numbers chapter 35 verses 2 through 5. So they had these cities assigned to them throughout the land. They were scattered throughout all of Israel. Moreover, you will find that many of these cities, in fact, six of them, six of the Levitical cities, were known as cities of refuge. That is, where someone who had slain someone innocently, or the way you and I would call it, accidentally, could run to, and then he would be protected from the avenger of blood. Also, nine of these cities were in Judah, three in Naphtali, and four in other tribes.
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We're talking about the commons there particularly. Thus, the Levites, therefore, were scattered throughout all of Israel. Why? Because, I'm going to show you, it was their responsibility to keep alive the knowledge and the service of God. Now, we just read how the Levites were to take down the tabernacle, move it, set it up. But still, although they could take it down and set it up, they had no business in the holy place, nor in the most holy place, that was reserved for Aaron and his sons.
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But now let me ask you a question. Did the Levites do anything other than move and set up the tabernacle? And the answer is emphatically yes. It is an interesting study just to go through your Bible and find out everything that the Levites did. But I want to tell you first and foremost, their primary duty was education. They were to educate the people. They were to educate civil authorities. They were to educate the congregation at large. Let me just show you. Look in your Bibles, first of all, to the book of Leviticus, chapter 10. I'm going to show you a number of other things that they did in just a moment. But Leviticus, chapter 10, verse 11. Leviticus 10, verse 11. Note, if you would, what the Bible says, here is why God gave these Levites.
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"and that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses." So the Levites had a peculiar responsibility to teach all of the law of God. Look in Deuteronomy 17 and verse 18. Here's an interesting statement to show you once again they did teach civil authorities. Deuteronomy 17 verse 18. That passage deals when Israel selects a king. Notice what the Bible says, Deuteronomy 17 verse 18, "and it shall be when he sit upon the throne of his kingdom that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests, the Levites, and it shall be with him He shall read therein all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law, and these statutes to do them." So the king then, the civil authority, had to have his own personal copy of the word of God. And naturally, it would be the Levites who would be teaching him and instructing him.
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You'll notice as you read your Bible, John was certainly one of those who instructed the king. There were numerous men who instructed the king. So, here they were teaching. Look in Deuteronomy 31, beginning there with verse 9. Deuteronomy 31, verse 9. This is one of my favorite passages. Deuteronomy 31, verse 9. "And Moses commanded them, saying, at the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the Feast of the Tabernacles." Now look what happens. "When all Israel has come to appear before the Lord by God, in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing." Now look what God demands. "Gather the people together, men and women and children, and my stranger that is within my gates, that they may hear, and they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law. And that their children, which have not known anything, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in this land, whether you go over to Jordan to possess it."
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So you're going to find that many times it was indeed the Levites who were reading all of this law and instructing them. Look at Deuteronomy 33 and verse 10. Deuteronomy 33 and verse 10. Once again, God says "they shall teach Jacob by judgment and Israel by law. They shall put incense before thee and whole burnt sacrifice on thine altar." So once again, the primary duty of the Levites was not just moving the tabernacle hither and yon, because after the wilderness wanderings, that tabernacle was set up and stayed set up in one particular place, especially Shiloh for a long period of time. So they were educators. I could read that in 2 Chronicles 17, verses 7-9, and also in Nehemiah 8, verse 9. That's where the people stood for a half a day while the Word of God was just being read to them. But you're also going to find that these Levites were also singers, musicians, and composers. Without turning there, you'll find that in First Chronicles 15, verses 16 through 24, and chapter 25, verses 1 through 7.
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You will also find that these Levites were also officers and judges. First Chronicles 23, verse 4. First Chronicles 26, verses 29 through 32. Well, who better to judge than those who know the law of God? It was their responsibility to teach. Moreover, the Levites were medical practitioners. Do you not remember in Leviticus 13, one of the things the priest had to do was to be able to examine leprosy and to know whether or not something was either leprosy or just simply a little infection in the skin. So he had to have a little medical knowledge as well. Now, I'm just pointing out to you that these Levites did more than move the tabernacle around.
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They were singers, musicians, composers, yes. They were judges and civil officers, yes. They were medical practitioners, yes. But their primary responsibility was education in the totality of the law of God. They had to know the law. They had to know how to apply the law.
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Now, let me remind you momentarily of the first message that I preached in this series. Because I showed you in the very first message how Greek philosophy has infiltrated Christian thought. And today instead of being biblical and having a Christian worldview, most of us are pagan to the core. Because somehow we have swallowed the lie of Greek philosophy and the teachings of Thomas Aquinas somehow that we are to despise material wealth and that somehow wealth is in and of itself evil. And therefore, today, we tend to think that anyone who is associated with the ministry in any way whatsoever should be rather poor.
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Now, I am certainly, I want you to understand, I am not teaching a prosperity gospel at this point. I am not talking about that. But I'm just showing you the concept that we have, which is absolutely, totally contrary to Scripture. Many of us, in fact, probably all of us have heard the old story about the young preacher who came to his first church. And let me tell you, any young preacher, when he gets to that first church, he wants everything right, and he wants to be right.
