Genesis 14:20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tithe of all.
In today's passage, we have the first mention of the word "tithe". After a successful battle, Abraham meets up with Melchizedek, the king of Salem, also known as the priest of God Most High. Abraham gives the priest of God ten percent, or a "tithe" of his increase. It was a representation of Abraham's acknowledgement of God being his source of victory and provision. A few thousand years later, the meaning and purpose of giving has not changed. As believers, we still give because we know that all that we have is given to us by God. Someone might say " Christians should no longer tithe because we are no longer under the law, but under grace." I would argue that the tithe was neither ratified or nullified by the law or by grace. The tithe is a principal that hasn't changed since Abraham, the father of faith. The problem arises when someone places a legalistic premise on tithing, concluding that tithing is something that someone must do to be saved. This is found nowhere in scripture, but a close look at the New Testament will reveal to us that grace doesn't release us to do less for God, but actually sets us free to do more. The New Testament teaches us to be cheerful givers, and that is exactly how I would imagine Abraham did it the very first time that a tithe was given. It would also seem, after reading the book of Acts, that the early church seems to go well beyond the tithe, so I would caution those who want to use the New Covenant to feel okay about not putting God first in the area of their finances. I understand that this can sometimes be a touchy subject for some, but it shouldn't be, considering that the One we follow didn't stop at ten percent, but went all in.
I don't find the tithe to be wrong in my heart. I have never felt like I was going to hell if I didn't, but I have been convicted. We give our money to so many people that take advantage of our evil desires within. I know one person who has a room full of exercise equipment and never uses is. We love to spend money on stuff we don't want or need, but we find it difficult to give the tithe. Just sayin! LOL!
ReplyDeleteTithing- bring the first fruits to the storehouse- being the church priests- but also if someone needs something where do they go first. To the church ask an elder or Pastor about help with food or bills or anything that money can be used for. When I finally realized that it ALL belongs to GOD- my -see I said it -MY- money - my property- My car- My motorcycle-{ None of it is mine it all is Gods.} We are called to be good stewards of what the Lord lets us have. Personally I can testify that when I realized these things tithing became natural. Then the abundance came and allowed us to give more.We can not afford not to tithe. A pastor should never have to ask for money- it is a distraction. We need to be faithful so this does not happen,ken
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ReplyDeleteThe goods that Abraham gave the tenth from didn’t even belong to Abraham:
ReplyDeleteGenesis 14:21 (NIV) - The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.”
Notice in verse 21 the king of Sodom didn’t ask Abraham if he would give back to him the people, but rather said GIVE ME the people and keep the goods for yourself. The way that is worded indicates that the king of Sodom was claiming that the people and the goods belonged to him and those he represented.
Genesis 14:22-24 (NIV) - 22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath 23that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share.”
Notice in verses 23 and 24 Abraham also acknowledges that the goods belonged to the king of Sodom and those he represented.
Therefore, it is clear that both the king of Sodom and Abraham acknowledged that the spoils of war did NOT belong to Abraham, yet he gave a tenth of the spoils to King Melchizedek. This would seem that Abraham did something wrong, if not even illegal, but Biblical historians agree that it was custom in Abraham's day to give the king a tenth of the war spoils. Had Abraham not given the tenth, he would have gone against custom.
Conclusion: Abraham did NOT give a tenth of his income, or his wealth. Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils of war that didn’t belong to him. That is NOT an example for Christians to follow today. Furthermore, the law did NOT require a tenth of war spoils to be given, but rather 1.1%, so to say that tithing was before the law and then in the law is not true. What Abraham did was NOT codified into the later law.
When God gave the Israelites the promised land, He RESERVED, for Himself, a tenth of the crops and every tenth animal. They NEVER did belong to the Israelites. In other words, the tithe was from God's increase of FOOD, not from man's income. It was a way to distribute FOOD to the Levites and priests who did NOT inherit any land.
No one, not even the farmers, tithed on their income.
The farmers made their income by SELLING and/or barter-exchanging their crops and animals but did NOT tithe on that income.
Today, ALL born-again believers are priests. ALL of us are called to be deciples of the Lord. No one of us is higher than another. Our bodies are the Temple where the Spirit dwells. According to the scriptures, priests do not tithe.
The New Testament teaches generous, sacrificial giving, from the heart, according to our means. For some, $1 might be a sacrifice, while for others, even giving 50% of their income might not induce a sacrifice. In the Old Testament, ONLY the farmers tithed, and it was equal percentage (a tenth). The New Testament teaches the principle of equal sacrifice instead of equal percentage. Equal sacrifice is much harder to achieve, if not impossible, than giving ten percent.
I would like to say that I was brought up in church and I can always remember my parents tithing. Now that I am an adult and raising a family of my own I am responsible to do it myself. But this too is a natural thing for myself and my husband. Even If we were going through a financial struggle that ten percent PLUS an offering comes first! All we have is Gods and I personally am afraid to know how He may look upon me and us if we didn't trust Him and give what already belongs to Him to the church. We as a people must come to the realization that everything in the bible is for us to learn an know that it's not a story book! It's to model our lives after. When Jesus speaks to people and through people in the bible it is for all to hear and live by. If we all gave accordingly, peoples needs would be met and they could always count on the church.
ReplyDelete@Dana Goble,
ReplyDeleteWhich tithe commands from God do you follow?
