We know Jesus taught us that the sum and substance of the Law of Moses is that we should love the Lord our God with all we are and all we have, and to love our neighbors just as much and in the same way that we love ourselves. Well, one of the reasons that we Christians should continue to study the Law of Moses is that it gives us lots of concrete examples of how the Ancient Israelites were supposed to express their love for God and for other people. And we can apply the same principles to our lives today.

For example, how should we love God with our money? Ancient Israelites were supposed to give a tenth of their produce to the Lord (Deuteronomy 14:22). These tithes were, at least in part, supposed to support the Levites, those who were responsible for conducting the public worship of God (Deuteronomy 14:27). So, even though we don’t have to go to the Tabernacle to worship anymore, should we be any less generous with those who do the Lord’s work today? Our missionaries, church planters, and pastors continue to depend on others’ gifts. Isn’t helping them a way of showing our love for God?

But the people’s tithes were also supposed to support those who had no way of supporting themselves – sojourners had no land to farm, widows and orphans had no man to provide for them (Deuteronomy 14:29). Moreover, the Israelites were to conduct all their business dealings in a merciful, generous way. They were to lend to other Israelites who were in need (Deuteronomy 15:8). They were to be fair with those who had sold themselves into indentured service, equipping them for their new lives when their time of service was over (Deuteronomy 15:12-14).

Our societies aren’t structured in exactly the same ways. So, if we don’t have indentured servants, how can we be fair to our employees? How can we help those who are truly helpless in ways that government programs don’t cover?

If we’ll open our eyes, we’ll find plenty of opportunities to put God and other people first, not just in the way we feel about them, but where it comes to our schedules and our checkbooks. And isn’t that what the Law of Moses is really all about?

Deuteronomy 14:28-29 (ESV)

28 “At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns. 29 And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.”