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And he was in a prayer meeting with some of the people, and as he was praying aloud, he prayed, "Lord, keep me poor and humble." And when it came time for the old deacon to pray, he said, "Lord, you've heard the request of the pastor. You just keep him humble, we'll keep him poor." Well, you understand what I'm talking about, and the reason I'm saying that is just to show you that God's servants, even in the Old Testament, were never ever to be second-class or second-rate citizens.
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You see, although the Levites had no inheritance of the land in Israel, God Himself and the ministry was their part and their inheritance. And just simply because God Himself was their part and inheritance did not mean that they were to be poverty-stricken. The belief that the Levites or ministers of the word of God in any age should reveal their piety by their poverty is ungodly. I want you to stop and think that the tribe of Levi should have been quite wealthy. You say, what do you mean they should have been quite wealthy? Well, they should have been wealthy because they would be receiving a larger share of all the Israelites. There were twelve tribes. Remember that?
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One of them is taken now. That means eleven tribes. What is ten percent of eleven? You see, you automatically have another ten percent, but you've got to remember this. The half-tribe of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh basically formed another tribe on the other side of the river. So now you've got 12 tribes. So if all these people are tithing to the Levites, the Levites are getting 120%. You follow me?
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So the point I'm making is this, they would have had on the average 20% more than the average Israelite. Moreover, when you begin to read the scripture, you're going to find that if you're going to tithe on trees or fruit in Leviticus 27 verses 30 through 33 without turning there, if you're going to tithe on these things and you want to redeem it, in other words, you've got a good crop of pears and you just want those pears for yourself and you want to make some pear preserves. Well, God said, sure, you may redeem those pears, but what you have to do you have to pay the value of those pears plus 20%. Moreover, God got the firstborn of all the cattle.
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Now, here you are tithing this nice young bull. You don't need him, but he's a firstborn. And the Levites have him in their pasture for a couple of years. And your old bull dies. Now you think about that young bull that you tithed. Well, you could redeem him. But you would have to pay his value plus 20%. You see what I'm saying? So it seems as if everything that happened, the Levites got usually about 20% more.
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Now, let me just point something out. And I want you to think about this. I've often said that if there is a congregation and you only had ten families in that congregation, only had ten, if each of those tithe faithfully, do you realize the pastor then, not counting the expenses of the building, etc., but if you tithe faithfully, the pastor then would be living equal to what all the other people are living. You follow me?
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Because I don't care if Doc made $100,000 a year and Henry made $10,000 a year and Ed made $70,000 a year. In other words, 10% of 10 is still 100%. In other words, I'd be living no better nor no less than anybody else. But however, when you begin to think that a pastor is to be held to a higher standard, for instance, he is to be given the hospitality.
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Now, the point I'm trying to make is very simple. I have more company in my house than you ever have at your house. There's probably not hardly ever a week that goes by that we do not have company of some sort, or some missionary passing through. You see what I'm saying? And it's interesting that about 20% more usually covers all of the extra expenses. It's amazing that I find this in the Bible, that everything that they did was usually about 20% more. Now, the point I'm trying to make is this. The fact that the Levites received the largest average on the yearly harvest gives us two very important principles.
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The first one is this. The Levites were not the poor in Israel. They were not the poor in Israel. That's all there is to it. Their life was not to be one of misery and one of poverty. They were, as a whole, to be equal to all the other members of society and slightly above them because of all the other expenses that they had.
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Now, the second thing is this. The services that the Levites provided were to be profitable not only for them, but also for the congregation as well. In fact, God said that the tithes that the Levites received were as though it were the corn of the threshing floor and the fullness of the winepress, Numbers 18, verse 27. So what does that mean? The Levites did not have the land.
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They weren't out there growing crops. They were studying and preaching and teaching and ministering. And God says your ministry as is, as if you had all of this. In other words, basically, the returns that they received from their ministerial services were no different in principle than the returns that the other Israelites received from their land, their trees, their herbs, their vineyards, and their flocks. In other words, it was the same thing. Simply because God was their inheritance and simply because God was their capital rather than farm and pasture land does not mean that the tribe of Levi wants to be suffering and to be poor. No. Their capital... Are you listening? Their capital was the Lord and His Word.
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Now I want you to stop and think about that. Their capital was the Lord and His Word. If you and I have a sick animal in this congregation, we're going to see Dr. Holmes. What is his capital, his ability to minister to animals, to doctor animals? You see what I'm saying? If my neck needs cracking, I'll go to a good chiropractor. Why? Well, that's his ability. That's his ministry. That's his service. If I need a table made, I'll go see Henry. Now, however, if you want to be taught, if you want to hear the Word of God, who do you go see? Your pastor. You follow me? The knowledge of the Lord and the knowledge of His Word is capital just like operating instruments, just like a chiropractic table, just like a room full of bandsaws and drills and skill saws and that kind of thing. It's the capital.
