The Economy of Heaven: Resourcing the Gospel to Reach the Nations

Honoring the Lord with Your Wealth: From Old Covenant Law to New Covenant Love

Proverbs 3:9–10 (ESV)
“Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.”

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Photo by Linus Belanger on Unsplash

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Many believers today assume that tithing ended with the Old Covenant, that it was merely a legalistic practice abandoned when Christ fulfilled the law. But the truth runs deeper than that simplistic view—tithing didn’t disappear with the coming of grace; rather, it found its true fulfillment and ultimate expression in the generous, joyful giving that flows from transformed hearts. In this teaching, we’ll explore the comprehensive system of giving that sustained Israel’s covenant community, examining not just the well-known tithe but the entire economy of worship, celebration, and compassion that God designed for His people. More importantly, we’ll discover how Jesus didn’t abolish this system but elevated it, calling us beyond mere obligation into a lifestyle of overflowing generosity that reflects the very heart of our Father and advances His Kingdom purposes in the earth.

The Call to Honor: What Money Reveals About the Heart

Money has an uncanny way of revealing what truly matters to us, exposing the deepest allegiances of our hearts with brutal honesty. How we handle our finances, what we prioritize with our resources, and where our treasure flows—all of these demonstrate what we truly trust and who we ultimately serve. Proverbs 3:9–10 extends a clear invitation to honor the LORD with our wealth, and the Hebrew word translated as “honor” in this passage is kabed, which literally means “to give weight” or “to make heavy with significance.” This isn’t merely about writing a check or making a donation; it’s about recognizing God as the weightiest, most significant reality in our entire existence and allowing that recognition to shape every financial decision we make.

To honor God with our wealth means to treat Him as the most substantial, most important factor in our economic lives, acknowledging that He is the source of every resource we possess. It means giving Him first place not just in our spiritual activities but in the practical, tangible realm of our finances. But what did this kind of honor actually look like under the Old Covenant system that God established for Israel? And more importantly for us today, what does it mean to honor God with our wealth under the New Covenant that Jesus inaugurated through His death and resurrection? These are the questions we must answer if we’re going to move beyond religious obligation into genuine Kingdom partnership.

The Old Covenant Foundation: Understanding Israel’s Comprehensive System of Giving

The word tithe, translated from the Hebrew ma’aser, simply means “a tenth part” of something. However, anyone who carefully studies the Old Testament financial system quickly discovers that Israel didn’t give merely one tithe annually, as many modern believers assume. Rather, the people of God practiced multiple tithes throughout each seven-year cycle, with their combined giving totaling roughly twenty-three percent of their annual income, plus additional voluntary offerings, firstfruits presentations, and various sacrifices. Each of these different tithes and offerings had a distinct purpose and played a specific role in sustaining the covenant community, creating a beautifully integrated system that supported worship, fostered celebration, ensured justice for the vulnerable, and built rhythms of rest and trust into the very fabric of national life.

1. The Levitical Tithe: Sustaining Full-Time Ministry (10% Every Year)

The first tithe, described in Numbers 18:21–24, was given annually to support the Levites who served full-time in the temple and tabernacle, facilitating worship, teaching the law, and maintaining the sanctuary. Because the tribe of Levi received no land inheritance when Israel entered Canaan—God Himself was declared to be their portion and inheritance—they depended entirely on the tithes of the other tribes for their sustenance and support. This wasn’t a charitable afterthought or optional contribution; it was a deliberate divine design that ensured those who devoted themselves completely to spiritual service could focus on their calling without the distraction of having to provide for their own material needs through farming or trade.

This foundational principle continues into the New Testament era, where we see the same heart expressed in supporting pastors, ministry staff, missionaries, and others who have given their lives to serve the Kingdom of God full-time. The apostle Paul makes this connection explicit in 1 Corinthians 9:13-14, writing that just as those who served in the temple received their food from the temple, “in the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.” The method may have changed, but the principle remains constant: those who labor in spiritual service should be materially supported by those who benefit from their ministry.

2. The Festival (Rejoicing) Tithe: Celebrating God’s Goodness (10% Every Year)