Two Ways to Give

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).

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying,

"Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand."

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

- Genesis 14:17-20 (NIV)

Abram was returning from a war with King Kedorlaomer. On the way back, he met two kings. The King of Sodom who was obviously not a good king because Sodom was a place of sin and the other was the King of Salem or Melchizedek who was also the Priest of God Most High - a picture of Jesus Christ. And when Abram met Melchizedek, Melchizedek gave Abram bread and wine. In return, Abram gave Melchizedek a tithe.

This is a beautiful Old Testament picture of Jesus, our Melchizedek, who gave us His body and blood. We in turn voluntarily give Him a tithe in recognition of His greatness - a voluntary act of worship...

In verse 21 of the same passage, the King of Sodom also offered to give Abram all the spoils: "The king of Sodom said to Abram, 'Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.'" But Abram immediately told him: "No thanks. Because I don't want you to think that you made me rich."

What a beautiful picture of the two ways in which a man can become rich. One was through the King of Salem, Melchizedek - a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ. The other was through the King of Sodom - a picture of the world's system.

- Benny Ho, Managing Money God's Way