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What Does Maʿăśēr Mean For Elon Musk And the U.S. Senate?

What Does Maʿăśēr Mean For Elon Musk And the U.S. Senate?

Last updated on: June 5, 2025 at 8:59 pm by Martin Thomas Johnson

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What Does Maʿăśēr Mean For Elon Musk And the U.S. Senate? 2025-06-05T20:59:01-04:00 Martin Thomas Johnson

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HeSo far this week, the big news has been about the ongoing rift between Elon Musk and President Trump over Trump’s omnibus big beautiful bill. Musk went as far as describing the bill as a disgusting abomination that undermines everything his DOGE has accomplished.

image by Wikipedia Commons

Critics point out Musk’s potential loss over the bill’s ending of electronic vehicle tax credits. The two egotistical billionaires have butted heads all day over the bill’s potential to add trillions of dollars in debt to the US debt. Either way, it is clear conservatives are looking out for their own priorities instead of God’s:

The poor
The sick
God’s creation

As a lifelong conservative, I’ve always thought conservative values were based on Christian principles, not selfish worldly desires. I believe we, as God’s people have a social and moral responsibility to fight for and protect the things God cares about more than what we want.

The Bible overwhelmingly emphasizes helping those in need, the poor and the sick. We are to love our neighbors and the foreigners among us (Leviticus 19:18, Mark 12:31). God’s people have a responsibility to honor God with our resources (Proverbs 3:9-10, Acts 20:35). This responsibility is more than just a simple tithe.

What Is a Tithe

Most of us understand God’s people are called to return to God a small portion of what He has blessed us with, but the tithe is much more than giving God money (Genesis 28:22, Hebrews 7:1-28). It is an act of faith, love, and obedience.

image by Pixabay

. Tithing is defined as “A tenth part of something paid as a voluntary contribution or as a tax, especially for the support of a religious establishment; a small part. ”Tithing isn’t a way to buy God’s favor, because God cannot be bought (Deuteronomy 10:17, Acts 10:34).

A tithe is a tenth of whatever God has blessed us with: time, material blessings, or wealth. God’s people cannot be greedy like this selfish world. That is why the Bible has a lot to say about honoring and obeying God with our resources (Malachi 3:10, Hebrews 13:16).

We cannot repay God for His goodness, but we can share His goodness with others (Deuteronomy 8:18, 2 Corinthians 8:9). The church is only a storehouse to spread our offerings and to do the work of God (Malachi 3:10, Acts 4:32-35).

God’s people are called to be generous with God’s gifts and to do the right thing and tithing is one of them (Deuteronomy 14:22-29, 2 Corinthians 9:11). Tithing is only a small part of obeying and trusting God (Romans 12:1-4, 1 Corinthians 9:13-14; 16:2, 2 Corinthians 8:1-5; 9:10-14, Galatians 2:9-10). The Apostle Paul remembered his Jewish education about giving back to God a tithe.

Maʿăśēr

The ancient world was greedy as a result of the fall in the garden. After Adam bought the lie of Satan, it became harder for man to do what is right (Genesis 4:5-8). Able gave God his best and made a sacrifice; Cain was selfish and didn’t give God his best.

Like Cain, the world became selfish and sought its own benefit (Genesis 6:5). Cain and the world did not want to give God a small portion of what God had blessed them with. They didn’t want to sacrifice the tithe.

The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for tithe is maʿăśēr and it can also mean “The tenth part or a payment of tenth,” depending on the context it was used. Judaism includes a variety of sacrifices and tithes:

Terumah
Ma’aser rishon
Terumat ma’aser
Ma’aser sheni
Poor man’s tithe

Jesus also taught His followers to tithe and use their resources for God (Mark 12:41-44, Luke 6:38). Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for tithing what they had, but not being just and sharing the love of God (Matthew 6:1-4, Luke 11:42).

Image by Pixabay

Jesus reminded His followers its important to give back to God and others (Mark 4:24, Luke 6:38). Jesus rebuked the rich and praised the poor who were willing to give an offering out of their lack (Mark 12:41-44).

knew how selfish men can be with money (Matthew 19:23-24). Jesus advised the rich to sell their possessions and give money to the poor (Proverbs 19:17, Matthew 19:21, Luke 12:33).\

U.S. Senate

Right now Pres. Trump’s big beautiful bill is not expected to make it through the Senate as it is. There are fears it will add nearly 2 ½ trillion dollars to the federal deficit. Shockingly, some senators want to cut more government resources that help the poor.

Image by Wikipedia Commons

Elon Musk has been on a social media blitz all day to kill the bill, which will end tax incentives for electric vehicle buyers. It seems everyone involved in this political debate is actually looking out for their own selfish interests after all.

Hopefully, not all conservatives have sold their souls to Satan for earthly greatness (Matthew 5:20, Mark 8:36, Luke 18:10-14):

Greed
Deception
Uncompassionate

I, like many Christians, am amazed how easily some conservatives have turned from the ways and teachings of God to pursue earthly greatness (Matthew 24:10-12, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, 1 Timothy 4:1, Titus 1:13-16).

They have exchanged the good of God for earthly greatness and power (Jeremiah 2: 11, Romans 1:25). President Trump and Maga conservatives don’t care about the things of God, they want earthly greatness and power that will not last.

Nothing of this world will last, it will all return to the dust God created (Genesis 2:19, Ecclesiastes 12:7, Hebrews 9:27). Good works cannot save us, they are only what we return to God as maʿăśēr!

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