Tithe and Beer Party?
According to this passage of scripture you are to give a tithe (1/10) of your profit for the year. If you happened to live too far you can sell your crops, or farm animals and bring the money to the temple. Then you are to spend the money on any food you want including wine and beer, so basically it is a big celebration that you are partaking in to thank the Lord for His provision for the year. Apparently you can drink beer in honor of the Lord and celebrate. I do not know the Hebrew text so I can not tell you if there are any words in the text that indicate whether or not you can get plastered, sloshed, or smashed celebrating the Lord.
Every 3rd consecutive year the tithe is supposed to be brought to the nearest town and given to the Levites, foreigners, widows, and orphans so that they can eat and be satisfied. So this is the original instruction of tithing according to the Old Testament, but the main purpose of tithing was out of fear of the Lord. Be mindful that the temple has not been built yet and that will not take place for approximately 700 years under King Solomon.
Given this passage it seems today's faithful tither is not carrying out the original instructions of scripture. But this is only one passage out of the Old Testament and further research is needed.
The main reason why I tithe, or more correctly, the reason why I give a tenth of my income is out of reverence and fear of the Lord. God has richly blessed my family and has always provided for me. I have made giving a habit since I was a teenager and I have never missed a bill that I could not have paid for. Giving is also an important habit, for if we can give out of fear, reverence, and love for God, then it will make it easier for us to give to people who are in need or out of love. Giving is a gift that benefits the giver more than the person who receives the gift.
May we continually give unto the Lord so that our hearts are not too fixated on the material things of this world. We can only serve one master, God or money, and if it is God, then our money is a tool used to minister to others, our families, and the body of believers we worship and fellowship with. If money is our master, then it will consume our lives and giving a tenth of an income would be an almost impossible venture.
See Tim McCaffrey's post on "Would Jesus Tithe Today?" You can read his post at,
http://riseup.posterous.com/would-jesus-tithe-today
Every 3rd consecutive year the tithe is supposed to be brought to the nearest town and given to the Levites, foreigners, widows, and orphans so that they can eat and be satisfied. So this is the original instruction of tithing according to the Old Testament, but the main purpose of tithing was out of fear of the Lord. Be mindful that the temple has not been built yet and that will not take place for approximately 700 years under King Solomon.
Given this passage it seems today's faithful tither is not carrying out the original instructions of scripture. But this is only one passage out of the Old Testament and further research is needed.
The main reason why I tithe, or more correctly, the reason why I give a tenth of my income is out of reverence and fear of the Lord. God has richly blessed my family and has always provided for me. I have made giving a habit since I was a teenager and I have never missed a bill that I could not have paid for. Giving is also an important habit, for if we can give out of fear, reverence, and love for God, then it will make it easier for us to give to people who are in need or out of love. Giving is a gift that benefits the giver more than the person who receives the gift.
May we continually give unto the Lord so that our hearts are not too fixated on the material things of this world. We can only serve one master, God or money, and if it is God, then our money is a tool used to minister to others, our families, and the body of believers we worship and fellowship with. If money is our master, then it will consume our lives and giving a tenth of an income would be an almost impossible venture.
See Tim McCaffrey's post on "Would Jesus Tithe Today?" You can read his post at,
http://riseup.posterous.com/would-jesus-tithe-today
