Why we tithe
Abram was returning from the greatest military victory in history, when he stopped to Tithe to King Melchizedek. He had just defeated the most formidable invasion force the world had ever seen.
The four most powerful Kings in the region had banded together in an alliance of conquest and plunder. Like a plague of devouring locusts, they devastated every nation in their path, accumulating incalculable wealth in spoils, on their way to the ultimate prize, Sodom and Gomorrah. The Kings of these two doomed cities struck alliances with three neighboring Kings to repel the attackers. But not even superior odds of five Kings against four could prevail over the might of the savage invaders.
This was the force that Abram crushed, slaughtering the four Kings, scattering their numbers and recovering everything their evil campaign had looted, including the people they had taken captive. Not bad for just a few hundred servants.
Obviously, Abram knew he was blessed, and now the entire postdiluvian world did too. This is why he tithed to “The Priest of The Most High God” that met him on his way back home. The tithe was the acknowledgement of the God that had saved him. This recognition of God was so important, that Abram refused to keep the massive fortunes in spoils retaken in the battle. Instead, he returned them to their cities, unmistakably demonstrating to the entire world the real source of his blessings, and theirs, Gen.14.
Tithing is the prescribed honors ceremony for recognizing God and His blessings. It pleases God because it reveals the part of us that He is most interested in, our sincerity. “for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also,” Matt.6:21.
The fact is, it all belongs to God, all of it. Bringing the first ten percent of our increase, demonstrates that we believe that fact as grateful stewards over the rest of His vast resources. Without tithing, our faith is incomplete.
Abram’s experience declares that tithing is fundamental to blessing. “I will pour you out a blessing that cannot be contained, and I will rebuke the devourer, and all nations shall call you blessed,” is God’s extraordinary promise connected with tithing. His unique invitation to participate is even more profound, “test me now and see,” Mal.3:10-11.
Without tithing, we miss out. This is why we tithe.