The First Tenth

By definition, tithe is a tenth, or 10%, of everything one owns or earns. Notice that it is a tenth, and not the tenth. Likewise, it is any of the 10%, whether the first 10%, the middle 10% or the last 10%. “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD.”

   So a tenth part, or 10% of everything we own or earn is holy, and thus must be devoted to God or  dedicated for godly use. The question now arises. Which tenth should we give to the Lord? The first 10% or the last 10%? Or is there a specific tenth that the Lord requires?

   My mother has this practice where she starts counting all the produce (say Kaukau) from her garden from one to ten. The piece of kaukau that she counts as ‘ten’ will usually goes to the tithe box. With this practice, if she digs only nine kaukau, the Lord has no share.

   Look at a biblical example. Cain and Abel were required to bring offerings to the Lord (Genesis 4:4, 5). Cain brought “an offering” of the fruits of the ground to the Lord while Abel brought “the firstlings” of his flock and their fats. “And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering.”

   So which offering gains the respect of God? It is not an offering but the firstlings.

   In like manner, I would like to conclude that there is a specific tenth of our earnings that the Lord asks for, and that tenth is the first tenth part. It signifies that we think of the Lord first in all of our increases. It proves that we “honour the Lord with [our] substance, and with the firstfruits of all [our] increase.” (Proverbs 3:9). In enables God to have a share in any amount that we earn. When we gain three earnings, the first belongs to God and the last two belongs to us. When we gain nine earnings, the first belongs to God, and the remaining eight belongs to us. When we bear the first, and only one child, he or she belongs to God. “Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.” Exodus 13:2.

   Giving the tenth part, like my mother used to, symbolically show who we think of last in our earnings. Also, it removes God from the list of beneficiaries when only nine earnings are gained. With Cain, we give an offering that deserves no respect. Only the firstlings, or the firstfruits, gain the respect of God.

   The important thing is to remember God first, and act appropriately. When I earn a K100 note, I should first remember that K10 is tithe, and whenever I change the note, I set aside K10. It is unacceptable to forget all about tithing at the first place, then when all is spent, I started going “Oh, my gosh! I forgot the tithe!”

   We as recipients of the endless streams of blessings that flow from heaven’s storehouse are obliged to return the firstlings and the firstfruits unto the Lord our God. And when returning the firstfruits, don’t call it an investment. Rather, see it as returning the invested.

   When we fail, we shall all be pronounced guilty with unarmed robbery! (Malachi 3:8).