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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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