A lot of Christians today are conflicted about the tithing issue. For the most part believers want to know that their actions in tithing or refusing to do so are in accordance with what God wants. For guidance on how to live the lives that please God, many look at the examples set by patriarchs like Abraham. A deep examination of the life he lived will prove that Abraham did not tithe.
The issue surrounding the patriarch and tithing originates in Genesis. In chapter fourteen of Genesis Abraham's battle with the four kings. Abraham had engaged in battle to rescue his nephew Lot who had been captured by the four Kings.
The four kings had taken Lot and other residents of the cities, but that was not all. They also took the people's food and Lot's possessions. It is natural to think that Abraham's aim might have been to ensure that this injustice did not stand.
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.
In addition to not being his and simply being the spoils of war being divided, the patriarch's action fails to fulfill another requirement of tithing. Tithing is a habitual act but this was an isolated event. It was not repeated.
This patriarch was certainly not a tither. His giving was not an organized habitual one. It was rather a single event that fulfilled a custom of sharing the rewards of a well fought battle. Additionally, his failure to view the possessions as his own rules out the act as tithing since it would not have been truly his to give.
The issue surrounding the patriarch and tithing originates in Genesis. In chapter fourteen of Genesis Abraham's battle with the four kings. Abraham had engaged in battle to rescue his nephew Lot who had been captured by the four Kings.
The four kings had taken Lot and other residents of the cities, but that was not all. They also took the people's food and Lot's possessions. It is natural to think that Abraham's aim might have been to ensure that this injustice did not stand.
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.
In addition to not being his and simply being the spoils of war being divided, the patriarch's action fails to fulfill another requirement of tithing. Tithing is a habitual act but this was an isolated event. It was not repeated.
This patriarch was certainly not a tither. His giving was not an organized habitual one. It was rather a single event that fulfilled a custom of sharing the rewards of a well fought battle. Additionally, his failure to view the possessions as his own rules out the act as tithing since it would not have been truly his to give.
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