I’ve heard multiple people who don’t believe in tithing say something like this, “If we are going to Tithe like Abraham did, we need to rob some people. Take their stuff. Dump 10% of all their goods on the Church lawn. Then we need to go out and find a heathen king and give them 90% of what we stole.”
To me, this is just really disrespectful. It shows that the person does not fully understand the story in Genesis. Abraham did not go out and attack random people he went out to save his nephew. God approved of what Abraham did.
When we look at the story of Abraham’s tithe in Genesis 14, it’s easy to get caught up in the details. Some focus on the 90% that Abraham kept, speculating about its significance or what he did with it afterward. But here’s the truth: the 90% is not important in the context of what the Bible teaches us about tithing.
The point of this article is not to convince you to give 10%. We are no longer under the law and there is no new testament command to give 10%. There is also no new covenant condemnation of giving 10%. God did correct the idea of circumcision, foods, festivals, and of the sabbath. He never said specifically to tithe or not. It is now a free choice for all of us. We are under no curse if we don’t tithe.
Every Christian should have a budget where they allocate how much they are going to give to their local church. That decision is between you and God.
The Tithe Is What Matters, Not the Rest
In Hebrews 7, the Bible is clear: Abraham’s tithe of 10% to Melchizedek is what is honored. The writer of Hebrews doesn’t focus on the 90% Abraham kept, nor does it tell us what he did with it afterward. The focus is entirely on the 10% that was given as a recognition of Melchizedek’s priesthood and God’s provision. Just as communion in the New Testament focuses on the bread and wine and not what happened before or after, the tithe itself is the central act, not what Abraham did with the remainder.
Why We Shouldn’t Be Concerned with the 90% Because the Author of Hebrews Doesn’t Either
90% is more important to us. If I gave you $10 you would be happy and it probably would be the highlight of your day. If I immediately turned to the right and gave someone else $90, you would get mad.
The Bible does not elevate or even mention what Abraham did with the 90% because it is irrelevant to the practice of tithing. The story doesn’t include the details of his actions after the tithe because they simply don’t matter in the context of the principle of giving. For example, when Jesus broke the bread and served it to His disciples at the Last Supper, it was the Communion that we replicate at Church today. Jesus actually washed their feet. And honestly, if someone gave me bread and wine that would not be too different or spectacular. If someone washed my feet, that would be very different. We don’t argue that we must wash each other’s feet when we take communion, even though it was a part of the larger narrative.
- We should say, “Abraham tithed”. We shouldn’t say, “Abraham Tithed, then he gave away 90%… then he went to Chick fil-A… then he put up his Christmas tree.
When we think about Abraham’s tithe, we should not fixate on what he did with the remaining 90%. The focus should always be on the act of tithing itself—the giving of the 10%. That’s the part the Bible highlights and honors. The 90%? It’s simply a detail in the story, not a doctrine for us to follow.
Three Key Reasons the 90% Is Irrelevant:
1. The 90% was All of Their Own Items: Remember Lot and Gomorrah had all of his goods and people taken away from him. Abraham was not giving them all brand new items, the 90% included what the devil stole from them. They also had some extra because of the other Kings that they fought. That’s what God can do. He can give us back what is stolen and even more.
2. The Bible Honors the 10%: Hebrews 7 emphasizes that Abraham’s tithe was a spiritual act, showing Melchizedek’s superiority over the Levitical priesthood. The focus is not on the remaining 90%, but on the significance of the 10%.
3. The 90% Isn’t Mentioned in Hebrews: The the 90% is a great detail in the story of Genesis and it is totally relevant to that story. The author of Hebrews, didn’t include what Abraham did after the tithe. Whether he kept, gave away, or spent the 90%—it’s irrelevant in terms of the biblical principle of tithing. What matters is that he gave the 10%.
The Bottom Line: The 10% Is What God Cares About
Too often, we get hung up on what happens with the remaining 90%. But God’s focus is on the 10%—the portion set aside as a symbolic act of honoring Him. The lesson we can take from Abraham is not about what happens after the tithe, but about the heart of giving. God sees our obedience in giving the firstfruits, and He honors that act.
In summary, when we look at Abraham’s tithe, we should focus on the 10%—not the 90%. The Bible doesn’t elevate the 90% because it’s not part of the practice. Let’s not get distracted by what Abraham did afterward. Instead, let’s understand the deeper significance of honoring God with our giving, just as Abraham did with his tithe.
Key Takeaway: The focus is on the 10%. The 90% is a mere detail, and the Bible never tells us to follow or replicate it. Let’s honor God with our tithes and trust that He is pleased with our faithful giving. We are no longer under the law. We give because God has really blessed us.
Courage With Grace Ministries 