Tithing in the Hebrew tradition was the means by which the priesthood lived and carried out their functions in behalf of the community. While the land was divided among the sons of Jacob, land was not given to the tribe of Levi. Instead, that tribe functioned in all the land as the priestly tribe, supported by the giving of the others.

As time progressed, the concept of proportionally sharing the blessings of life for the support of the priesthood and its leadership in seeing that religious practice was observed and the “widows and orphans” were among the people cared for by the tithe.

In our stewardship emphasis today, we think of a proportion set aside for the church and its ministry. We believe the Biblical assertion that “to whom much is given, much is required” is very much in tune with proportional giving. I know people for whom the 10 % tithe is “only the beginning of their benevolence.”

-Rev. Don Dixon Senior Pastor