#but others would see their mortal partners as their priests offering tithes

[sins-and-hubris]

Ive got to ask it… how normalized is godf*cking in your HK universe? Like is it “only a fool would stick it in Higher Being” or “I’m a member of an ahem very special priesthood” or “ah yes, the annual all-in divine orgy, makes the crops real productive.” I personally think it would depend on individual god and devout culture, but on the other hand I can see sweeping species-wide taboos.

Oooh, that's a cool thought to chew on! But I think I align with you in that it varies both in the preferences of the individual god as well as how their aspect can relate that sexual desire into worship. A war god, for example, likely would not gather much tithe from sex, and instead gain more benefit from ritualized fighting behaviors present in the courtship of their favored tribe, while a god of bounty or fertility (like WL) would probably gain a great deal of worship from sex, no matter the format. Whether or not the god needs to be physically present, spiritually present, or not at all also varies (sometimes posessing a host to fuck their devout is the only option), but overall I don't think that it's the strangest thing out there. It might be to some civilizations, but to Higher Beings pretty much any form of worship is good- some is just better than the other. And some Higher Beings (like Grimm) don't gather much tithe from sex in any form, they're just kinky and want to fool around.

Individual culture and species quirks would also probably mess with the rites and how they are presented. For example, the reason why I write Lurien with so much guilt over pining for PK is because he was raised in a beetle-based society, where monogamy is common and mate guarding is fierce. He didn't know that PK and WL do not care about him joining the fun, or that many gods outside of Hallownest keep their beds warm with their favorite priests, because the culture that he was raised in was one that made sex a more private, coveted thing, with tributes to WL being something done in the privacy of homes. If PK had become the god of a species that engages in group-living or scramble promiscuity, where everyone mates with anyone, then that perception would be very different. How the culture was before the god became popular influences how the mortals worship, which the Higher Beings are fine with as long as they get their dosh. WL, for example, is just as okay with a priestess to her being tied down and fucked by multiple people in public as she is by a private couple whispering prayers as they try to conceive their first clutch. Both involve lots of enthusiastic sex. Both suit her just fine. That would not work for PK, however, as he is the god of Mind and Soul rather than Life and Fertility, and the first would not work in the Beetle Tribe's society (though it might for others)

(PK also doesn't gain as much tithe from fucking Lurien as WL does when fucking him- or, well, anybody else. Subserviance and loyalty being given willingly and freely is more of what he feeds off of, it's just that sex is a very good way of gaining a big dose of that all at once.)

[ftpthemovement]

The 4 Investments

Tithes:

Original translation: “Maasar” meaning tenth

Objective: Obedience

““I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” Malachi‬ ‭3:6-10‬ ‭

The tithe goes towards the outreach and the overhead of the church. Gives us the ability to have a place of refreshment for discipleship, to as many people possible through tangible goods, as well as spreading the gospel to as many people possible.

Where do tithes go to: Local Church

They have a return on investment of: God himself opening the floodgates of heaven and pouring out so much blessing that there won’t be enough room to store it. If you for some reason believe that tithing is irrelevant because of the New Testament, I would highly suggest you read Hebrews 7 and see what was performed by Abraham in the line of Melchizedek.

Though we are not under the curse of the law, we have had the ability to honor God with our tithe before the law of the Levite’s was ever even put into place. This is for the mature to discern and gain wisdom. Also, if you are worried about the money, you should take the time to check the condition of your heart personally. If Christ gave his all, what is it for us to share a portion of our harvest towards the expansion of his kingdom, when the very portion you have been given, he has already blessed you with?

Tithes= obedience to God.

First Fruits:

Original translation: “Bikkurim” means “promise to come”

Objective: Generosity

The Israelites saw these first fruits as an investment into their future. God told them that if they brought their first fruits to him, he would bless all that came afterward.

Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine Proverbs 3:9-10

“The first of all first fruits of every kind and every contribution of every kind, from all your contributions, shall be for the priests: you shall also give to the priest the first of your dough to cause a blessing to rest on your house.” —Ezekiel 44:30

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.”- 2 Corinthians‬ ‭9:6-14‬

The difference in tithes and first fruits: Tithes are throughout the entire year, and is a tenth of your income. First fruits are annual offering given to the ministers or the church as a sign of gratitude for what the Lord has provided.

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24

First fruits shows God you are not in love with money. That you are willing to be generous at all times, and are a blessing to those who are dedicated to the oversight of the church and it’s missions. This is a way to say thank you to the church and or the minister that has helped lead you to Christ. It brings refreshment and opportunity to the church.

Return on investment: Your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. God will increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion. People will praise God because of your generosity.

First fruits= Generosity

Alms:

Original translation: Greek word “Eleemosyne”

Meaning: Compassion

He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given. Proverbs 19:17

“Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.” Proverbs 28:27

“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” Matthew‬ ‭6:1-4‬ ‭

Return on investment: God will pay you back exactly what was given. You won’t miss a single cent of what was given to those in need.

Alms= Compassion on your fellow man.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy 6:10

Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. Luke 12:33

““Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” -Matthew‬ ‭6:19-21‬ ‭

First 3 have to do with money and goods. The last one has to do with the word of God directly.

The Seed:

“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “ ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’ “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.” Luke‬ ‭8:5-15‬

Return on investment: faith and reward that produce some 30,60,100x as much.

I pray that you search your heart to be in alignment with God in all things. Some of us may give, but God gave it all when he bankrupted heaven to give his son for salvation and the atonement of all of our sins. Christ himself made the choice to lay his life down so that we would have an abundant life, an opportunity to experience life as he saw fit. Christ himself wasn’t just give a tenth, he gave his all when he allowed himself to be crucified on the cross.

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13 For the past 5 years I’ve tried to be the best example of what this looks like through my time, talents and resources here at FTP. I believe none of what we just discussed is an obligation, rather it is an opportunity to partner with god through FTP to reach as many people as possible. There’s 4 types of investment God offers us to participate in, and I plan on spending every waking moment I have, dedicated to these kingdom principles and opportunities. I’ve watched it continuously change my life, and promote me to places I never could have imagined.

This barely touches on the economy and the blessing and favor God has in store for us. I just pray you open your hands to the mission of being an ambassador of Christ. I pray that you be known for irrational generosity, and that all the kingdom promises of God be bestowed on you in good measure. As scripture says in Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Remember, only faith in God will save you, not any of these works. But, a true believer will walk how Christ walked, and abide in his teaching through doing what he did in his earthly ministry, and far greater. The scandalous love and grace of God allows you to invest in this opportunity, and in return he provides an almost immeasurable increase in every form of giving. How amazing is it that!? God gives his Son, so that we may have life, then allows us the opportunity to live a life of abundance to help others, and then awards you for it. “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” 1 Timothy 6:9

“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:17-19‬ ‭

4 types of investments:

What type of investor do you want to be known as? One who invest in a world of selfish pleasure and indulgence, or one who invests in the economy of God. One is temporary, the other has riches for eternity that never spoil or fade.

If you solely invest in the world, you have temporary satisfaction in this life. If you invest in God you help others here on earth and you gain an earthly and worldly inheritance. The choice is yours!

Tithes - Obedience

First fruit- Generosity

The alms- Compassion

Seed- Faith and reward