More Thoughts on Abraham's Tithe

Pastor's who are erroneously teaching their flocks that they are required to tithe to the church typically cite the fact Abraham tithed before the Law was given. They tell their people, "If you will tithe your income, you will be blessed." Some go so far as saying those who do not tithe will be cursed.

Let's look closer at the scripture in Genesis 14 where Abram tithed the spoils of a battle to king/priest Melchizedek:

Genesis 14:18-20
18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

I want you to notice that Melchizedek first "blessed" Abram, then Abram gave a tithe. This is a small, but critical point. The pastors, though, teach this exactly opposite: first you tithe, then you will be blessed.

I was speaking about this to a close friend the other day. He said, "Of course, this is the way it should be. We give because we're blessed of God. We don't give in order to get because that would be a wrong motive."

If you're giving or tithing in order to please God, or worse yet, trying to obtain the blessing of God, give it up! Stop! You're already blessed of God because you're in Christ. (See Galatians 3:9-14 and Ephesians 1:3-4.) You don't have to work to obtain God's favor and blessing! If you're in Christ, you're redeemed from the curse, there is nothing else you have to do! (See Galatians 3:13). Don't allow yourself to be motivated by fear to give, that is not the way God does it.

Give liberally and cheerfully, give however your heart dictates to you. Let no one make you give under compulsion. (See II Corinthians 9:6-11). This is way we're to give according to the New Testament.

Click this link to read more about Abraham's tithe.