Giving Back

Too often, I have found myself to be stuck in a verse 15 existence. I have seen God's miraculous work. I have received His eternal grace. I know His way will prevail. I also know that I sometimes overlook these facts, and try to go through life alone.
I need to make sure that I continue to receive daily nourishment from God, and I need to never put the fact of that need on the back burner of my mind. My fears, selfishness, or whatever keeps me from obeying God need to be behind me. I am thankful that God has never given up on me, even when I have been as foolish (or more so) than His people often were in Scripture.

Nehemiah's leadership in leading the people to do what is righteous is exemplary. In an earlier chapter, he led the people not to tax the poor and now in this chapter, he asked the people to bring in the first fruits to the house of God. He understands that God's people need to care for the house of God and well-being of His people. His message is true today.

This is my first day on the P4 and blog, it seems to me that as I read about Nehemiah 10:1-39 it was an oath by the Israelites to do all the activities mentioned in these verses - Do these apply to us, as gentiles? and do people still do these oaths? (I am reading the NASB version).

As I read these scriptures, it reminds me of the committment that the these people made and the committment I have made to follow Jesus. There would be no compromises when it came to their daughters and families. That reminded me of his word saying we are a holy people and to be separated from the world. The first fruits, tithes and offerings were important then and are the same now. After thinking about it, I beleive my first fruit offering is my heart. I try to keep a daily check and ask the Lord to check me and help me keep it right with Him. Tithing is just as important now and it was then. For me, it not only includes monetary resources but also my time for serving others, studying the word, praying and sharing His love. Thank you for these studies.

The Nehemiahites promised to give God firstfruits. They made a firm resolve in trying to show that their faith reached maturity. Their faith was mature because it intended a divine response. Their faith was immature by making an outwardly show. Unaware that these efforts involved that both would be the case, they avoided the real problem: the nations surrounding them, awaiting their destruction.

I feel tithing is as important today as it was in this time ,I feel God wants us to give a tithe whole heartedly .He wants us to give a 10% tithe but i think he would rather us give without hesitation and i think it also refers to our service to him.

Firstfruits, for me, are the first part of my income (that weekly check with my tithe and offerings beyond that goes into the plate before anything else comes out of that week's pay).

Beyond that though, the concept of firstfruits means, to me, that God deserves first place in our lives, and should be given our very best effort in the things that we do for Him. Whether it's in caring for His church, loving others, whatever, He deserves the best we have to offer.

This chapter is a reminder of my responsibilty to God and my commitment. I know that I fall short in a lot of areas, but I make no excuses for them either. But as part of my goals and my commitment to Christ, I make it a priorty to give my first fruits in the morning by praying and reading my scriptures. I also try to make that same priorty before I go to bed at night. I want to make myself available to God at all times, so that he cam use me.

I do not believe that in the new testiment we are commanded to give 10%, eventhough tithe means 10. I see too many times where the widow or elderly person gives 10% of their income and dosent have enough left over to buy their medications. I give with my time,effort, and money

This thought comes to mind when it comes to tithing.
Could it possibly be the choice to believe and trust God first. To trust Him enough to give up a ten percent of our money even though things don't make sense in our mind, and things may not be "taken care of" in our eyes. Maybe it is God's way of putting us to the test of really putting our trust in Him, in stead of putting our trust in us and the safe and "normal" way of doing things.

It is just a thought.

Thanks, Larry, for your question related to Tami W's blog about Nehemiah 10.

As you correctly observed, we are not Israelites so the promises made to them do not "directly" apply to us Gentiles. For instance, according to common Jewish count there are 613 commandments, not just 10, and he who breaks one is guilty of all, as James 2:10 says, "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all."

And the Apostle Paul, a converted Jew, wrote, "So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths" (Colossians 2:16, NKJV).

The usual thing said about the way we apply to Old Testament truths to our lives in the present age is that we look for principles; that is, we are not bound by the specific Jewish commands but are seeing a guideline to live by.

I think this principle was summed up at the end of the blog on Nehemiah 10 when Tami said,

"This entire chapter really drove home the importance of us being active and intentional when it comes to giving to the Lord, and for His work. The very last verse pretty much said it all. "We will not neglect the house of our God" (vs. 34).

What do you consider to be your "firstfruits"? (list them out like we saw here in Nehemiah 10) Are you bringing those to God? If not or if not enough, what can you do to make a change in this area?"

Thank you for your interest in spiritual truths that glorify the Lord Jesus Christ.

Harold B.
P4 Correspondent