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Now, the Levites, therefore, because the Lord was their capital, because the Lord was their resource and His word, they were therefore obligated to teach and apply and to carry out the implications of God's law into every area of their life. And to help other people do exactly the same.
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Now, let me show you something else. Look in your Bibles to the book of Leviticus chapter, I'm sorry, Numbers chapter 18. Numbers chapter 18. Talking about the Levites. I want to go back to Leviticus. Numbers chapter 18. And get ready, because I want to show you something in just a moment. Let's see. OK, now, Numbers chapter 18. Now, we've been talking about the Levitical tithes. Because all of Israel is tithing to the Levites who are teaching them the law of God. But guess what? The Levites were also obligated to tithe. Not only did the Levites receive tithes, but the Levites were obligated to tithe. Look in your Bibles, Numbers chapter 18 and beginning with verse 25. Numbers 18 verse 25. "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Thus speaketh the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the Lord, even a tenth part of the tithe."
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"And this is your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corner of the threshing floor, and as the fullness of the winepress. Thus you shall offer a heave offering unto the Lord of all your tithes which you receive in the children of Israel, and you shall give thereof the Lord's heave offering unto Aaron the priest. Out of all your gifts you shall offer every heave offering of the Lord of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it."
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Now, note if you would please, although the Levites received tithes, they were required to tithe. Now what do I mean by that and what is the implication of that? It means this. Just because a Levite was a Levite does not mean that he could pay a tithe to himself. Does not mean that he had to get out tithing. In other words, suppose you said, now brother, we were here in my tithes, thank you. Guess what? I'm now obligated to tithe. Well, to whom did these Levites tithe?
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They tithed to the high priest. The high priest and his family were the only persons in Israel who were not obligated to tithe. Why? It was through the High Priest that God Himself actually ruled Israel. Are you listening? The fact that the Levites had to tithe on the tithes they received establishes a biblical principle. What's the principle? It doesn't matter what a person's occupation is, doesn't matter what type of business you're involved in, no one is exempt from paying God his due. The only person exempt was that high priest, and the only reason he was exempt was because it was through him God actually ruled Israel. Now, do we have a high priest?
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You better believe we do. Our High Priest is no longer Aaron. Our High Priest is the Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 4 tells us He is our Great High Priest and it is through Jesus Christ that God sovereignly rules and reigns over all. Therefore we are obligated and required to tithe in recognition of His mediatorship and His priesthood. It is through Jesus Christ that God rules the world. You remember Hebrews 1? The Bible said in times past, God spoke to the fathers by the prophets and by different ways. But he has in these last days spoken us through his Son by whom he made the world. So God now rules through Jesus Christ.
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Now, what is the purpose of the Levitical tithe? The purpose of the Levitical tithe is to enforce upon the hearts and souls of men that God alone is the Lord and creator of man, his society, and his world. God is God. I want to show you this in the last message that I bring on the implications of the tithe. But as Samuel Chadwick, a pastor who lived from 1860 to 1912, said this, "no man can rob God without starving his own soul." So there was the Levitical tithe.
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Very quickly, if you look in your Bibles, through the book of Deuteronomy chapter 14, here is the second tithe that I'm going to deal with today. It is the poor tithe. Now, I'm not going to go into great depth in this because I think it should be exceedingly obvious. But look in Deuteronomy chapter 14, beginning there with verse 28. Deuteronomy 14, verse 28. Please follow along. Deuteronomy 14, verse 28.
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"At the end of three years, thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates. And the Levite, notice if you would, how God always remembers the Levites. And the Levites, because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow which are within thy gates shall come and shall eat and be satisfied that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest."
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Now hold right there and look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 26 and verse 12. We'll come back maybe and read a few other passages. Once again, God mentions this poor tithe. He says, "well, now it's made an end of tithing. All the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is a year of tithing, and has given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates and be filled." And then God says something else there in reference to that. Now, the poor tithe was collected once every three years. The poor tithe also was 10 percent. Now, the poor tithe was for the Levite, not that he was poor, but God wanted to make sure that he was always remembered, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. Now, this is known as the poor tithe. Now, there were other means available.
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I'm going to cover some of them a little bit later. There were other means available of helping people who were in distress. There was the law of gleaning. There's what is known as poor loans. Because I'm going to be showing you in the not too distant future, probably two weeks from now, the difference between biblical charity and an act of mercy. There's some people we cannot help. Some people God forbids us to help. I'll mention that a little bit today. But there are other ways to help people besides the poor tithe. Because this poor tithe was once every three years. Now, let me make just at least six statements of principle concerning the poor tithe.
