“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all. Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.” But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’— except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.””
Genesis 14:18-24 NKJV
Provision
Reliance on the Lord is a foreign concept in the world, for we have been conditioned to make our own way. We go about making plans, to make money, achieve status, and live according to what the world considers success. We think nothing of making our wealth according to the values of the world, and think even less of the message it is sending to those of that world who are watching us.
Reading Genesis chapter fourteen, I saw God’s first example of one who walked by faith, who relied upon the provision of the Lord, even when the world, represented by the king of Sodom offered him an easier way.
Fresh from victory, delivered to him by God, Abraham is blessed by the king of Salam, the priest of God, according to the order of Malchizedek. He is a type of Christ. He affirms for Abraham that it was God who brought the victory, and reminds him that the Lord is faithful. Abraham gave the priest a tithe of all, for it was by God’s power that he received anything.
Like clockwork the evil one provided temptation in the form of the king of Sodom. The devil is lurking about in search of those he may devour, for that is his preoccupation.
In every aspect of life, he provides “short cuts”, ways of gaining the blessing without God. He even tempted the Lord Jesus.
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ” Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.”
Matthew 4:1-11 NKJV
He tempted Jesus with the same trick he has always used, even as far back as the garden of Eden, appealing to the appetites of humans. But Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Because Abraham believed, he received the blessing of comment with the God of the Universe.
“After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.””
Genesis 15:1 NKJV
“And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.”
Genesis 15:4-6 NKJV
Because of the faith of Abraham, many have come to know Jesus, saved by faith, whose number is as innumerable as the stars. One day, those who have called upon the name of the Lord will be together in one place. Oh what a joyous day that will be.
Brothers and sisters, let us be mindful that everything ultimately comes from God. Let us remember that the ability to work, the energy that drives our bodies, is granted by the grace of God. I tell you the truth, this world has nothing for us, and relying on it is to receive diminishing returns.
Let us be like Abraham, looking into the face of the world’s promises of wealth and status, and focus more on what the Lord has to offer. In the light of eternity, all the glory of this world is fading fast, and much of it will become ashes. But we know the eternal kingdom will be glorious. Even the struggles we face in these present times are nothing.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Romans 8:18 NKJV
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV
Not only is He providing for us, but He is working in us, as we are being made over into the image of Jesus.
Just as God showed Abraham what is to come, we have the blessing of being that promise come to fruition.
One day this world will pass away, dissolved in searing heat, and a new world will be. In that world, all values will be based on the Father and the Son. Let us live lives in the here and now that reflect that coming glory.
“But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”
Revelation 21:22-27 NKJV
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Musings from an idle mind 
“Diminishing returns” is so true.
The following is one verse of C.T. Studd’s poem “Only One Life”:
Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.
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