by Josh McPaul
OK - this one is confusing, but stick with it. There is some good stuff here. Man, the Bible has got some good stuff.
After Abraham won the battle and freed his nephew Lot, he met two strange men. One was Melchizedek, the king of Salem (or the king of Peace). The other was the king of Sodom (a renowned city of wickedness). Both come out to celebrate Abraham's victory. Their way of celebrating Abraham's could not be more different. Both kings claim to bless Abraham, and both kings claim a kind of allegiance.
The king of Sodom offers Abraham a share in the booty of his raid. Sodom wants Abraham to share in the wealth as a fee for liberating the city. But Abraham is wary. He doesn't trust Sodom's intentions. He doesn't want people to suspect that he is fighting for money as a mercenary. In so doing, he would, in the eyes of others, become a servant of Sodom - a worker under hire. The glory would go to Sodom. What seems like a fair payment is actually enslaving Abraham's character and reputation.
The king of Salem, named Melchizedek seems to offer a worse deal. He 'merely' blesses Abraham. And then Abraham offers him ten percent of his wealth. Abraham goes away from Melchizedek poorer than before, after he had served Melchizedek! Yet Abraham finds a kindred spirit in a great king who will enrich Abraham's standing. What seems like a raw deal is actually an exaltation of Abraham. It is the king of peace who gives Abraham the true gift.
When we serve God, it seems like we might get ripped off. We serve God, not for pay, but out of honor and allegiance. God owes us nothing. But, like Melchizedek, he offers a blessing that ennobles and elevates us. And we find ourselves in relationship with the true king. When we serve the world, even the payments we receive make us more enslaved to the world.
May we serve this king, in whose service we are made free, and in whose debt we are made rich.
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