# 116 Another First!

The Book of Genesis Day 116 Ge 14:20B “And he gave him a tithe of all.” This is the first mention of a tithe in the Bible. It should help us to solidify the connection between the “order of Melchizedek” and Jesus. Speaking of Jesus the Messiah in Ps 110:4 we read, “The LORD has sworn And will not relent, "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek."So Jesus is likened to an “eternal” Melchizedek, who serves as King, Priest, and Prophet. As our Prophet, Priest, and King He is due a tithe. Abram sets the “forever” example for us here in the King’s valley. This tithe on Abram’s part was an acknowledgment of Melchizedek as the Priest of the Most High God. This tithe was given to God through Melchizedek. When you bring your tithe to your house of worship, you are doing the same thing! And quite frankly, you ought to be doing it! Jesus mediated peace between you and God through His sacrifice on the cross, can we not then, like Abram, gladly give Him 10% of all? Jesus said in Mt 23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.” Jesus is not “bad-mouthing” the practice of tithing here! In fact He says the tithe “ought to be done!” But, the tithe is to be accompanied by justice, mercy, and faith! Our worship is not to be limited to one area at the expense of another. It should include praise, justice, mercy, faith, and yes…. giving! It is good to gather in worship with other believers in a local congregation, but if that’s all we do, we have become the clanging cymbal that Paul speaks about in his first letter to the Corinthians!. 1Co 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. While not mandatory in the New Testament, tithing ought to be part of our worship of the High Priest of the Most High God and our King! It’s easier than it seems. Get started by resolving to do it! Then take a look at your next paycheck. What is your gross pay? Take 10% of that and set it aside for giving to your local congregation. This is your tithe! Subtract the amount of your tithe from your net pay and you now have your spendable income. Then sit down with a paper and pencil, (and your spouse) and make the necessary spending adjustments. Yes there may be some cuts, but don’t look at them as cuts, view them as an act of worship……because that’s what it is! Pray: Father, let us never forget what Jesus has mediated for us, by dying on the cross. Give us the spirit of Abram and move us to a proper acknowledgment of our forever Priest, King, and Prophet!