Intent on saying thank you

Hebrews 6:17-7:10

           In yesterday's passage a man was told to give away everything he owns. Today's passage speaks of tithing, or giving 10% to God. Pretty good negotiation if that's what is. I believe it says something about how rigid ( or not ) the 'word of God' is, especially when it is translated through a human medium.    

          At a family gathering years ago I recall hearing someone say that they had been called out in their church. The preacher simply announced from the pulpit who was not meeting their tithe to God. And we know it wasn't actually God, it was the pastor. I suppose the next step would be announce other such imperfections, lack of judgement or sins committed by the faithful. Why not let everyone in the community know that Mr Jones blew through a stop sign. How about announcing from the pulpit that Mr. Smith ( or Mrs. Smith ) had been found coming out of house of ill repute or was having an affair?  Why not announce the kids who lied to their parents or any one a million possible sins. How horrible. That vision of God and his 'love' is the farthest from anything I believe or have experienced.

               I believe in the unchangeable character of His purpose which is love and that we are heirs to the kingdom as beloved children of God. Yes, even as we sin and are imperfect. So how do we handle the commandments and this quite clear concept of tithing?

              Is this where God (or some pastor) intervenes if we give a penny less than our tithe or we are weak and sin in some small fashion just once? That would seem more like a bookkeeper / vengeful God. Again, as far from what I perceive, have experienced or believe. So what makes us worthy and what are we to do?  

             How about to simply to your best? God is the only true arbiter of where your heart is and what your intent is. God is the one who forgives our failings. Is it our intent to cheat God out of a tithe?  What is the intent of the tithe?? A joyful giving back to God is how I see it. It is not an obligation so much as it is a willing thank you and there are myriad ways to say thank you. Who would be so blessed as we are and turn around and say screw you to God? Only the insane, only the deluded.

              There was a time when I could not afford two pennies. Should I have been chastised for my sin of falling into the trap of worldliness?  Now adays I have turned my life around financially and I am able to give and save. Perhaps I might want to give more than 10%. It's whatever is in your heart. You have to feel it.  You would need to grasp just how much God has given you and how many wonderful things and people has brought into your life. Then, giving becomes easy. It is a solid thank you.

            I have always noted the problems with translations and intent. Perhaps we could simply find a way to help others in a way that we feel is consistent with what we have been graced with. Just thinking about our graces is a thanksgiving prayer to God which no doubt he smiles at. The next step is something more tangible.

      

In the same way, when God desired to show even more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it by an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us. We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest for ever according to the order of Melchizedek.

This ‘King Melchizedek of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him’; and to him Abraham apportioned ‘one-tenth of everything’. His name, in the first place, means ‘king of righteousness’; next he is also king of Salem, that is, ‘king of peace’. Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest for ever.

See how great he is! Even Abraham the patriarch gave him a tenth of the spoils. And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to collect tithes from the people, that is, from their kindred, though these also are descended from Abraham. But this man, who does not belong to their ancestry, collected tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had received the promises. It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. In the one case, tithes are received by those who are mortal; in the other, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.