“We will not neglect the house of God.”

[Nehemiah 10:32-39]

One day, a pastor was preaching earnestly, but there was a sister in Christ who kept getting up and sitting down, looking around restlessly.  The pastor found it irritating, but he thought to himself, ‘Maybe she is just counting how many people have come.’  He held his tongue.  After the worship service, he asked her why she had acted that way.  She replied, ‘Pastor, I was expecting a lodge money from another sister in Christ, who promised it the day before yesterday.  Since I hadn't heard anything, I came today to see if she showed up.’  The pastor inquired, ‘Did you come to receive the lodge money, or did you come to worship?’  She answered, ‘Well, it's both’ (Internet).  It seems that she was not considering the offering she should be giving to God for the ministry before Him, but only thinking about the lodge money she was expecting to receive.  This is a reality where one is not focused on what she should be giving to support God's work.

Matthew 6:21 says, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  What do we consider as our "treasure"?  What captures our hearts?  During the time of the prophet Haggai, the focus of the Israelites was on their "paneled houses" (Hag. 1:4).  At that time, God spoke to the Israelites through the prophet Haggai, saying, "Is it time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?"  The Israelites were guilty of neglecting the house of God.  Today, I want to reflect on the revival of the Word experienced by the Israelites at the Square Gate, as described in Nehemiah 10:32-39.  I want to consider four things that the Israelites committed to giving for the sake of God's house as they stood before God and declared, "We will not neglect the house of God" (v. 39).

First, what the Israelites intended to contribute for the sake of God's house was temple tax.

Look at Nehemiah 10:32 - "We assume the responsibility for carrying out the commands to give a third of a shekel each year for the service of the house of our God."  Are you faithfully paying your taxes to the state?  I remember a distinguished professor from Yonsei University who came to give a lecture a long time ago, urging us Christians to willingly pay taxes to the state.  I wonder why he felt the need to say that, considering how many Christians may not be honestly paying their taxes.  I recall seeing newspaper ads advocating for conscientious tax payment in the "Christian Ethics Practice Movement" (KEPM).  When we look at Matthew 22:21, Jesus said, "... Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s."  However, it seems that many Christians are not as diligent in contributing to the state as they are in giving offerings to God. 

Looking at the background of Nehemiah 10:32, the Israelites were required to contribute half a shekel each year for the service of God's temple, starting from the age of 20 and above (Exod. 30:11-16).  This tax served as a reminder to the Israelites that God had redeemed them, paying a price to set them free.  Additionally, the temple tax encouraged the Israelites to act as a people belonging to God.  Originally, this tax was used to make sockets for the panels of the sanctuary, as well as the bases and hooks for the pillars of the temple (38:25-28).  However, it later came to be used to cover the expenses of the ministry.  In today's passage, Nehemiah 10:32, it mentions not half a shekel, but "a third of a shekel."  This is likely because at that time, due to foreign oppression, the Israelites had become too impoverished, which resulted in the reduction of the tax to one-third of a shekel (Park).  However, later during Jesus' time, we can see that it returned to half a shekel (Mt. 17:24-27).  When all the Israelites contributed this one-third shekel annually, how was it used?  The money given by the Israelites was used for all the needs of God's temple.  It was used for everything required for the ministry in God's temple.  Look at Nehemiah 10:33 - "for the bread set out on the table; for the regular grain offerings and burnt offerings; for the offerings on the Sabbaths, at the New Moon feasts and at the appointed festivals; for the holy offerings; for sin offerings to make atonement for Israel; and for all the duties of the house of our God."

If we were to use today's terminology, we could call the temple tax "offering."  In a similar vein, we can say that the church, through the offerings of all its saints, supports the ministry, just as the Israelites contributed one-third shekel each for the temple of God.  We must support the Lord's church financially.  However, it is crucial that we first give our offerings with a heart dedicated to God in Christ.  This is because many Christians seem to be satisfied with simply offering material possessions to God without giving much thought to their dedication (Park).

Second, what the Israelites intended to contribute for the sake of God's temple was the wood offering.

Look at Nehemiah 10:34: "We—the priests, the Levites and the people—have cast lots to determine when each of our families is to bring to the house of our God at set times each year a contribution of wood to burn on the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the Law." This pertains to the "grain offering" mentioned in Leviticus 6:8-13 (Num. 28:1-8), where it states that the fire on the altar should never go out.  Therefore, a constant supply of wood was necessary.  In other words, since there would always be sins in Israel, offerings needed to be placed on the altar in order to atone for them, and thus, the fire on the altar had to be kept burning.  This is why the Israelites cast lots to determine the times when each family would bring wood to the house of God.  However, in the New Testament era, there was no longer a need to continue offering the grain offering.  This is because Jesus Christ, who became the true "grain offering," forgave our sins and died on the cross once and for all.  Therefore, we do not need to supply wood to ensure that the fire on the altar, symbolizing the grain offering, remains perpetually burning.

