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.
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 defeated the four kings. He had help in doing this though. Fighting alongside him were other men such as the three hundred and eighteen men from his household and his allies mentioned in chapter thirteen, Aner, Mamre and Eshcol. The Lord was with him in battle also, and this was the main reason for his victory. He did however, also have the help of other men.
Since he had the assistance of the other men, it is easy to view the post war action as that of issuing rewards in the form of the spoils of war rather than tithing. Melchidezek bestows a blessing on the patriarch after the battle and is given a tenth of the spoils. This is not a tithe. It is simply a reward for bravery and victory. The patriarch asks the King of Sodom to allow the men to have their share of the plunder in verse twenty four.
The principle of tithing requires that the tither sets aside and gives a tenth of his possessions. These spoils of war were clearly not Abraham's property. He declares to the King of Sodom that he had taken an oath that he would take nothing from him after the king offers him all the possessions and tells him to only return to him the people. The patriarch asked only for the food that the warriors had eaten and a share of the spoils to be given to the men who fought alongside him.
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.
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 defeated the four kings. He had help in doing this though. Fighting alongside him were other men such as the three hundred and eighteen men from his household and his allies mentioned in chapter thirteen, Aner, Mamre and Eshcol. The Lord was with him in battle also, and this was the main reason for his victory. He did however, also have the help of other men.
Since he had the assistance of the other men, it is easy to view the post war action as that of issuing rewards in the form of the spoils of war rather than tithing. Melchidezek bestows a blessing on the patriarch after the battle and is given a tenth of the spoils. This is not a tithe. It is simply a reward for bravery and victory. The patriarch asks the King of Sodom to allow the men to have their share of the plunder in verse twenty four.
The principle of tithing requires that the tither sets aside and gives a tenth of his possessions. These spoils of war were clearly not Abraham's property. He declares to the King of Sodom that he had taken an oath that he would take nothing from him after the king offers him all the possessions and tells him to only return to him the people. The patriarch asked only for the food that the warriors had eaten and a share of the spoils to be given to the men who fought alongside him.
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.
