The principle of tithing is a controversial one in Christendom. Members of this faith are conflicted because they want to be obedient to God's word but aren't exactly sure about what the Bible really says about paying over tithes. Many look to the lives of fathers of the faith such as Abraham for guidance on this issue. Those who examine his life carefully though, will come to realize that Abraham did not tithe at all.
The book of Genesis is, rightly, the source for information on this patriarch's life. In chapter fourteen readers will find the source of many tithing proposers' arguments. In this chapter a battle engaged in by Abraham is mentioned. This battle was fought because lot, his nephew had been taken along with the people of Sodom and Gomorrah among whom he lived. Their captors were identified as the four kings.
The four Kings had taken more than Lot though. They had also taken other captives and the possessions of the people who were living in Sodom and Gomorrah. This means that Lot's possessions were also taken away since he was living among the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.
The Lord was on the patriarch's side and the four kings were defeated. He had the Lord with him but he also had other men assisting him in the fight. Verse thirteen makes mention of some of his allies, Aner, Mamre and Eshcol, and later on when they battle has been completed, the presence of these and other men on the scene makes it evident that they fought alongside the patriarch.
The customs in those days was to divide the spoils of war after victory and it is in this context that Abraham's issuing of one tenth of the plunder to Melchizedek should be seen. It is impossible to argue that Melchizedek was there but was not in the battle. The fact that Melchidezek also happened to be a priest of God does not in itself make the act one of tithing. An even if he was not with the patriarch during battle, the act still does not qualify as tithing as it more resembles the customs of bestowing a gift after or before a blessing as is seen with Isaac and his sons. Later on the patriarch asks that the other allies be given their share of the spoils.
The patriarch did not give of his own possessions as is required in tithing. In chapter twenty two he responds to an offer by the king of Sodom for him to take all the food and wealth by stating that he had made an oath to God that he would take nothing from him. He asked instead that the men bellowed to eat some of the food and that his fellow warriors be given a share of the spoils as is due to them. His denial of ownership of the spoils of war means that he did not give from his own possessions.The failure to fulfill this requirement rules out the act as one of tithe giving.
Tithing is also an organized, habitual act. The patriarch's action fails to live up to this requirement as it is an isolated event. Tithing by its very nature is supposed to be organized in terms of frequency which is why today's tithers pay monthly, weekly or bi-weekly. This was an, unplanned event that did not fit into the patriarch's routine activities.
Abraham's actions in Genesis chapter fourteen cannot be seen as tithing. He did not give from his possessions. He did not give habitually. He simply assigned to his colleagues the traditional shares in the spoils of war.
The book of Genesis is, rightly, the source for information on this patriarch's life. In chapter fourteen readers will find the source of many tithing proposers' arguments. In this chapter a battle engaged in by Abraham is mentioned. This battle was fought because lot, his nephew had been taken along with the people of Sodom and Gomorrah among whom he lived. Their captors were identified as the four kings.
The four Kings had taken more than Lot though. They had also taken other captives and the possessions of the people who were living in Sodom and Gomorrah. This means that Lot's possessions were also taken away since he was living among the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.
The Lord was on the patriarch's side and the four kings were defeated. He had the Lord with him but he also had other men assisting him in the fight. Verse thirteen makes mention of some of his allies, Aner, Mamre and Eshcol, and later on when they battle has been completed, the presence of these and other men on the scene makes it evident that they fought alongside the patriarch.
The customs in those days was to divide the spoils of war after victory and it is in this context that Abraham's issuing of one tenth of the plunder to Melchizedek should be seen. It is impossible to argue that Melchizedek was there but was not in the battle. The fact that Melchidezek also happened to be a priest of God does not in itself make the act one of tithing. An even if he was not with the patriarch during battle, the act still does not qualify as tithing as it more resembles the customs of bestowing a gift after or before a blessing as is seen with Isaac and his sons. Later on the patriarch asks that the other allies be given their share of the spoils.
The patriarch did not give of his own possessions as is required in tithing. In chapter twenty two he responds to an offer by the king of Sodom for him to take all the food and wealth by stating that he had made an oath to God that he would take nothing from him. He asked instead that the men bellowed to eat some of the food and that his fellow warriors be given a share of the spoils as is due to them. His denial of ownership of the spoils of war means that he did not give from his own possessions.The failure to fulfill this requirement rules out the act as one of tithe giving.
Tithing is also an organized, habitual act. The patriarch's action fails to live up to this requirement as it is an isolated event. Tithing by its very nature is supposed to be organized in terms of frequency which is why today's tithers pay monthly, weekly or bi-weekly. This was an, unplanned event that did not fit into the patriarch's routine activities.
Abraham's actions in Genesis chapter fourteen cannot be seen as tithing. He did not give from his possessions. He did not give habitually. He simply assigned to his colleagues the traditional shares in the spoils of war.
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