Genesis 14:20-23 (NKJV)“And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” 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’
Between the two choices of compromising with the values of the world to gain prosperity or living a consecrated life and experiencing God’s blessings by applying biblical financial principles like tithing, which do you choose? The god of this age will tempt us to bow down to worship power and money instead of having faith in God—the one who created the entire world to provide for us. Therefore, we must learn absolute dependency on God and declare Him as our sole financial provision just like Abraham did.
The first time we see the tithe appear in Scripture is when Abraham met Melchizedek after the battle. Abraham overcame the temptation from the King of Sodom by refusing the wealth of Sodom (which represented the world) that was offered to him. Abraham forsook all to obey God and he refused to turn back in times of trial. He knew and wanted to remember that it was God who made him prosper and not the King of Sodom or the world. Abraham obeyed the law of tithing as a declaration of his dependence on God. We also need to make a conscious decision to put our trust in God by following biblical principles.
Abraham has made it a lifestyle that God was his sole provider. When he left the Land or Ur, all He knew was that God had promised him a land and he was going to be a father of many nations. He believed in God’s promises, despite being old and childless. God blessed Abraham richly because He called on the name of the Lord.
Abraham knew that his wealth was the blessing of God. Therefore, when he and Lot needed to part ways, Abraham gave Lot the priority and privilege to choose. Lot picked the plain of Sodom—a land filled with natural resources, just like the world—because Lot represents those who trust in the world. He believed in what he saw with his natural eyes without a relationship with God and only knowing about God. It is easier to believe in what can be seen rather than stepping into the unseen and surrendering our lives to God. However, Abraham held on to his faith in the unseen promises of God, saw God as his sole provider, and got rewarded with true prosperity and life, blessing many through God.
Sermon Series: A Steady Walk of Faith with God
真正的兴盛
创世记 14:20-23 至高的神把敌人交在你手里，是应当称颂的！”亚伯兰就把所得的拿出十分之一来，给麦基洗德。 21 所多玛王对亚伯兰说：“你把人口给我，财物你自己拿去吧。” 22 亚伯兰对所多玛王说：“我已经向天地的主、至高的神耶和华起誓， 23 凡是你的东西，就是一根线、一根鞋带，我都不拿，免得你说：‘我使亚伯兰富足。
是与世俗的价值观妥协以获得成功，还是应用圣经的财务原则（如什一奉献）来活出分别为圣的生命并经历神的祝福，这二者你选择哪一个？这个时代的偶像会诱使我们屈服于崇拜权力和金钱，而不是相信神—祂创造了整个世界，并且供养我们。因此，我们必须学会对神的绝对依赖，并像亚伯拉罕一样宣告神是我们唯一的财务供应。
我们第一次读到什一奉献出现在圣经中是亚伯拉罕在征战后见到麦基洗德的时候。亚伯拉罕克服了所多玛王的诱惑，拒绝了所多玛（代表世界）的财物。亚伯拉罕放弃一切服从神，在试炼的时候也不肯回头。他知道并想记住，是神使他兴旺，而不是所多玛王或世界。亚伯拉罕遵守十一奉献的律法，以此表明他对神的依靠。我们需要做一个有意识的决定，通过遵循圣经原则，将信心放在神那里。
神是他唯一的供应者，这已经成为亚伯拉罕的一种生活方式！当他离开吾珥之地，他只知道神已经应许他一块土地，而他将成为多国的父。尽管他垂垂老矣又膝下无子， 他相信神的应许。因为亚伯拉罕呼求耶和华的名，神大大的祝福他。
亚伯拉罕知道他的财富是神的祝福。因此，当他和罗得不得不分道扬镳时，他就让罗得优先选择。罗得选择了充满自然资源的所多玛平原，就好像世界。因为罗得代表了信靠世界的人，他相信自己的肉眼所看到的，尽管他知道有神，但他与神没有关系。比起踏入看不见的未知并将我们的生命交托给上帝，相信眼睛所看见的显然更容易。然而，亚伯拉罕坚持他对上帝看不见的应许的信念，将上帝视为他唯一的供应者，并收获了真正的兴盛和生命，通过上帝祝福了许多人。
讲章系列：坚定信靠神
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