This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything.
Hebrews 7:1, 2a
Money is an aspect of our lives that has a deep impact in almost every area of our lives. How we view and use money says a lot about who we are and what we value.
Giving money at church is an important part of the Christian life. Tithing is an act of worship. Genesis 14 and Hebrews 7 show that the principle of tithing (giving God 10% of your income) is a pre-Law principle of honoring God. God has used the tithe of His people throughout history to care for His house and build His kingdom.
In our personal lives of worship tithing allows us to honor God with more than words. Money is important to all of us. Giving our money to God shows how important our relationship with God is to us.
Tithing expresses our personal allegiance to God. We see this in Genesis 28. Here, God reveals himself to Jacob in a dream. In response, the patriarch vows, “the Lord shall be my God…and of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.” For Jacob, the tithe became a natural expression of his decision to follow the God of His Fathers.
Tithing is also an expression of Thanksgiving. Tithing expresses overflowing gratitude towards God. It breaks free from guilt as the motivation for giving. Its ultimate focus is the condition of one’s heart toward God.
Let us search our heart and make a renewed commitment to God through our giving.
