What does Abram's tithe to Melchizedek teach about honoring God with possessions? Setting the Scene “ ‘And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’ Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.” (Genesis 14:20) • Abram has just rescued Lot, defeated four kings, and recovered vast spoils. • Melchizedek—king of Salem and priest of God Most High—meets him with bread, wine, and a blessing. • Abram’s immediate reaction is to separate a tithe from the loot and hand it over. Abram’s Response: Worship Before Wealth • The first recorded act after victory is worship, not celebration or accounting. • He gives before keeping anything for himself, showing God comes first. • Abram recognizes the battle’s outcome as God’s work: “who has delivered your enemies.” Possessions are God-given, so they return to Him first. Why a Tenth? The Principle Behind the Portion • A “tenth” (tithe) appears later in the Law (Leviticus 27:30) but precedes it here, revealing a timeless pattern. • Ten percent represents a meaningful, measurable fraction—large enough to matter, small enough to leave resources to live on. • The act is voluntary; no human command preceded it. Gratitude drives the gift. Honoring God First, Not Last • Proverbs 3:9 – “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest.” • Abram’s tithe is a “firstfruits” action: he parts with the best and earliest portion, trusting God for the rest. • Matthew 6:21 – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The placement of treasure reveals heart priorities; Abram’s treasure locates his heart in worship. Recognizing God’s Ownership • Psalm 24:1 affirms, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” Abram acts as a steward, not an owner. • Malachi 3:10 links returning the tithe with God’s promise of provision—Abram experiences this principle centuries earlier. • Giving acknowledges dependence: victories, income, and possessions belong to God. Foreshadowing a Greater Priesthood • Hebrews 7:1-10 uses Abram’s tithe to show Melchizedek’s superiority to Levi and to point to Christ. • By tithing to Melchizedek, Abram honors a priest who prefigures Jesus—indicating that gifts to God’s representatives honor God Himself. • The episode hints that true worship transcends later legal structures; it is rooted in faith and revelation. Practical Takeaways for Today • Give the first and best, not the leftovers; it declares God’s priority in life. • View income as a trust from God; generosity is stewardship, not loss. • Let gratitude, not obligation, motivate giving—just as Abram responded to blessing. • A regular, proportional gift (such as a tithe) trains the heart to trust God for ongoing provision (2 Corinthians 9:6-8). • Supporting godly ministry honors Christ, the ultimate High Priest foreshadowed in Melchizedek. |
    |