God was making a point with Abram. Abram had chosen well. He had separated from the evil kings of the Jordan Valley and defeated the King of Shinar (Pre-Babylon). Now, after winning the battle and saving the prisoners and their possessions, Abram met up with two kings.
First, He met up with Melchizedek, King of Salem. The Scripture describes Melchizedek as a High Priest. This is especially telling, because it was always God’s model for Israel to be a kingdom of priests. Abram has a great meeting with Melchizedek and pays Melchizedek a substantial tribute as a thanks for his blessing.
As he finishes that meeting, Abram them meets up with the King of Sodom. The meeting was totally different. The king of Sodom starts off ready to make a deal. I will take the people, and you can have the stuff. Seems like a great thing, but Abram could see right through the plan.
Unlike Melchizedek, the king of Sodom wanted to somehow make Abram beholden to him. (You are only rich cause I gave you all that stuff–You owe me.) Like some two-bit gangster, the King of Sodom wanted to leverage control of all he touched. Ironically, Abram already owned all the stuff. He won it in battle. The King of Sodom lost title to it when he lost it in battle.
The truth was; however, Abram did not want an alliance or even the connotation of being associated with these men. Abram said no. The warriors that assisted could have their share of plunder, But Abram had all he needed–God’s blessing.
As time would pass, it became very apparent that Abram chose the right ally. God protects, prepares, and provides for His chosen through all circumstances. Abram would be the patriarch to the nation of priests that is the order of Melchizedek. It was Christ that would be the ultimate High Priest offering atonement for all whom had fallen short of the glory of God. Abram had determined already that he was to serve God and Him only.
We are to make that same choice. As it says in Colossians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Further, in 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation–the old is gone and the new has come.” Simply put, if given the choice between God’s blessing and men’s stuff–God’s blessing should win every time.
God Bless You
15 During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.
17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
20 And praise be to God Most High,
who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.”
22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshkol and Mamre. Let them have their share.”
Walking With God 