“And blessed, praised, and glorified be God Most High, Who has given your enemies into your hand,” And Abram gave him a tenth of all [the treasure he had taken in battle].” – Genesis 14:20 (AMP)
Abraham was a man who had learnt to have God as his Sufficiency and to know and understand that all he has was given by God. This kind of heart posture made it impossible for him to selfishly hoard anything to himself. After the victory in the recovery battle against the four kings, that led to the rescue of Lot and other people who taken captive along with him, he and his men came home with the spoils of war.
Melchizedek, king of Salem, who was a priest of God Most High met him as they returned from the battle and blessed him. Recognizing Whom he represents, Abraham gave him a tithe of all the treasures that had been taken in battle. It was an honour to God who gave him victory to give the tenth of all the spoils of war to His Priest. Abraham could have just said “AMEN” to the blessings pronounced by Melchizedek and left with everything, but he didn’t do that. He gave without minding the quantity of what he was giving.
In verse 21 of Genesis 14, the king of Sodom said Abraham should take the goods for himself while the people are returned to their abodes, but Abraham objected. This was an opportunity for him to become much wealthier than he had been but he refused this kind of offer. There are many who would even fight to keep the goods to themselves without blinking but Abraham wasn’t like that. He didn’t fight the battle for material gain, but it is so he could save his nephew that was taken captive. Abraham only requested that the young men who followed him should be taken care of and given whatever they deserved.
There are some gains that a child of God must not take for himself if he will truly enjoy the blessings of God. Abraham chose to give a tithe of the treasures from the battle first and whatever remained, he didn’t take any of them, and this means that Abraham did not enjoy the spoils of the war which were his right by nature and logic. He chose to forfeit his right so he could have the blessings and praise of God. One who gives sacrificially has a reward that far surpasses what man or any government can give.
Dear believer, don’t always have eyes for material gains. Life is more than that and what God has for you is more than that. Abraham lived a kind of life that money and financial gains couldn’t hold in bondage because he knew the God who possesses heaven and earth. Be willing to give even when there is no reward there for you. When you give without looking for the praise of men, then you are ridding your heart of any affiliation with the love of money and material possessions. Learn from Abraham who gave to God and acknowledged God in the remaining that was left.
Reflections: Can I give a tenth of all I have to God? Have I ever chosen to forfeit what rightfully belonged to me for the blessing and praise of God? Does mammon have any hold on me? Do I love money?
Confession: I am blessed of God Most High, Possessor of Heaven and Earth. I live with the consciousness of God’s blessings always. I do not look to receiving praise and blessing from men but of God.
Related Scripture: Genesis 14:18-24
Bible Reading: John 8
