Did Abraham Know Something About Money That We Don't (Genesis Part 13)
Time Stamps
00:07:00 - Abraham's journey of learning to trust God begins
00:12:00 - When Abraham took matters into his own hands in Egypt
00:15:00 - The pivotal encounter with Melchizedek
00:22:00 - Understanding tithing as worship, not just a rule
00:30:00 - Conversation Street: Addressing why churches talk about money
00:41:00 - Is it okay to buy nice things for ourselves as Christians?
00:47:00 - Stories of generosity and God's surprising provision
When Generosity Builds Trust
We kicked off this part of our Genesis series by exploring how Abraham's journey with God was fundamentally about learning to trust. Jack Mariner shared how Abraham's understanding of God's provision evolved from taking matters into his own hands to embracing radical generosity as an act of worship.
God Shows Up Even When We Make Poor Choices
Abraham's story begins with a promise: "Go from your country, your people, and your father's household to the land I'll show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I'll bless you." Yet almost immediately, Abraham faces a challenge – a famine that drives him to Egypt where, rather than trusting God, he schemes by passing his wife off as his sister.
Despite Abraham's deception, God rescues him and still keeps His promise to bless him. This pattern reveals something profound about God's character – He remains faithful even when we falter. As Jack pointed out:
“God not only rescues Abraham, He blesses him anyway. He keeps his promise that if you go, I will bless you.”
Melchizedek and the First Tithe
The pivotal moment comes in Genesis 14 when Abraham meets Melchizedek, the mysterious king of Salem and "priest of God Most High." After receiving Melchizedek's blessing, Abraham gives him a tenth of everything – the first mention of tithing in Scripture.
This act marks a transformation in Abraham's heart. He's moved from trying to secure blessing through his own efforts to recognising God as the source of all blessing. When the king of Sodom offers Abraham wealth, he refuses, saying, "I will not take as much as a single thread... otherwise you'll say you've made me rich." Abraham now understands that everything comes from God, and he wants God alone to get the credit.
Tithing as Worship, Not Just a Rule
Jack emphasised that Abraham's tithe came before tithing was established as a religious law. It wasn't about following rules but expressing worship and trust. "Abraham gave 10% not as a rule, because it was before it became a rule. It was a choice," Jack explained.
This principle extends beyond just money. Our giving – whether of resources, time, or talents – reflects our understanding that everything we have comes from God. As James 1:17 reminds us, "Everything good comes from God. Every perfect gift is from him."
Conversation Street
Answering the Hard Questions About Money and Faith
During Conversation Street, the team tackled the elephant in the room: the perception that churches are "just after your money." They acknowledged that while some religious leaders have abused this teaching, Jesus himself spoke extensively about money because it reveals what's truly in our hearts.
“Jesus talks about money because he knows it’s something that absolutely cuts to the heart of where people’s attitudes are, where their heart before God is.”
Matt added historical context about giving in early Christian communities, explaining how Paul highlighted the Macedonian church's generosity despite their poverty. "Paul talks about giving because we love, it's a response to love. We prove we love. It's a grace," Matt explained. This stands in stark contrast to the Greco-Roman culture of giving to enhance social standing.
Enjoying God's Gifts Without Guilt
A thoughtful question arose about whether Christians can enjoy nice things without feeling guilty. The team offered balanced perspectives on this common struggle.
Jack shared his own journey with what he called a "poverty spirit," admitting, "I really hate spending money." He encouraged keeping good company with people who can provide accountability and regularly checking our hearts before God.
Will added an important insight: "The gospel is all about what we receive. It's not about what we do, it's not about what we earn, it's not about how good we are." He pointed out that being unable to receive gifts can actually prevent us from fully understanding God's grace.
“God has given us two hands, one to receive with and the other to give with.”
Stories of Generosity and Unexpected Provision
The conversation closed with personal stories of experiencing God's provision. Jack shared about his early years living by faith as a church intern, surviving on minimal funds until unexpected gifts precisely met his rent needs. Will recounted giving away his camera lens fund to help someone in need, only to receive a tax refund doubling his savings the following week.
These stories aren't about a prosperity gospel that promises wealth in exchange for giving. Rather, they illustrate how generosity frees us from the tyranny of possessions and opens us to experiencing the richness of life in God's kingdom.
“You can’t out give God... The better we can do to get ourselves into a community or put our own disciplines in place where we just take off these traps of wanting more and more, the more of the fullness of life that Jesus has for us, we can step into and experience.”
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