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 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 more than Lot though. They had also taken other captives and the possessions of the people who were living in Sodom and Gomorrah. This means that Lot's possessions were also taken away since he was living among the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.
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.
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.
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 more than Lot though. They had also taken other captives and the possessions of the people who were living in Sodom and Gomorrah. This means that Lot's possessions were also taken away since he was living among the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.
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.
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.
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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