Sharing the First Fruits--by Linden Malki

The earliest mention in Genesis of bringing the "first fruits" to God is in the very beginning of the story that became the history of God's people is Cain and Abel, as they bring their results of their first harvests as offerings to God. One thing to notice is that they had more than they needed to feed themselves and their family.  In general, this is true of most of what we do to provide for ourselves--we do usually have the skills and the provisions for more than we need, and we can share our harvests and what we can make with our hands with others. The results are that we can trade with each other to all benefit from the variety of what we can grow and what we can make, and we can give from our harvests and our skills to be able to support those who spend their time and efforts to lead the community in serving God and taking care of each other.

As the earliest communities were formed, usually based on families and their neighbors, included in the guidelines for actually making the community work properly were instructions to bring a "tithe", defined as ten percent, to a central location to where those who cared for the religious observances and the charitable needs of the community had the resources to do their jobs. I can't help noticing that as part of the intelligence that we were endowed with from the beginning were not only language skills, but math skills as well. I've noticed that when archeologists uncover the remains of ancient settlements, they often find collections of clay tablets engraved with records much like the paperwork that we still find necessary to keep a community organized--census data, records of taxes and payments, records of the goods and services produced by members of the community, and even copies of "homework" assignments of the students that are learning how to maintain the records.  We find that people are required to give of what they grow and produce as an offering to God, and  His designated representatives. Some of these are sacrificed in recognition that God does provide what is needed for food to be grown and materials to be used for building and other needs. Some of this production is designated for those charged of caring for the spiritual, educational charitable and organizational needs of the community.

 From the beginning, most communities have recognized their responsibility toward those who care for the needs of the community, and support of the religious and social/political authorities have been seen as a religious and social duty. Part of the instructions believed to have been given to the people by God include certain days of the year to be set apart for recognition and celebration of God's provision for His people. The Jewish and Christian communities no longer include actual sacrifices, (but the Islamic annual pilgrimage to Mecca, and the Passover celebration the small remaining Samaritan community in Israel still offer animal sacrifices). We do celebrate special occasions with special foods and meals, and we do consider regular donations of food and money as required support of the religious and social communities.