The Exceeding Great Rewarder

In Genesis chapter 14 Lot is living in Sodom. Several Kings come together and attack Sodom, Gomorrah, and a few other cities. In the battle that follows, Sodom is defeated and Lot is taken captive. A messenger escapes and word gets to Abraham that Lot has been captured in battle. Abraham gets his servants together; pursues and retakes Lot, along with all of the spoils, women, and people that were taken in the battle. Abraham returned with everything that was taken and the Kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, and the other cities met with him.

King Melchizedek gives Abraham gifts, plus a percentage of everything that was returned, but notice, he does it in glory to God. He is essentially respecting the man of God and giving God the glory for the battle that has been won. Abraham received the gifts from King Melchizedek.

The King of Sodom then tells Abraham to return the people to him but keep all of the goods that have been spoiled, but he never mentions God. He never gives glory to God or mentions that Abraham is a man of God. Abraham refuses the gifts from this king.

I want to take a moment to say, you must give with the right attitude. Give as unto the Lord. The things that you give cannot be with the intent to control a person or ministry, or so you can take credit for their success later down the road. Giving should not be about seeing who gives the most and making it a competition either.

Give as unto the Lord.

When receiving a blessing or gift, you must receive it as from God. You do not owe ANYTHING to the person who gave to you. You do however owe EVERYTHING to God.

I try to look at every blessing that comes my way as from God. I do not owe anything to any man, but I do owe a debt that I can never repay to God.

Abraham had to distance himself from the situation and would not receive gifts from the king who was giving to him for the wrong reasons.

In Genesis 15, the Bible says, AFTER THESE THINGS the word of the Lord came unto Abram…

After Abraham refused what the king of Sodom had to offer the Lord spoke to Abraham and said I am thy exceeding great reward.

Abraham I know you just turned down the worldly kings riches, I am your exceeding great reward. My reward exceeds what the world could have ever given. My reward is greater than what any man in the flesh could have blessed you with, and it comes with no strings attached.

Who’s reward will you receive?

If you put your trust in man, you will always be a little short and seeking for more. You see, if you trust in man to sustain you then God will let man sustain you, but if you put your trust in the Exceeding Great Rewarder; He will take care of you.

I have seen people do this so many times and they are always so needy. They are always looking for a handout and always in need of something. Seems like they never have enough. Over time I noticed that these people are depending on man to take care of their needs. When they have a need they go to man, oftentimes publicly, instead of taking their need to God in private.

I have witnessed others, never ask for a penny and always confident that they had plenty. This was not because they actually had plenty, but because their confidence and trust was not in man; it was in the Exceeding Great Rewarder. When they had a need they would go to God in prayer and their need would be taken care of.

It is easy to see when speaking about finances, but what about when you are sick. Does your trust lie in the doctor? If so, God will leave you in the hands of the doctor. As Billy Cole said, There is nothing wrong with going to the doctor to find out what is wrong so you know how to pray. It is all about who you really trust to heal your body.

At this point in Abraham's life, once he has established God as his exceeding great reward, he asks for a son. This is something the kings of all the nations in the world never could have given, but this is what made God’s reward greater.

God will bless you, beyond what you could ever receive in the flesh, when we turn down the things of this world and rely wholly upon Him.

I ask you today, Whose reward will you receive?

Sometimes it is easier to trust in the fleshly things that we can touch and see, but the reward of God will always be greater. He is the Exceeding Great Rewarder.