Many years ago, as a young Pastor, I was facing a big project for my small church. I needed £20,000, and a man in my church who was very controlling offered it to me. I had never been offered such an amount of money. With the offer came a condition. I had to let the whole church know that we got the money from him. I turned him down. I couldn’t believe I was turning down the £20,000, but what I was actually turning down was the further difficulty of being controlled by this man.
I remember that as I read the next part of Abram’s story. He has just won a victory over the dominant kings and rescued Lot, his nephew.
“After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 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.’ 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshkol and Mamre. Let them have their share.” (Genesis 14 v 17-24)
The King of Salem and the King of Sodom came out to meet Abram. The King of Salem, Melchizedek, was on the same spiritual level as Abram; he believed in God and served Him as priest. He brings bread and wine and blesses Abram. In turn, Abram gives him a tenth of everything he has.
Then another King of Sodom comes to meet Abram. This time, he tries to do a deal. Abram can keep everything, but Sodom wants the people. But Abram refuses to allow anyone to control him or to say ‘I made you rich.’
Using the same titles for God as Melchizedek did, the ‘God Most High, the Creator of heaven and earth’, is acknowledged as the one who has given to Abram, no other individual.
Sometimes the offers that come your way are nothing more than control. £20,000 was a lot of money, but it was cheap, coming with the strings attached.
It is essential to protect the source of your blessing. If you receive what looks like a blessing, first think, is this leading me nearer to God or away from him? Who is likely to receive the glory here?
It may be radical, but protecting the source of your life matters more than the success and gain of your life. Protect the fact that God is your provider. Melchizedek knew this, and so did Abram.
Missions Paul 