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.
Along with the captives, the kings had also taken valuable possessions. The people's food was taken. So were all the properties of Lot. Clearly, The patriarch's quest was one of revenge, restoration and justice.
The patriarch was victorious. He was victorious because he did not go alone. He had help in the form of a number of allies who are named in verse thirteen as Mamre, Aner and Eshcol. He also had the Lord with him in battle and this was the chief reason for his victory.
It was customary in those days for the men who participated in battle to be given a share of the spoils after victory. This is how Abraham's distribution of the possessions ought to be seen. When he gives one tenth of the spoils to Melchidezek therefore, Abraham was simply sharing the spoils of war. Since Melchidezek also turns out to be a priest of God many perceive this gift to be a tithe but it may also be a simple traditional gift given in return for a blessing as obtained with Isaac and his sons.
There is also the fact that tithes are calculated as a percentage of the giver's possessions. The spoils accessed by Abraham would hardly qualify as all his possessions. The patriarch refuses to acknowledge them as his and rejects the King of Sodom's offer for him to take over the spoils explaining that he has taken an oath to God promising not to take anything.
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.
Along with the captives, the kings had also taken valuable possessions. The people's food was taken. So were all the properties of Lot. Clearly, The patriarch's quest was one of revenge, restoration and justice.
The patriarch was victorious. He was victorious because he did not go alone. He had help in the form of a number of allies who are named in verse thirteen as Mamre, Aner and Eshcol. He also had the Lord with him in battle and this was the chief reason for his victory.
It was customary in those days for the men who participated in battle to be given a share of the spoils after victory. This is how Abraham's distribution of the possessions ought to be seen. When he gives one tenth of the spoils to Melchidezek therefore, Abraham was simply sharing the spoils of war. Since Melchidezek also turns out to be a priest of God many perceive this gift to be a tithe but it may also be a simple traditional gift given in return for a blessing as obtained with Isaac and his sons.
There is also the fact that tithes are calculated as a percentage of the giver's possessions. The spoils accessed by Abraham would hardly qualify as all his possessions. The patriarch refuses to acknowledge them as his and rejects the King of Sodom's offer for him to take over the spoils explaining that he has taken an oath to God promising not to take anything.
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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