10_Who is our reward?
Gen 14:18-24 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”
And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24 I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.”
Samuel Morrison served God in Africa at the turn of the 19th century. He was returning to the United States after 25 years of service on the same ship as President Teddy Roosevelt, returning after a brief hunting trip in Africa. When the ship docked in New York, Roosevelt was thronged with admirers bearing banners, with cheers, and much fanfare. He was given top security and a smooth passage through the docks, with a fleet of vehicles ready to whisk him away. In stark contrast, Morrison disembarked unnoticed, to head home alone, carrying his own luggage. Frustrated, he told God, “Lord, the President comes home from a few weeks on safari and is received with such honor. What about me? I’ve dedicated my entire life to your work, but nobody recognizes me!”
These words came to his mind, “My son, you haven’t come home yet.” Morrison was both relieved and ashamed. Indeed, he had forgotten that his true home was still ahead, where he would receive an abundant welcome and an eternal reward. His thoughts became clear when he held an eternal perspective.
Genesis 14:18-24 records a similar difference in viewpoint. The chapter records the first war in Scripture. In the lush Jordan Valley, four kings allied against a coalition of five. The latter, including the king of Sodom, had rebelled against their overlord, who marched against them with his allies and defeated them. He carried off all their people as captives and slaves, including Lot, Abraham’s nephew, who lived in Sodom. Hearing the news, Abraham sprang into action, marching with his 318 trained household servants on a rescue mission.
Abraham could have sat still and done nothing. He could have reasoned that Lot had chosen his own path when he moved into the wicked city of Sodom. He could have convinced himself that it would be too dangerous and indeed futile to fight against this powerful alliance. He could have pleaded helplessness.
Instead of resentment, self-righteousness, or fear, Abraham burned with zeal to rescue his brother. He held no grudges but trusted God to look after his welfare. “God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of love, and of power, and of a sound mind.” This small band defeated the victorious kings as they were celebrating their rich spoils. They took back all the people and the loot from them.
Abraham encountered two sharply contrasting figures as he returned in triumph from his decisive victory. One was Melchizedek, the king of righteousness and priest of the Most High God. The other was the king of Sodom, a symbol of great wickedness and ungodliness. Abraham’s response to these encounters speaks volumes about his heart, his priorities, and his hope.
Melchizedek, whose name means “king of righteousness,” was also the king of Salem, meaning peace. This mysterious figure, both king and priest, appears suddenly out of the mists of history and fades with equal abruptness. Regarded as a type of Christ, since there is no record of his earthly father or mother, beginning of life or end of days, He blessed Abraham in the name of God, the possessor of heaven and earth and the one who had defeated Abraham’s foes. Jesus declared himself to be the one who came in the name of the Lord.
Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything, indicating his recognition of Melchizedek’s superiority and authority to bless him. The only proper acknowledgment of God’s power and goodness is worship and thankfulness leading to a gift that honours him. Abraham’s tithe declared his recognition that it was God and God alone who had given him victory.
Soon afterwards, he met the king of Sodom, who offered him all the spoils of war as compensation for winning back all his people. But Abraham, with remarkable clarity, refused: “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.’” The king of Sodom reflects Satan, the god of this world. He can offer many things—shortcuts to success, ethical compromises for gain, or dependence on human approval.
Abraham’s reply expressed his understanding of his total dependence on God rather than on human systems of power or wealth. He gave a tenth of the spoil to God through his tithe to Melchizedek, but would accept nothing for himself. He reminds us that true wealth lies in God’s presence with us and not in fleeting worldly treasures.
He did not want to be associated with or indebted to the ungodly and wicked for the sake of prosperity or security. He was content with what God gave him. This was not about rejecting wealth but about his single hearted dependence on God. Abraham’s heart posture echoes Psalm 119:57: “The Lord is my portion; I have promised to keep Your words.”
Where do we seek our reward and recognition when we fight the Lord’s battles? Do we, like Abraham, know that all we have comes from God alone as our ultimate provider? Or do we lean on and manipulate worldly systems for approval, security, and success?
God recognized the doubts and fears following such a drastic decision. To Abraham he said, Genesis 15:1, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” God reaffirmed himself as the shield against the enemies Abram had made in battle and the reward in place of the wealth he had turned down. God declared himself as both Abram’s protector and his treasure, emphasizing that no earthly power could match the security and richness found in Him.
When God declares Himself our reward, He is offering not just His gifts but His very presence. This means the assurance that nothing can separate us from His love. His purposes will be fulfilled through his saints. His eternal promises will come true. We experience the joy of doing his will, irrespective of earthly circumstances.
When we feel unnoticed, unappreciated, or unrewarded for our faithfulness, we can take heart. The applause of men is fickle, but God’s reward is eternal. As the psalmist declares in Psalm 121:1-2, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
This truth calls us to live in single-minded devotion and trust. When we face decisions that test our allegiance—whether to God or to worldly values—we are reminded to prioritize His kingdom over all else. This may mean turning down opportunities that conflict with our faith, letting go of grudges, or sacrificing personal gain if it is at the cost of integrity and peace.
When we yield him our obedience in faith, we discover that He is always with us. Abraham’s life demonstrates that true fulfillment comes from trusting in the God who made us, sustains us, and calls us His own. God is our portion, and He is more than enough. Let us be anchored and guided by this truth as we walk by faith, knowing that the ultimate celebration awaits us when we truly come home.