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I believe you can see them very clearly. First of all, if the poor tithe was faithfully tithed, the usurpation of government in this area would eventually disappear. Let me say that again. If the poor tithe was faithfully tithed, the usurpation of government in this area would eventually disappear. In a godly order, the group best instructed in the law will have far-reaching social services to render. Consequently, without the collection and distribution of the poor tithe, either the state assumes control or wealthy individuals and certain foundations assume control of what you and I would know as social services or welfare.
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What does the tithe do? The tithe places the control of society in the hands of the tithers. Not in the hands of the state. Not in the hands of wealthy individuals. Not in the hands of foundations. But it places it in the hands of the tithers. So the very first observation is this. If the poor tithe was faithfully given, as well as the Levitical tithe, it would knock the state out of the area that they have stolen this jurisdiction, and rendering it now to those who, a lot of times, do not deserve it. Number two, the poor tithe is a means of strengthening a godly society.
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It cannot be used to subsidize evil, sloth, or apostasy. Would you care to figure out in your mind what is the number one problem we have today with governmental welfare? They give it to people who don't deserve it. They're indiscriminate. If you don't work, you get it. If you have 40 babies, you get it. In other words, it is just simply today a means to make people more irresponsible. Because now they can have money and never work and never face any responsibility.
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My wife can tell you we heard a man talk about his brother-in-law. He was a black man. And his brother-in-law had, if I remember correctly, 36 children. Of course, not by a lie. He didn't have one. Thirty-six. That somebody's feeding, but not him. So you see what I'm saying? Social financing is necessary. There's a biblical plan for it. But dear friend, let me tell you something.
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Either the people of God will undertake it or the state will. And you and I cannot build a godly society apart from obedience to God's law. There are people that need help. And those people need to be helped on a biblical basis, but there are other people who should not ever be helped. I'll tell you that in just a moment.
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Thirdly, the poor tithe was given locally. What does that mean? Well, the proposition is clear. If the poor tithe is given locally, I know who I'm giving to. If Henry's sorry and won't work, and Ed's doing the best he can and still can't make it, I'm going to give mine to Ed. Henry can do without. He said, Brother Weaver, I don't think that's fair. I don't know whether you think it's fair or not, but it sure is biblical. You know what the Bible says in 2 Thessalonians 3 and verse 10? "If any will not work, help me out, neither should he eat." It's just that simple. If any will not work, neither should he eat. As much as possible, we are to know the character of the people to whom we give our money. I'm not going to give money to a dope addict. I'm not going to give money to a drunkard. Now, if he's hungry, I might buy him a hamburger, but I'm not going to buy him a hamburger and hand it to him.
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I'm not going to give him the money and trust him to go buy the hamburger. But the point is, there's some folks we cannot help, we should not help. And gossip, a man's too lazy to work, neither should he eat. Now, I want you to understand, this does not mean that we cannot give nationally or internationally. There are times we can, but even when we do, we're responsible to know who we are helping and why we're helping.
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And if you look in your Bibles, the first Corinthians chapter 16, beginning there with verse one, first Corinthians 16 and verse one. But what the Bible says. First Corinthians 16, verse one. The apostle Paul says this.
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"Now concerning the election for the Saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. And when I come, whomsoever you shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem."
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"And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me." Now what did Paul say? Paul said, we are taking up an offering for the poor in Jerusalem. There was a famine in Jerusalem. Paul said, look, to the churches of Galatia who were not in Jerusalem, not even near Jerusalem, this is the money to go to those poor in Jerusalem. But I tell you what you will do. You take it up, and whomever you appoint to take that money down there, they can take it, they can see for themselves that it is a genuine, legitimate need, and they can come back and report to you.
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Or if you like, if you want to send me along with them, fine, I'll go as well. But what is Paul saying? I want you to know to whom you're giving this money, and for what reason. So when the poor tithe was given locally, of course, that meant we knew. We knew the character of the people to whom we were giving. A fourth principle is this. Since the poor tithe teaches us to care for those who, through no fault of their own, who cannot care for themselves, in that sense of the word, we're like our Heavenly Father.
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You say, what are you talking about? Well, look in your Bibles, if you would, first of all, to Exodus 22. Exodus 22. And then we're going to Psalm 68, Exodus 22. And notice, if you would please, verse 22. Exodus 22, verse 22, God says, "You shall not afflict any widow nor fatherless child. If thou afflict them in any wise and they cried all unto me, I will surely hear their cry. And my wrath will wax hot, and I will kill you with a sword, and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless." God said, you better not abuse the widows and the orphans. And then if you look in Psalm 68 verse 5, Psalm 68 verse 5, Psalm 68 verse 5, what does the Bible say about God? That He is a Father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows is God in his holy habitation. He's the father of the fatherless and a judge of the widows.
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So by aiding those individuals who are genuinely in need, who are deserving of need, it will keep them then from falling into what you and I would know as a chronic and debilitating poverty. Thus what it does is basically provide stability for the family. In fact, look in your Bible, Acts chapter 6. You will see the early church did this. In fact, this is the incident where the first deacons were chosen. And by the way, as you look at this text, I want you to understand that the first deacons were chosen not to run the church, not to run the pastor, not to control and manipulate, they were chosen for one reason.
