The Tithe...the Wayfarer 7/5/13

7/5/13

“The Tithe”

“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the Most High God.

And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

And blessed be the Most High God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all”

(Genesis 14: 18-20)

Here we find the first reference in our Holy scriptures of the “tithe”.  There are several points I would call to your attention before moving on to further reference to this particular and peculiar requirement that is unique to the worship of the ONE TRUE GOD which we worship.

The first point I would call to attention was that Abram recognized Melchizedek as the priest of that most high God! This is also the first reference to a priesthood, which is mentioned, and comes long before the sons of Aaron were chosen to fill that office.

The second point is that Melchizedek, priest of that most high God gave God’s own blessing to Abram.  This was not something that had been requested, nor was it even expected by the patriarch!

Melchizedek made a particular point of telling Abram just who this God was! He explained that He was the possessor of all heaven and earth.

Next to be taken note of was that there was no request for any revenue, or offering by Melchizedek, but that offering was freely given and consisted of one tenth of ALL !

This doesn’t tell us that only monetary contribution was made, that only gold or silver were acceptable gifts, but in fact was a tithe of ALL!

“Preacher,  I don’t have much, I live from paycheck to paycheck, I barely squeak by as it is.”  This is a statement repeated often and quite frequently when the subject of tithing comes up.

Most perceive tithing as a monetary contribution to the Church or Synagogue, and most of those who do tithe, do so, grudgingly, instead of freely. Few recognize that small little word found here with the institution of the first tithe, “All”.

Today I would have you take a closer look at what that tithe is really supposed to consist of, and ASK yourself if you meet that requirement.

 Before continuing, however, I also call attention to the fact that the tithe given was not to a government, or to any man made institution, but to “The Priest of the Most High God!”

Quite obviously, Melchizedek no longer walks this ball of dirt, and has long since ceased to fill the office of honor and responsibility given him during his time.

References to tithing continue to pass down to us through the institution of a priesthood, by Mosaic law, a law that has also since been replaced by a far better covenant.

Tithing and offerings demanded by that old law have passed from existence and necessity in its previous form, by the Sacrifice of our Lord Jesus who is now at the throne and acting in the capacity of that high priest of the most high God!

Let us examine what the current requirement for tithing is, and to whom that tithe is due. We now go to the book of Hebrews for enlightenment in the matter.

“ For when God made  promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself.

Saying , Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying, I will multiply thee.

And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

That by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge  to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure, and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”

(Hebrews 6:13-20)

Paul tells us that Jesus is now the high priest, chosen by that same most high God to fill the duties of this sacred office that determines blessing to be given or withheld.

Note that the promise made to Abraham was the covenant given him, and that God himself swore upon his own being to fulfill that promise, and also that, that promised blessing came only after an ongoing endurance, belief, and faith in Him from that patriarch.

This passage also gives great promise, in that even Paul’s very description of it is, that it is to be an anchor to the soul, something to hold onto through the storms of this mortal life, to give hope in the next through the absolutes, that God is incapable of lying to us, and is proven by his having kept His end of that same covenant.

 It is with the same clarity that the promise of the hope of the resurrection through the sacrifice given us by Christ, becomes our surety, an unbreakable promise from that same “most high God”

The 7^th chapter describes that priesthood of Melchisedec, and why it is important to us. It also speaks to the Levitical priesthood and the imperfection of that Levitical priesthood.

“For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of kings, and blessed him:

To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is King of peace;

Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham;

But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.”

(Hebrews 7:1-8)

Here, Paul stresses that the tithe that was given by Abraham differed from the tithe given later to the Levitical priesthood, in that, that very priesthood was derived from Abraham’s own lineage, as opposed to Melchisedec. Abraham’s tithe went to one already serving and blessed by that most high God that later made the covenants with the descendants of the patriarch.

“And as I may so say, Levi, also, who receiveth tithes, paid tithes in Abraham.

For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning the priesthood.

And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitutde of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest.

Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

For he testifieth , Thou art a priest  for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made Priest:

(For those priests  were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him  that said unto him The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

(Hebrews 7:9-21)

Jesus is now the one that is to receive the tithe from all, not an earthly priest.

Again I stress that that tithe consists of all that one is given, and that this includes far more than a mere monetary contribution. That monetary contribution, when used as was intended, by Jesus, to help those in need, and to continue his Church, is important, but is not the be all and end all of the requirement to tithe!

Jesus himself, through the parable of the widow’s mite taught that the amount of money given  is not what is important, but quality of the gift is far more important than the quantity.

The quality of that gift should include a tithe of your time.

Broken down that works out to just under two and a half hours of the twenty four that you are GIVEN for your use by that same most high God.

That tithe should include any and all talents that again are GIVEN you by that same God!

That tithe should include your labor, your love, ALL that you are GIVEN!

Monetary contribution, though necessary to continue the work demanded of us by God, cannot make up for the remainder of what is OWED Him!

One tenth of all you are given is a mere pittance when you consider that it all belongs to Him to begin with, including each breath you are allowed to take of the air, with which He provides for your mortal life!

Having stressed the importance of tithing, I would also stress the importance of how that tithe is to be used.

 It is to be used for the continuing work of our Savior, not to the betterment of any single individual who would profit from this requirement, but to feed, clothe and provide comfort for the children of that most high God, that are in need!

It is to be used in fulfilling the requirement given in the great commission, not to purchase unnecessary tokens of self-righteousness that are displays of wealth, and power of too many earthly thieves who would rob God, not only of their own tithe, but the tithe of others as well by using what is given for personal gain instead of putting it to the use intended by our Savior.

How does your tithe measure up to the actual requirement as it was initially and is still intended?

How closely do you monitor that tithe to assure its proper use?

Again I urge you to remember that the appellation “Christian” means that you are a follower of Christ, and His teachings, and are willing to meet the simple requirements laid out by Him during his short earthly ministry.

  It means that you have  accepted His terms for the way in which to live your life. 

You have accepted that you are expected to attempt to use that life in the furtherance of not just the spoken gospel, but the living gospel.

BE WHO YOU SAY YOU ARE

MEAN WHAT YOU PRAY

PRAY WHAT YOU MEAN

REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS INDEED AT HAND,

 AND THAT HIGH PRIEST OF THE MOST HIGH GOD IS WAITING FOR YOU,

IN EXPECTATION OF A RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT ALREADY MADE IN YOUR SOUL.

HE WAITS BOTH AT A THRONE OF GRACE,  AND A THRONE OF JUDGMENT.

If you accept the grace, there is no fear of that judgment, but with the gift of salvation comes the added responsibility of the work left for us to do in His absence here on this pitiful planet long ago judged imperfect and awaiting the day of replacement.

I close again, as always, nothing more than a simple sinner saved by grace through faith, still imperfect in my efforts as a soldier in His service, still assured of that better hope that is promised.

2 Timothy 1:12
¹²For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen.
the Wayfarer