So, how can we compare this Israelite practice of a "wood offering" to something in our present time?  I believe that we can compare it to the words and prayers of Jesus Christ in order to keep the fire of the Holy Spirit burning.  In other words, just as the Israelites offered wood to keep the fire on the altar burning for the grain offering, we should dedicate ourselves daily to the word of God and prayer to ensure that the fire of the Holy Spirit does not go out in our hearts.  Unfortunately, many of us Christians are like dimly lit candles.  In other words, we are like smoldering wicks.  Instead of shining brightly with the light of Jesus Christ in this world, we are living a feeble faith life, overshadowed by darkness.  The reason for this is that we are not dedicating ourselves to the task of kindling the fire of the Holy Spirit through the Lord's word and prayer.  For example, I don't know how expensive gasoline prices are these days.  However, even if it costs a lot of money, we still put gasoline in our cars to drive.  Yet, as people of the Holy Spirit, despite the fact that we need the fuel of the Holy Spirit, namely the word of God and prayer, to keep the fire of the Holy Spirit burning brightly, we hesitate to invest in it.  In other words, we are not dedicating ourselves to prayers.  In this state, how can the body of our Lord's church, as a community, radiate the light of Jesus Christ to those around us?

Third, what the Israelites intended to contribute for the sake of God's temple was the firstfruits.

Look at Nehemiah 10:35-37a: "We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the Lord each year the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree.  As it is also written in the Law, we will bring the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, of our herds and of our flocks to the house of our God, to the priests ministering there. Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees and of our new wine and olive oil.  …."  Why did the Israelites offer their firstfruits to God?  The reason is because all firstborn, whether human or animal, belonged to the Lord.  Look at Exodus 34:19 - "The first offspring of every womb belongs to me, including all the firstborn males of your livestock, whether from herd or flock" (Note: Lev. 27:26).  When God inflicted ten plagues upon Egypt during the Exodus, He took the lives of all the firstborns of both humans and animals who had not smeared the blood of the lamb on their doorposts.  Therefore, God redeemed the Israelites.  In the end, the firstborns were redeemed through sacrifice because they belonged to God.  So, what else did the Israelites offer as firstfruits?  It was the very best of the firstfruits from their land.  Look at Exodus 23:19a - "Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God …." 

We are to offer our very best first to the Lord.  For example, we should dedicate the very first part of our day to the Lord (e.g., morning prayer, meditation on the Word).  Additionally, we should set aside the very first portion of our material possessions, namely our offerings, to God.   Let's offer the very first of our health to the Lord (e.g., maintaining the best of our health when we come to the Lord on Sundays).

Fourth and last, what the Israelites intended to contribute for the sake of God's temple was the tithe.

Look at Nehemiah 10:37b-39: "... .and we will bring a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work.  A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes up to the house of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury.  The people of Israel, including the Levites, are to bring their contributions of grain, new wine and olive oil to the storerooms, where the articles for the sanctuary and for the ministering priests, the gatekeepers and the musicians are also kept.  We will not neglect the house of our God."  What is a tithe?  The word "tithe" itself means "tenth."  A tithe is a contribution of one-tenth of one's income to God.  There were three types of tithes in the Old Testament:

• The Jews offered one-tenth of their produce to the Lord each year to support the Levites (Lev. 27:30-34).

The Levites, who received tithes from the Jews, in turn gave one-tenth of that tithe to the priests. Therefore, tithes were used to sustain the livelihoods of both the Levites and the priests (Num. 18:25-32).

• In Deuteronomy 26:1-11, it is explained that in addition to the tithe, the Jews also brought one-tenth from the remaining 90% to the temple for the annual feasts.

• Apart from these two tithes, there was another tithe given once every three years to assist the needy in society, amounting to one-tenth (Deut. 26:12-15, 14:28-29).

When it comes to tithing, the most frequently quoted passage is likely Malachi 3:8.  Let's take a look at Malachi 3:8 - "Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, 'How have we robbed You?'  In tithes and offerings."  Why is not tithing considered a sinful act according to this passage?  Here are three summarized points:

• Failing to acknowledge that everything comes from God, and humans are merely stewards entrusted with it.

• By giving one-tenth to God, humans practice minimizing greed, which is a fundamental step in letting go of attachment to material possessions.

    Through this practice, one can prevent themselves from becoming enslaved to materialism.

• It goes against God's loving intention.

God planned the redistribution of income through the operation of tithes to establish a welfare society.

However, during the time of Malachi, the people of Israel did not observe the ordinance of tithing, thus deliberately undermining God's plan.  God challenges us today regarding tithing: "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the Lord of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows" (Mal. 3:10).  God issues a challenge to us today: Test Me!

Tithing unto God can bring great blessings to us.  To make this possible, we should avoid at least three things: (1) Offering tithes with wrong motives (for example, grudgingly or out of greed – expecting God to make me rich if I tithe!), (2) Thinking that once we've tithed, we can use the remaining 90% however we want, and (3) Only tithing and not offering love gifts to the Lord (Internet).

Winston Churchill is said to have stated: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”  The true revival of the word in Nehemiah resulted in support for the house of God.  It brings to mind hymn “I Gave My Life for Thee.”  The explanation of this hymn goes like this: While studying in Germany, John S. B. Monsell came across a famous painting titled ‘Look at this man’ in a gallery in Düsseldorf.  It was a portrait of Jesus wearing a crown of thorns.  Beneath it were the words: ‘I did this for you...  What have you done for me?’  After seeing this, Monsell sat down and wrote this hymn.  Later, Monsell visited poor women in an almshouse, and when he read this hymn to them, they unexpectedly received great blessings and expressed warm gratitude.  The sacrificial love that the Lord has bestowed upon us is so immense that it surpasses our imagination.  Therefore, there is no way we can repay this grace through any of our efforts.  This hymn expresses such sentiments in urgent language (Internet).