Daily Devotional | The Economics of Worship

When I started seminary as a poor graduate student, my wife and I visited several churches. At one church, the parking lot was filled with high- end luxury cars. Our decades-old sedan looked markedly out of place. Although the people were welcoming, we wondered if we would fit in.

In today’s reading, two themes are carefully woven together—worship and care for the poor. In the first section, Moses reminded Israel that they were to be faithful in tithing from their grain and livestock (vv. 22–27). A portion of this tithe was used to support the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows (vv. 28–29). The rest of it was to be enjoyed by the worshiper and their family in a celebratory meal (vv. 25–27). At a time when eating meat was a rare luxury, this would have been a celebration that the whole family eagerly looked forward to.

In the second section, Moses outlined the laws for debt cancellation on the seventh year—the Sabbatical Year (15:1–11). This was not just an economic policy to help the poor, it was also a part of Israel’s corporate worship. It was to be a key value of that community. In showing compassion to the poor, Israel would model God’s heart toward the vulnerable: “There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be open-handed toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land” (15:11).

The worship of God’s people should be full of joy, celebration, care, and compassion. When hearts have been transformed by God’s grace, it is natural for that generosity to overflow to the needy. As James reminds us, “religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress” (James 1:27).