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The Daily Word of Righteousness
Not Under the Law but Under Grace, #5
And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always. (Deuteronomy 14:23)
Property and money ownership and management, tithing, usury and interest, the redemption of land. Although tithing dates back to Abraham, it definitely is part of the Law of Moses.
Although tithing is not expressly enjoined in the Epistles, the giving of a tenth of our money or produce to the work of the Kingdom may be a minimum offering. However, as in the case of keeping all days holy and not just the Sabbath day, we are not to be thinking in terms of fractions of our possessions. Our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees. Whatever surplus of money we have is to be used to assist the poorer disciples, as the Lord directs.
We are to work so we may be able to give to the needy Christians.
. . . but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. (Ephesians 4:28)
It is necessary also that we support the Lord's work, as the Lord guides us to do so.
The Sabbath of the land may be beneficial in terms of agriculture but the commandment is not repeated in the writings of the Apostles.
The laws governing lending, usury, and interest reveal that God frowned on the taking of interest. Christian capitalists may make a great distinction between usury (excessive interest) and interest, but we do not think the Scripture does.
Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee. Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase. (Leviticus 25:36,37)
For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. (Deuteronomy 15:11)
He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. (Psalms 15:5)
"Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase."
It appears to us, from the use of the term "usury" in the Scripture, that usury is just another name for interest. It was the Lord's will, under the Law of Moses, that the rich be generous with the poor, and give and lend money without charging interest.
Since the laws governing property and money ownership and management, tithing, usury and interest, and the regulations governing the redemption of land, are not repeated in the New Testament writings, we probably can assume they are not binding on the believer in Christ. These have been fulfilled in Christ.
However, the concept of generosity is repeated in the New Testament.
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. (II Corinthians 9:6,7)
To be continued.