And it came to pass... that they made war... (14:1-2)
Abram went to rescue his captured nephew, using his own resources, his own men, at risk of his own life. He was more than victorious, of course. Four things I love about Abram in this story: 1) He was a shrewd master who trained his servants not only to serve him, but to be an army. 2) He was a tactical military commander- by dividing his forces and attacking by night he outwitted the armies of 4 kings. 3) After his victory, he humbly allowed the King/Priest of Salem (Melchizedek) to bless him while blessing God Most High, and gave the Priest a tithe of the goods he had retrieved, showing that he honored God in his victory. 4) He refused to accept a gift of the rest of the goods from the King of Sodom (which I suspect were rightfully his anyway since he was the commander who retrieved them).
Would I have kept the spoils of war? Would I have accepted compensation for my trouble? When I help a friend in any way, am I hoping (even just a little bit) to be rewarded for my exertion? Am I expecting a thank you note at least, hopefully with a gift card tucked inside? Am I looking for a public display of gratitude maybe on a wall post? Would I accept a repayment in some form- babysitting? A meal? A well-timed decaf americano with soy dropped off in the middle of a dreary afternoon?
I don't want to be like that. I just want to be like Abram. I really don't think Abram was thinking about what he was going to gain from the situation while he was valiantly saving his nephew. I want to be already prepared to help, and more than ready to go at the sound of an alarm, using all of my resources without stopping to count the cost. I want to give glory to God when my help was successful and disaster is avoided, and refuse to accept payment in any form for my efforts. Not expecting, not anticipating, not awaiting, not even wanting anything in return. The only thing I want to expect, the only thing I want to accept, is blessing from the Lord.
Abram went to rescue his captured nephew, using his own resources, his own men, at risk of his own life. He was more than victorious, of course. Four things I love about Abram in this story: 1) He was a shrewd master who trained his servants not only to serve him, but to be an army. 2) He was a tactical military commander- by dividing his forces and attacking by night he outwitted the armies of 4 kings. 3) After his victory, he humbly allowed the King/Priest of Salem (Melchizedek) to bless him while blessing God Most High, and gave the Priest a tithe of the goods he had retrieved, showing that he honored God in his victory. 4) He refused to accept a gift of the rest of the goods from the King of Sodom (which I suspect were rightfully his anyway since he was the commander who retrieved them).
Would I have kept the spoils of war? Would I have accepted compensation for my trouble? When I help a friend in any way, am I hoping (even just a little bit) to be rewarded for my exertion? Am I expecting a thank you note at least, hopefully with a gift card tucked inside? Am I looking for a public display of gratitude maybe on a wall post? Would I accept a repayment in some form- babysitting? A meal? A well-timed decaf americano with soy dropped off in the middle of a dreary afternoon?
I don't want to be like that. I just want to be like Abram. I really don't think Abram was thinking about what he was going to gain from the situation while he was valiantly saving his nephew. I want to be already prepared to help, and more than ready to go at the sound of an alarm, using all of my resources without stopping to count the cost. I want to give glory to God when my help was successful and disaster is avoided, and refuse to accept payment in any form for my efforts. Not expecting, not anticipating, not awaiting, not even wanting anything in return. The only thing I want to expect, the only thing I want to accept, is blessing from the Lord.
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