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To be a servant to the pastors. To be a servant to help them in feeding the widows so that the preachers could give themselves to prayer and the study and the preaching of the word. Look at Acts chapter 6, beginning there with verse 1. "And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there was a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews." Why? "Because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration." In other words, the Grecian widows were saying, oh man, y'all are giving more food to those Hebrew widows than you are. You don't love us. You don't like us. Huh. "Then the twelve called the multitude of disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables." Did you hear that? It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. "Wherefore, brethren, look you out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we, we, we, that is the pastors or the preachers, whom we may appoint over this business."
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What business? The business of waiting on the widows and taking care of them. "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the Word." Why were the first deacons chosen? To relieve the preachers from this obligation of taking care of the widows so that they could give themselves to the education of the people through study and through prayer. But note, if you would please, these widows were being taken care of, and that was the reason those deacons were appointed to begin with, was to take care of the widows.
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I was preaching in Mobile, Alabama. And there was a fellow there who was an air-conditioning man. He came to church one night, and his hand and his arm was just swelled like a balloon. And I called his name. I said, what in the world happened to you? Well, he said, I was pulling the window unit out, and I stuck my hand in it, and a black widow bit me. This fellow was a deacon.
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I said, now I'm going to tell you. When the Bible tells you to take care of the widows, that is not what he's talking about. It's not spiders that you're to be taking care of, you know. You don't feed them, you feed men and women who have needs. But that's exactly what we're talking about. But I want you to understand something about this poor tithe. Although we help people who have genuine needs, we cannot help them in such a way where the recipient becomes dependent upon the giver. The help cannot be a permanent arrangement.
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It is not a welfare system. It is a means to help individuals become self-reliant and to give them the edge that they need to get back on their feet. Now, number five. Since the poor tithes were collected every third year, that means that if we were to give annually, that we would be giving approximately an additional 3.33% or 3.33%. Which goes into a benevolent fund. By the way, whether most of you know it or not, we do have a benevolent fund.
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We do have some shekels in it. Not a great deal. But that fund has been used to help even some of our own people when they were out of work or when things cropped up with unexpected illness and sickness and things like that, that they could not handle at that particular time. It's been used for witness. It's been used the way it should be used.
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Now, the point I'm trying to make is this. In the Old Testament, you've got to remember, they were basically an agricultural economy. We're not necessarily that today. But the reason this was given every third year was to teach them to be frugal and future oriented. They knew it was going to be in another three years before another poor tithe would come around. So they better learn to make use of what they have and they better plan for the future.
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And here's the sixth one, and I'll close with this one. If we are to give to those who are worthy of receiving, it means that we must know the recipient. And the recipient must know us. Look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 14. When it comes to the poor tithe, I want you to understand that you are to know the individuals that you give to, and they're to know you. Deuteronomy chapter 14, look in verse 29.
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"And the Levite, because he hath no partner or inheritance with thee, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow which are within thy gates shall come and eat and be satisfied that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest." Now, if they come and eat with you and you share with them, what does that mean? You know them, they know you.
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Now, our church, for years, has helped wives whose husbands were in prison for the faith's sake. We still do. You see what that is doing? That's not saying that here's somebody that is so poor, usually, that they can't exist. No. But the head of the household, the breadwinner has been taken away. Now, what is happening? The monies that we send still maintains the strength of that family until that breadwinner is out again and can go back to earning money. You know, it's amazing to me, and this is the truth, and we have done this as a church, for years, I don't even know how many, I guess ever since we've been in existence. But every man, every family that we have ever helped, when they got out of prison and got back on their feet, and I would say usually I would try to at least keep going another month or so after they were out, but everyone without an exception has called me and said, "Pastor, I've got a job. I'm working."
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"We're thankful for the help. Please stop sending us money and use it for someone else who now needs it more than we do." Everyone without exception. I'm going to show you later on that biblical charity is for the strengthening of a godly society. Even the poor tithe strengthens a godly society. Let's pray. Father, we thank you today for Jesus Christ, for the Word of God, for His truth. Lord, help us to understand that there are indeed implications in these tithes. We will either obey Thee and be ruled by Thee, or disobey Thee and be ruled by man. We cannot sin against Thee without destroying ourselves. Help us to see that in order to have a godly society, we must follow Your law, Your word, Your truth.
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Make us obedient in every area of our lives. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T00:28:22Z

