Thursdays with Joshua

Read Joshua 21:1-3 – Then the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites came near to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of the children of Israel. And they spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, “The Lord commanded through Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with their common-lands for our livestock.” So the children of Israel gave to the Levites from their inheritance, at the commandment of the Lord, these cities and their common-lands… (NKJV)

The Levites were the spiritual leaders of the community, established by God as the ones through whom the people would present their acts of worship. As such, they “belonged” to God and would live on God’s provision. But then, as now, that provision wasn’t a direct act of God. He blessed the people who would use what they had to bless the Levites. So cities were given within a tribe’s inheritance for the sake of the Levites. The people were to contribute to the needs of the Levites as a demonstration of their own faith in God, and their desire for continued provision. The Church works on a similar principle as our tithes and offerings are presented to the local church and those who serve there are cared for from those acts of worship. What an amazing and sacred relationship. God connects the people’s desire to care for His purposes to the care for those He has called to serve Him. That’s what tithing is about—so much more than the hope of personal blessing. My giving acknowledges the spiritual leadership God has placed in my life, and when I give, I affirm that God has provided these servants in order to help me better fulfill His plans for my life.

– Dr. Mike Clarensau serves as Senior Director of the Healthy Church Network of the Assemblies of God.