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 misconception that Abraham paid tithes is rooted in an incident that takes place in the book of Genesis chapter fourteen. The incident entails a battle in which Abraham engaged after lot, his nephew was captured and taken away among the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot's 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 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.
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 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.
This patriarch's actions in Genesis fourteen cannot be used as strong evidence in favor of tithing. He was not following a requirement to give a portion of his earnings or properties to the Lord. He was simply ensuring that those who fought a hard battle and won received their just rewards.
The misconception that Abraham paid tithes is rooted in an incident that takes place in the book of Genesis chapter fourteen. The incident entails a battle in which Abraham engaged after lot, his nephew was captured and taken away among the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot's 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 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.
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 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.
This patriarch's actions in Genesis fourteen cannot be used as strong evidence in favor of tithing. He was not following a requirement to give a portion of his earnings or properties to the Lord. He was simply ensuring that those who fought a hard battle and won received their just rewards.
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