Biblical Wealth - Part 5 of 8

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver continues his series on biblical wealth by examining the first two of three tithes described in Scripture: the Levitical tithe and the poor tithe. He argues that the tithes belong to the Lord and are essential for preventing statism and building a godly society. The Levitical tithe supported the Levites, whose primary duty was education in God's law, and they were not to be poor but equal to or slightly above others. The poor tithe, collected every third year, was for the Levite, stranger, fatherless, and widow, and was to be administered locally with knowledge of recipients. Both tithes demonstrate God's care and enforce His sovereignty.

Introduction and Review of Series

Weaver reviews previous messages on the source, sovereignty, and purpose of wealth, emphasizing that God gives wealth based on covenantal obedience and individual responsibility.

Malachi 3, verse 7, if you would please.

Scripture Reading — Malachi 3:7-12

"Even from the days of your fathers, you have gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But you said, wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me, but you say wherein have we robbed thee in tithes and offerings? You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed me, even this old nation. Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts."

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 8:18

"If I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. And all the nation shall call you blessed, for you shall be in a lightsome land, saith the Lord." Now, note, if you would please, let's just stop there today. I've been dealing with this series on biblical wealth, and last week I dealt with the theology of the tithes, and let me just take a moment and try to rehearse and go over some of the things I've shown you just so we can try to tie things together. In this subject, we've looked at the source of wealth. Actually, the sovereignty and the source of wealth from Deuteronomy chapter 8 and verse 18, where God said that we're not to forget it is God who gives us the power to get wealth. And I pointed out in that first series, which I'll remind you again later, of how Greek philosophy and the teachings of Thomas Aquinas have filtered down into the average Christian household, and instead of having a biblical worldview and a biblical concept, most of us have a pagan or a Roman Catholic concept of wealth and try to divide everything into the secular and the sacred, when for the child of God, everything is sacred.

The Tithes Belong to the Lord

The tithes are not owned by individuals or churches but are holy to the Lord, as stated in Leviticus 27:30.

Scripture Reading — Leviticus 27:30

"And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, it is the Lord's. It is wholly unto the Lord."

So the tithes belong unto the Lord.

The Three Tithes and Their Purpose

There are three tithes in Scripture; today's message covers the first two: the Levitical tithe and the poor tithe.

The Levitical Tithe: Support for the Levites

The Levites were given the tithe as an inheritance for their service, as they had no land inheritance; the Lord was their inheritance.

Scripture Reading — Numbers 3:5-13

"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him, and they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle. And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle and congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and his sons."

The Levites' Duties and Education Role

The Levites' primary duty was to teach God's law to all Israel, including civil authorities, and they also served as judges, musicians, and medical practitioners.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 17:18-19

"Gather the people together, men and women and children, and my stranger that is within my gates, that they may hear, and they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law. And that their children, which have not known anything, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in this land, whether you go over to Jordan to possess it."

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 31:9-13

So you're going to find that many times it was indeed the Levites who were reading all of this law and instructing them. Look at Deuteronomy 33 and verse 10. Deuteronomy 33 and verse 10. Once again, God says "they shall teach Jacob by judgment and Israel by law. They shall put incense before thee and whole burnt sacrifice on thine altar." So once again, the primary duty of the Levites was not just moving the tabernacle hither and yon, because after the wilderness wanderings, that tabernacle was set up and stayed set up in one particular place, especially Shiloh for a long period of time. So they were educators. I could read that in 2 Chronicles 17, verses 7-9, and also in Nehemiah 8, verse 9. That's where the people stood for a half a day while the Word of God was just being read to them. But you're also going to find that these Levites were also singers, musicians, and composers. Without turning there, you'll find that in First Chronicles 15, verses 16 through 24, and chapter 25, verses 1 through 7.

