It’s the story of God’s generosity as shared throughout the Bible. We have been calling this story 247365. A story of different types of generosity told through the widow’s mite (who gave out of her poverty), Zaccheaus (who gave all he and so called him “all in”) and today, we will talk about Melchizedek - Mel for short. We all might have blown right past his name in Genesis and Psalm 110 as just another priest and king, if had not been for the writer of Hebrews. Because it is there we will spend the most of our time this morning.
But first who is Mel and what is his claim to fame. We meet Mel in Genesis 14:18-20. Abram had just been victorious in a small skirmish. In the process of the victory celebration in what was called the King’s valley, a Canaanite priest and King by the name of Melchizedek came to meet with Abram. He brought out bread and wine, blessed Abram and praised God for Abram. We never hear from or meet Mel again which is strange. The Old Testament is usually very diligent about telling us a person’s ancestry as a way of illuminating their place in God’s larger story. We only know that in Hebrew, “Melchizedek of Salem” means King of righteousness and Salem means peace. By his name, we know Mel was considered a peaceful and righteous priest and king. His presence at the beginning of Abram’s journey becomes a signpost of a future priest and King we will come to know as Jesus - the perfect Priestly King. Abram the eventual father of the nation of Israel provides homage by giving a 10th of all he has.
This moment becomes the first mention of tithing in scripture. It also begs the question, where did Abram come up this concept?
The answer is that it was an ancient practice that many cultures used as a way to demonstrate peaceful intent and loyalty between groups. When Abram offered this 10% tithe, it was not an act of loyalty or submission to another king but to God himself. It was a statement of gratitude to God and a sign of his intention to continue to submit to the ways of God and his commitment to God. I love a short few verses later in chapter 14 where God blesses Abram by telling him about the future of his descendents. We later read of Abram’s grandson Jacob in Genesis 28:22 utilizing the same reverence in the words “and all that you give me I will give you a tenth” followed this same ritual after a dream in Luz. He does so in acknowledgement of God’s authority and generosity. Later, God would declare this same practice to the Israelites His recognition of this ritual as effective way to demonstrate one’s heart. Just take a look at Leviticus 27:30-32 or Deuteronomy 14:22-29.
30 “‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. 31 Whoever would redeem any of their tithe must add a fifth of the value to it. 32 Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the LORD. (Lev)
Or
22 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. 23 Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always. 24 But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the LORD your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the LORD will choose to put his Name is so far away), 25 then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the LORD your God will choose. 26 Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice. 27 And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.28 At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, 29 so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. (Deut)
But what does all this Old Testament talk have to do with us right? Didn’t Jesus come and fulfill the law so that we are no longer bound by any of these old time rituals right? Oh, if the answers were just so simple. Yes. Jesus came and fulfilled the law. No. We are not bound by the law. However, the writer of Hebrews in the New Testament makes quite a case in chapter 7 that Christ’s royal priesthood was superior to the one formerly recognized order of Aaron and if Abram the one God chose to be the father of the chosen people paid homage to a priestly King than shouldn’t we?. The author goes on in the next 3 chapters to show how the new covenant, the new sanctuary and Christ’s sacrifice, are more important than those defined in the Old Testament rules and regulations. The writer expounds in detail that Jesus calls us to a standard of the heart, not an arbitrary percentage but an action which demonstrates our willingness, reverence and love for God. This is where it get’s hard for us as Christians. We need to review the practices of old, wrestle with the deeper meaning of the new and ask ourselves, what is God’s perfect intent in this?
Christ’s coming, dying and rising shatters the talk of duty. The tithe was never to be an action of requirement or a “have to” because the moment it does, we diminish the original intent. It was supposed to be a response to God’s blessings. It is an act of love. It’s a celebration of what we “get to” do for God. It lifts His place in our lives. It becomes a moment of recognition of God among us, the community of faith and our solidarity with it.
The idea of tithing is a foundational teaching based on Christian Maturity and on blessing over and above obligation. God wants our hearts- our internal motivation – to be a response to what He has already been done for us. Here in lies the difference between generosity and giving. Giving can be just an action, It can be void of any visceral commitment and can carry secondary meanings including obligation, shame and guilt. This type of giving is unacceptable to God. In fact, I think that’s why the newest believers rebel, get angry and point to the church’s inconsistency when the talk of specific giving amounts comes up. It seems phony, in genuine and even manipulative. Generosity on the other hand is really about a deep connection to the cause of Christ.
When I first came back to Christian faith in the mid ‘90s, I can remember sitting in a new gym and thinking when the giving plate was passed, I didn’t ask you to build this building. I am not giving you people my money. I then evolved after a little during a giving campaign when a couple shared their history of giving and of making a faith promise. The idea was simple - promise God if he gives you extra than you will give it to Him. It seemed simple enough but it sent my wife and I on a journey of giving when I received an unexpected "big" refund from our insurance company. The debate was fierce but we were obedient.
When God answered that prayer of faith and I fulfilled my sense of commitment, I realized I didn’t miss the money. A year later, a finance person stood up and told the congregation about giving out of thankfulness for all the blessings – like the children’s program. At the time, I had a son in the children’s program and because that made sense to my consumeristic brain, I could see funding that so I committed $20 dollars a week with the caveat I only had to pay when I was present. All the time patting myself on the back and thinking the church should be thankful for people like me. Honestly, that went on for a while. I increased my faith promise but didn’t increase my giving to the church. And then, a wild moment happened. I sold my business for a profit and was prompted to give 10% of the selling price to the church when I received the resources over the next two years. As a result, I looked at our giving statements over the next few years and I realized I didn’t even miss that money. From that point on, my wife and I began to take steps of faith to increase our weekly contribution to the church. We have struggled. I can remember one year in particular. I kept track of all my expenses for my son’s travel soccer. What I discovered as that we spent almost as much on soccer as I was giving to God. It was an eye opener.
In the first years, we gave out of abundance. In later years, it’s been out of poverty. It has never been easy for us but as long as we try to be faithful it works out. I think the most helpful process for us was the automatic giving. My wife and I only talk about our weekly giving annually. We review the previous year, discuss any changes, look to the next year and commit our actions to the Lord. We have agreed that a tithe from the beginning in July of 2014. We have also made a faith promise, a capital campaign commitment and achurch planting commitment. On paper, it doesn’t add up but I have been supporting my ministry habit for years out of my savings so why should this year be any different.
Now, please hear this. Tithing is really a mature understanding that consistent generosity over time is the goal. The percentage is actually a gauge to test us and our hearts. It forces a conscious effort and decision about what we value - love. The reality is we are talking about mission first giving. That is, God gets our first and best for the expansion of the kingdom because that is our agreement with God. Tithing is really just generosity over time. Like Abram said in…
Genesis 14:23-24 “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me…
Generosity is commitment to the Lord that represents your oath. It’s a heart issue, a trust issue, a love issue, a faith issue and a power issue. What it is not is a money issue.
https://communitycenter.life/rev-robert-butler-info
