Lagniappe

““At the end of every three years, bring a tenth of all your produce for that year and store it within your gates. Then the Levite, who has no portion or inheritance among you, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow within your gates may come, eat, and be satisfied. And the Lord your God will bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.” (Deuteronomy 14:28–29, HCSB)

Lagniappe is Cajun for “a little something extra.” In foods, it is used to describe a little extra you get on the food, perhaps the spice. It means a bonus, you give to someone. The slogan for Beaumont, Texas is “Texas with a little something extra.” If Cajuns wrote this passage, they would call it the “Lagniappe” Scripture.

This gift is to be given every third year. Above the ten percent that one is expected to give, there is the additional gift of ten percent in the third year. To put it another way, one is to give twenty percent to God in the third year. Or to say it another way, three percent is to be designated for the purpose listed in this verse. God expects me to give “a little something extra” to those who have nothing – the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow.” God wants me to give to others a special blessing. This blessing is “a little something extra” for them. These people (the people who have nothing) would not not be expecting this “lagniappe.” God does this to remind me that all of us need “a little something extra” from God on occasion.

Photo by Zachary Nelson on Unsplash