The Levites' Economic Status

Contrary to pagan notions, the Levites were not to be poor; they received about 20% more than the average Israelite, reflecting that their capital was the Lord and His Word.

The Levites' Obligation to Tithe

The Levites were required to tithe a tenth of the tithes they received to the high priest, establishing that no one is exempt from tithing except the high priest, who foreshadows Christ.

Scripture Reading — Numbers 18:25-28

"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Thus speaketh the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the Lord, even a tenth part of the tithe."

The Poor Tithe: Care for the Needy

The poor tithe, collected every third year, was for the Levite, stranger, fatherless, and widow, and was to be given locally with knowledge of recipients.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 26:12

"At the end of three years, thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates. And the Levite, notice if you would, how God always remembers the Levites. And the Levites, because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow which are within thy gates shall come and shall eat and be satisfied that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest."

Now hold right there and look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 26 and verse 12. We'll come back maybe and read a few other passages. Once again, God mentions this poor tithe. He says,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 26:12

"well, now it's made an end of tithing. All the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is a year of tithing, and has given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates and be filled."

Principles of the Poor Tithe

Six principles: it prevents state usurpation, strengthens godly society, is given locally, reflects God's character, promotes self-reliance, and requires personal knowledge of recipients.

Scripture Reading — 2 Thessalonians 3:10

"If any will not work, help me out, neither should he eat."

Scripture Reading — Exodus 22:22-24

"You shall not afflict any widow nor fatherless child. If thou afflict them in any wise and they cried all unto me, I will surely hear their cry. And my wrath will wax hot, and I will kill you with a sword, and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless."

Application and Conclusion

The church has practiced these principles by helping families of imprisoned believers, and biblical charity strengthens society. Obedience to God's tithes is essential for a godly order.

Make us obedient in every area of our lives. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

Biblical Wealth - Part 5 of 8

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	81904132019
Subject	Education and Discipleship
Course	Christian Education and Discipleship
Genre	Sermon
Date	2004-08-15
Dictation Name
Book	Book 052: Biblical Wealth — Chapter 5
Source Timed Segments	84

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Review of Series: Weaver reviews previous messages on the source, sovereignty, and purpose of wealth, emphasizing that God gives wealth based on covenantal obedience and individual responsibility.
The Tithes Belong to the Lord: The tithes are not owned by individuals or churches but are holy to the Lord, as stated in Leviticus 27:30.
The Three Tithes and Their Purpose: There are three tithes in Scripture; today's message covers the first two: the Levitical tithe and the poor tithe.
The Levitical Tithe: Support for the Levites: The Levites were given the tithe as an inheritance for their service, as they had no land inheritance; the Lord was their inheritance.
The Levites' Duties and Education Role: The Levites' primary duty was to teach God's law to all Israel, including civil authorities, and they also served as judges, musicians, and medical practitioners.
The Levites' Economic Status: Contrary to pagan notions, the Levites were not to be poor; they received about 20% more than the average Israelite, reflecting that their capital was the Lord and His Word.
The Levites' Obligation to Tithe: The Levites were required to tithe a tenth of the tithes they received to the high priest, establishing that no one is exempt from tithing except the high priest, who foreshadows Christ.
The Poor Tithe: Care for the Needy: The poor tithe, collected every third year, was for the Levite, stranger, fatherless, and widow, and was to be given locally with knowledge of recipients.
Principles of the Poor Tithe: Six principles: it prevents state usurpation, strengthens godly society, is given locally, reflects God's character, promotes self-reliance, and requires personal knowledge of recipients.
Application and Conclusion: The church has practiced these principles by helping families of imprisoned believers, and biblical charity strengthens society. Obedience to God's tithes is essential for a godly order.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Tithing Prevents State Control

Faithful tithing places social services under the control of tithers, not the state or wealthy elites, preventing governmental overreach.

Weaver argues, 'If the poor tithe was faithfully tithed, the usurpation of government in this area would eventually disappear.'

The Levites Were Not to Be Poor

The belief that ministers should be poor is ungodly; the Levites' inheritance was the Lord, and they were to live equal to or above others.

Weaver states, 'The belief that the Levites or ministers of the word of God in any age should reveal their piety by their poverty is ungodly.'

Tithing Reflects God's Rule through Christ

Tithing acknowledges Christ as the ultimate High Priest through whom God rules; it is an act of recognizing His mediatorship.

Weaver says, 'Therefore we are obligated and required to tithe in recognition of His mediatorship and His priesthood.'