THE FIRST TITHE
Leviticus 27:30-33 defines this tithe as a tenth of crops and animals in herds and flocks.
Numbers 18 gives the ordinances, or instructions, for this tithe, and commands this tithe be taken to the Levites.
Purpose of this tithe: to support the Levitical Priesthood.
SECOND TITHE
Deuteronomy 14:22-27: aka The Festival Tithe - a tenth of crops, plus add to that the firstborn animals, and take for the yearly feast.
Purpose of this tithe: “that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always”
THIRD TITHE
Deuteronomy 14:28-29: aka The Three-Year Tithe aka The Poor Tithe - a tenth of crops, kept at home, and invite the Levites, widows, orphans, stranger to eat.
Purpose of this tithe: to feed the poor.
The ONLY people in the Old Testament that were commanded to tithe were those who INHERITED THE PROMISED LAND WITH EVERYTHING ON IT. They got the land, house, animals, crops, etc. ALL FREE AND CLEAR. No mortgage payment or rent to pay. And THEY were commanded to tithe on the crops and animals and take it to the Levites who INHERITED the tithe INSTEAD OF the promised land with everything on it. No one else tithed. Wage earners did not tithe. Jesus did not tithe as a carpenter. Paul did not tithe as a tent maker. Peter did not tithe as a fisherman.
OLD TESTAMENT
Proverbs 3:9 (KJV) “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:”
NEW TESTAMENT
2 Timothy 2:6 (KJV) “The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.”
1 Timothy 5:8 (KJV) “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”
The New Testament makes it clear that we are to use the FIRST of our income to take care of ourselves and our family. We are talking about needs, here, not just anything we want. Then we should give generously from what is left.
You are following the traditions of man that started in the US in 1870 rather than following God's Word.
Gary, why are you making this so legalistic. That was the problem God had with His children after the Law...everything became a rule...Jesus came to set us free from the "Law" of sin and death. Jesus said the "only law" was to love God and our neighbor....if you love someone you give to them. Look at Christmas or birthdays, we shower gifts on people that we know they have too much of...but because of love! Do you love God more than your family or children? you should then you would understand sewing and reaping better...I'm not under law but I tithe as a starting point of my giving."First Fruits"right down to the first tomatoe in my garden. I also look for places to give into or to plan seed into. I cannot let any offering plate,envelope,bucket ect. pass without giving..thats why I'm blessed, my heart has been changed. I know I can't repay God for what Hes done in my life but if a dollar makes a difference in someones life if a bag of grocerys can show someone that God loves them I'm all for it. There was a time I only had the dollar to give...I lived in a tent and worked 80 hrs a week for a tv ministry but I gave every day and I cant tell you how I was blessed. I've seen grocerys at midnight...I had tanks of gas given to me by strangers. Someplace along the way we have to get it our greedy hearts that God wants to OVERFLOW us with blessings not laws. Rev.Diane Ulrich
DeleteI have a problem using the term "tithe" when it differs from God's definition of His tithe. Anyone who wants to give a tenth of their income, or use a tenth as their starting point is free to do so. But WHY try to associate that with the Biblical tithe, which NEVER was money, and NEVER came from anyone's income? You are mixing apples with oranges.
DeleteCall it what it is - GIVING, not tithing. Once you call your giving, "tithing," you are using the World to define tithe rather than God's Word.
I am not being legalistic. I am trying to distinguish between man-made definitions and God's Word.
Giving a tenth of your income to the church has absolutely NOTHING to do with the Biblical tithe, so WHY continue calling it a tithe? You take the word "tithe" from the scriptures, and then use it for another meaning.
I appreciate everyone's comments on this subject, but I feel that we have missed the initial purpose of this particular devotion. We are under grace, period. It is by grace alone, through faith. As new covenenant believers, It would my opinion that our key passage for giving is:
ReplyDelete2Corinthians 9:7 KJV "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."
For me, after looking at the whole of Scripture, the least that I feel comfortable in giving is 10% of my income. God has blessed me to be able to give more, and I do it cheerfully. I can call it a tithe, or I can call it sacrificial giving, either way, it comes from my heart with gladness. I mentioned Abraham in the blog because of his heart of faith, and acknowledgement that God was the One who brought him success. Whether Abraham was following a custom of the day, or whether or not the spoils belonged to him, is insignificant. If it were not his, it only solidifies the message that I was sharing, because I too can't claim anything as mine own. I agree with Gary that sacrificial giving as taught by the New Testament is much harder to live up to than tithing, and I would also have to say that 10% does not require much sacrifice for most Americans. There are way too many American Christians, who abuse the message of grace, particularly in the area of finances, by "taking care of themselves" first. I don't believe that God would have us to starve our children in order to give ten percent, but where do we draw the line between necessities and luxuries? I can't say if I know anyone who would be negatively impacted by giving at least 10%, even if it meant changing their priorities.
It really starts in our heart, and I would pray that we would all have a heart to give. You can call it whatever you wish. We need more people in America that would give sacrificially. American Christians average around 3% in their giving. Is this sacrificial? Does this resemble the early church who sold their posessions in order to give? For a very, very, very small percentage of people, perhaps it would. But for everyone with the ability to read this blog on the internet, I would say let's stop trying to reason why we could give less than a tithe under grace and be okay. Grace has saved us, and everything we do, or don't do, is based on thanksgiving for what He did for us, not in order to receive, but because we have already received so much from Him!
Thanks again to everyone for your comments, they were all great!