Numbers 31:31-46: a reflection

31Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses. 32Now the plunder, over and above the booty which the men of war took, was six hundred seventy-five thousand sheep, 33seventy-two thousand head of cattle, 34sixty-one thousand donkeys, 35and thirty-two thousand persons in all, of the women who had not known man by lying with him. 36The half, which was the portion of those who went out to war, was in number three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep; 37and the LORD’s tribute of the sheep was six hundred seventy-five. 38The cattle were thirty-six thousand, of which the LORD’s tribute was seventy-two. 39The donkeys were thirty thousand five hundred, of which the LORD’s tribute was sixty-one. 40The persons were sixteen thousand, of whom the LORD’s tribute was thirty-two persons. 41Moses gave the tribute, which was the LORD’s wave offering, to Eleazar the priest, as the LORD commanded Moses. 42Of the children of Israel’s half, which Moses divided off from the men who fought 43(now the congregation’s half was three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep, 44thirty-six thousand head of cattle, 45thirty thousand five hundred donkeys, 46and sixteen thousand persons),

After a battle, the plunder is gathered and carefully counted, and before it is divided among the people, a portion is set apart for the LORD, taken off the top. From the soldiers' share and from the people's share, a tribute was given to God first, before the rest was distributed for their own use. God's portion came off the top of the gain, not from what was left after everyone had taken theirs.

Notice the order: God's portion was set apart first, before the people divided the rest among themselves. The gain was not first taken for their own use, with God receiving whatever might be left over; a tribute to God was taken off the top, before the rest was distributed. God was given his portion first, as a matter of priority, not last, as an afterthought from the remainder.

That order is a principle for our own giving. We are prone to take care of ourselves first, spending on our own needs and wants, and to give God whatever happens to be left over, if anything. But the pattern here is to give God his portion first, off the top, before we divide the rest for our own use. This puts God first in a tangible way, giving him priority rather than leftovers. When gain comes to you, do not take your own share first and give God the remainder; give God his portion off the top, first, before you divide the rest for yourself. Let your giving to God come first, not last, a matter of priority, not an afterthought. The God who gave you the gain deserves the first portion of it, off the top, not merely what is left when you have taken your fill.

Lord, when the plunder was gathered, a portion was set apart for you first, taken off the top, before the rest was divided among the people; your portion came first, not from what was left over. Make that order a principle for my own giving. I am prone to take care of myself first, spending on my own needs and wants, and to give you whatever happens to be left over, if anything. But your pattern is to give you your portion first, off the top, before I divide the rest for my own use. This puts you first in a tangible way, giving you priority rather than leftovers. When gain comes to me, keep me from taking my own share first and giving you the remainder. Help me give you your portion off the top, first, before I divide the rest for myself. Let my giving to you come first, not last, a matter of priority, not an afterthought. You who give me the gain deserve the first portion of it; help me give you the first, not merely what is left.