Charity Must Be Discerning and Temporary

Help should be given to those genuinely in need, not to enable laziness, and should aim to make recipients self-reliant, not dependent.

Weaver explains, 'The help cannot be a permanent arrangement. It is not a welfare system.'

Biblical Charity Strengthens Society

Properly administered charity, like the poor tithe, provides stability for families and strengthens a godly society.

Weaver notes that helping families of imprisoned believers maintained family strength until the breadwinner returned.

Scripture References

Malachi 3:7-12: God accuses Israel of robbing Him in tithes and offerings and promises blessing if they bring the full tithe.
Deuteronomy 8:18: God gives the power to get wealth to establish His covenant.
1 Samuel 2:7-8: The Lord makes poor and rich; He lifts the beggar to set him among princes.
Leviticus 27:30: All the tithe of the land is the Lord's; it is holy unto the Lord.
Numbers 18:20-21: The Levites have no inheritance; the tithe is given to them for their service.
Numbers 3:5-13: The Levites are taken instead of the firstborn of Israel to serve the tabernacle.
Numbers 1:51: The Levites are to take down and set up the tabernacle; strangers who come near are to be put to death.
Numbers 18:22-24: The Levites bear the iniquity of the sanctuary and have no inheritance; the tithe is their inheritance.
Deuteronomy 10:9: Levi has no part or inheritance; the Lord is his inheritance.
Deuteronomy 18:1-2: The priests and Levites have no inheritance; they eat the offerings of the Lord.
Leviticus 10:11: The priests are to teach the children of Israel all the statutes of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 17:18-19: The king is to write a copy of the law from the priests and read it all his life.
Deuteronomy 31:9-13: The law is to be read before all Israel every seven years at the Feast of Tabernacles.
Deuteronomy 33:10: They shall teach Jacob thy judgments and Israel thy law.
Numbers 18:25-28: The Levites are to offer a heave offering of a tenth of the tithes they receive to the Lord.
Deuteronomy 14:28-29: At the end of three years, the tithe is to be laid up for the Levite, stranger, fatherless, and widow.
Deuteronomy 26:12: The tithe of the third year is given to the Levite, stranger, fatherless, and widow.
2 Thessalonians 3:10: If any would not work, neither should he eat.
1 Corinthians 16:1-4: Paul instructs the church to collect for the saints and send it by approved messengers.
Exodus 22:22-24: God commands not to afflict widows or fatherless children; He will hear their cry and execute judgment.

Historical References

Greek philosophy and Thomas Aquinas: Weaver argues that Greek dualism and Aquinas's teachings have led Christians to despise material wealth and divide life into secular and sacred.
Samuel Chadwick (1860-1912): A pastor quoted as saying, 'no man can rob God without starving his own soul.'

Important Quotes

Without the tithes, statism usurps and replaces the kingdom of God with the kingdom of man.

Summarizes the argument that tithing is essential to prevent governmental overreach and maintain God's order.

The belief that the Levites or ministers of the word of God in any age should reveal their piety by their poverty is ungodly.

Challenges the common notion that ministers should be poor, asserting biblical support for their adequate provision.

Their capital was the Lord and His Word.

Defines the Levites' true resource, equating their ministerial knowledge with other professions' tools.

No man can rob God without starving his own soul.

A quote from Samuel Chadwick emphasizing the spiritual consequence of withholding tithes.

If any will not work, neither should he eat.

Biblical principle used to argue that charity should not enable laziness.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does the concept that 'the tithes belong to the Lord' change our perspective on giving?

[Context]

Weaver emphasizes that tithes are not ours to direct but are holy to God, based on Leviticus 27:30.

[Question]

In what ways might the church today be guilty of 'robbing God' in tithes and offerings, and what are the consequences?

[Context]

Malachi 3:8-9 is cited, where God accuses Israel of robbing Him and being cursed.

[Question]

What would a society look like if the poor tithe were faithfully practiced today?

[Context]

Weaver argues that faithful tithing would eliminate state welfare and place social services under godly control.

[Question]

How should we balance the command to help the needy with the principle that 'if any will not work, neither should he eat'?

[Context]

Weaver discusses the need for discernment in charity, citing 2 Thessalonians 3:10.

[Question]

What does it mean for a pastor or minister to have 'the Lord and His Word' as their capital, and how should that affect a congregation's support?

[Context]

Weaver explains that the Levites' capital was spiritual, not land, and they were to be supported accordingly.

[Question]

Why is it significant that the Levites themselves were required to tithe, and how does this apply to all believers?

[Context]

Numbers 18:25-28 shows Levites tithing to the high priest, establishing that no one is exempt from tithing.

Applications

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