This is my personal summary of the preaching of Rev.Dr.Stephen Tong on 17th June 2007 in GRIIS. It was preached in Indonesian and I personally translated to English. Newton Life has it preached in Mandarin with English translation.
Passage: Genesis 14
Genesis 13 gave an example of a young man’s selfishness and ingratitude. If we build the habit of always only thinking of ourselves since our youth, it will be impossible for us to get true friends in life. Many people walk in front when there is profit and hide at the back when there is danger. This is a very low moral character. But Christ becomes to us a perfect example of self-sacrifice.
Sodom and Gomorrah were a very advanced and prosperous cities at that time. When a civilization reaches its golden age, it will face a lot of danger because many people will be eyeing on the wealth and might go against it. In this passage, the city of Sodom was captured and Lot was captured too because he lived there. What is success when others can take over whatever we gain over the years within a day? If we are successful apart from God, what we gain will perish. So do not think that our victory gained by our own intellect is great. It can be gone anytime. Whatever we boast of are just arrogance that has no guarantee.
Abram had a big heart. He had many servants who lived and raised their family in his house. And he trained personally the children of his servants who were raised in his house. When he heard that his nephew was captured, he still helped Lot despite Lot’s infilial attitude towards him. He immediately led 318 men he had trained in his house to war and he won the battle over 5 kings. Abram could make a very good general. He was a man of many talents and potential who could have succeeded doing something else, but God called him to be a sojourner and he obeyed.
If one day, pastors are no longer allowed to preach, can they still earn their daily bread? I have a question mark for this, even for my own students. But for me (Rev.Tong), if I am not longer allowed to preach, I dare say that not only I can earn my daily bread, but I can earn enough to feed many others who cannot feed themselves.
1 Corinthians 1 states that God will use the weak to shame the strong, the things that are not to nullify the things they are, such that we can proclaim, “Where is the scholar? Where is the wise man? Where is the philosopher of this age?” (1 Cor.1:20). Can today’s Christians and fulltimers say this?
Melchizedek was the king of Salem, or Shalom, or peace. He was also called the priest of the Most High God. He did not go to the war and appeared only after Abram won the war. Jewish tradition believed that Melchizedek was Shem, the son of Noah. If that be true, Melchizedek was the oldest man living on earth at that time. So Abram respected him as though he was a young man before an old man. In wars, the victor get the spoil from the war. Abram offered a tenth to Melchizedek.
Abram knew when to take and when to give. He gave to Melchizedek but he would not take anything from the king of Sodom. His spirituality is very good. He is very sensitive not to receive from people who had wrong motivation. When we give we need to think of our motivation, of whether we are worthy to give, and how we get our money.
