Gen 14:17-24 GNT
When Abram came back from his victory over Chedorlaomer and the other kings, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in Shaveh Valley (also called King’s Valley). 18 And Melchizedek, who was king of Salem and also a priest of the Most High God, brought bread and wine to Abram, 19 blessed him, and said, “May the Most High God, who made heaven and earth, bless Abram! 20 May the Most High God, who gave you victory over your enemies, be praised!” And Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the loot he had recovered.
21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Keep the loot, but give me back all my people.”
22 Abram answered, “I solemnly swear before the Lord, the Most High God, Maker of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not keep anything of yours, not even a thread or a sandal strap. Then you can never say, ‘I am the one who made Abram rich.’ 24 I will take nothing for myself. I will accept only what my men have used. But let my allies, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre, take their share.”
This is the scripture that recorded the first practice of tithing in the bible.
If you read through this scripture you will notice the following
1. Abraham was returning from war and met with Melchizedek.
2. Melchizedek offered Abraham bread and wine and blessed him.
3. Abraham offered Melchizedek A Tenth from the goods he got from the war.
4. What Abraham did was willingly and in appreciation of the visit of Melchizedek and the victory God gave him.
5. It was not a commandment from Melchizedek to Abraham.
Please also note that before this war, Abraham was a very wealthy man, who God has blessed in all things but there is no scriptural record of Abraham tithing from his vest wealth. Neither is there a scriptural record that Abraham continued tithing after his meeting with Melchizedek after the war.
So Abraham was already a wealthy man before he gave tithe of the goods he got from the war to Melchizedek and he did not continue tithing, yet he continued to prosper in all things till the end of his life.
Therefore, from the life of Abraham we see clearly that tithing did not determine his prosperity, rather what he did was in appreciation of God for victory in the war.
The bible says that the New Testament Christian is blessed as Abraham was blessed.
If tithing was not the determinant of the blessings of Abraham, therefore tithing is also not the basis upon which the new testament Christian is also blessed.
The source of Abraham’s blessings was God and his obedience to God’s instructions, so we can confirm that the source of the blessings of the new testament Christian is first God and secondly his obedience to the personal instructions of God through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
In conclusion, tithing from the life of Abraham is not a commandment that determines our blessings rather its a free will giving in appreciation of God’s help in our victories.
Shalom
#OluwaEtobi
#PastorIhu
