22 You must set aside a tithe of your crops - one-tenth of all the crops you harvest each year. Bring this tithe to the designated place of worship - the place the Lord your God chooses for his name to be honoured - and eat it there in his presence. 23 This applies to your tithes of grain, new wine, olive oil, and the firstborn males of your flocks and herds. Doing this will teach you always to fear the Lord your God.

24-25 Now when the Lord your God blesses you with a good harvest, the place of worship he chooses for his name to be honoured might be too far for you to bring the tithe. If so, you may sell the tithe portion of your crops and herds, put the money in a pouch, and go to the place the Lord your God has chosen. 26 When you arrive, you may use the money to buy any kind of food you want - cattle, sheep, goats, wine, or other alcoholic drink. Then feast there in the presence of the Lord your God and celebrate with your household. 

27-29 And do not neglect the Levites in your town, for they will receive no allotment of land among you. At the end of every third year, bring the entire tithe of that year’s harvest and store it in the nearest town. Give it to the Levites, who will receive no allotment of land among you, as well as to the foreigners living among you, the orphans, and the widows in your towns, so they can eat and be satisfied. Then the Lord your God will bless you in all your work. Deuteronomy 14:22-29 New Living Translation (English Standard Version link)

Christians are sometimes accused of being boring people who don't know how to have fun. That's why some people see God as a constantly frowning old man who doesn't want people to enjoy life. If we are honest we'd have to say that some Christians come across like that. But that is not God's fault. Look at vs 26 again. Does that sound like someone who wanted the Israelites to be a sad and grumpy people?

When God created Adam and Eve He placed them in a beautiful setting and provided many things there for their enjoyment. The New Testament reminds us that “God has promised a crown of life to those who love Him - and that whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father”. (James 1:12-17) It also says we must “teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable - their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.” 1 Timothy 6:17. God gives abundantly for our enjoyment.

But God, who gives us so many good things, also knows what our hearts are like. He knew the Israelites might begin to enjoy the land and all its produce so much that they may begin to forget the One who was providing it all. Human nature so quickly takes good things for granted. So, through Moses, God gave them the instructions we find in our reading today about setting aside a tenth of all the good things they had gathered each year. What does vs 23 indicate was a big reason for doing this?

As I've said in other posts, fear doesn’t always mean to be frightened of. Certainly we should be afraid of offending God. It also conveys the sense of deep reverence, respect and even gratitude. God is worthy of all those affections. By meeting once a year in a special place to enjoy God's good gifts they would be reminded of who it was that blessed them so much. But did you notice that even though they’d set apart a tenth of their produce, it was they themselves who were being invited to enjoy what had been set apart to remember God? It was as if God was inviting them to His own party and to share in the gifts. God is not a killjoy! He gives good things generously and wants us to be generous too. That's what vs 27-29 teach.

The Levites were the tribe God set apart to serve in His tabernacle (the tent where the holy things were kept and the special sacrifices were made) and so they hadn't been given lots of land for farms as the other tribes were given. So the Israelites were called to share their produce with the Levites, as well as with anyone else who was in need. God gives us good things to enjoy – and one way we can enjoy them best is to share with others. That's what the apostle Paul was talking about when he reminded his readers of Jesus Christ and said: “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15 .