I was surprised to read Numbers 18 gives some insights into what the Lord considers proper use of tithing. Consequently, I thought I'd share this with you.
I did not expect to find such clear counsel tucked away in the Old Testament. Yet, the whole chapter deals with the role Aaron and his sons have to minister in the priest’s office and how the Levites are to have no lands of inheritance. It lays out how they are to be supported instead: from the tithes of the people.
“And the Lord spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.” Numbers 18:20
Here the Lord tells Moses, the Tribe of Levi will be given no land for their lands of inheritance. In the Book of Mormon, lands of inheritance are linked to people’s liberty and represents their means of providing for their needs and wants. The Levites were to have none of this. Knowing they still had to feed, shelter and clothe their families like the rest of the tribes, the Lord had something different in mind for them.
“But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the Lord, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.” Numbers 18:24
Their “inheritance” was to be the tithing of the offerings the rest of the children of Israel made to the Lord. There were a couple of conditions attached to the receipt of these offerings. One, is their receipt of the offerings was contingent upon their “cleanliness” before the Lord. Or to use today’s vernacular: it was dependent upon their adherence to the “Covenant Path” which the Lord had given to them through Moses.
“11 And this is thine; the heave offering of their gift, with all the wave offerings of the children of Israel: I have given them unto thee, and to thy sons and to thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: every one that is clean in thy house shall eat of it.
13 And whatsoever is first ripe in the land, which they shall bring unto the Lord, shall be thine; every one that is clean in thine house shall eat of it.” Numbers 18:11, 13
The other condition is they were to tithe what they received back to the Lord too.
“Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave offering of the Lord, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it.” Numbers 18:29
There are the passages in the Doctrine and Covenants which lay out how tithes and offerings are to be used today, but that is beside the point I’m trying to make. That being, as far back as in Old Testament times, the Lord knew those who gave their full-time service to Him in the kingdom, still had the material needs of us all. They had to eat, care for their families and a place to live. This passage shows, the Lord saw nothing wrong with using the tithes of the people to support those who gave their full-time service to Him (and by corollary the people).
We should therefore not take offense if the Lord sees fit to do the same thing today. Nor should we take offense at the amount they are given. As we read in Numbers 18:13-14, the Lord intended that the best of the offerings which the people gave, were to be for the Levite’s use.
“All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the first fruits of them which they shall offer unto the Lord, them have I given thee. And whatsoever is first ripe in the land, which they shall bring unto the Lord, shall be thine; every one that is clean in thine house shall eat of it. Every thing devoted in Israel shall be thine.” Numbers 18:12-14
So, if you read about how terrible it is that General Authorities, Mission Presidents and Temple Presidents, “live off” the efforts of the members of the church, ignore the complaint. Instead, keep in mind, it’s the Lord’s way of providing for those who work full-time ministering in His kingdom. It justifies using tithing funds to pay the wages and salaries of people who work full time for the church: a church that is also a multi-national organization.
