Anchorage Baptist Temple

How one man's radical generosity revealed the secret to true wealth and God's abundant blessingIn this powerful teaching from Genesis 13-14, we discover Abraham's remarkable response when faced with conflict, wealth, and the opportunity for personal gain. After winning a decisive military victory and recovering the spoils of five cities, Abraham demonstrates an extraordinary principle: everything we have belongs to God.When given the choice between claiming vast riches or honoring God, Abraham chose to give a tenth to Melchizedek (a mysterious priest-king who foreshadows Christ) and returned the rest—keeping nothing for himself. This counterintuitive act of faith reveals why some Christians can have wealth while others struggle with it, and why Abraham received God's promise: "I am your shield; your reward shall be very great."This message challenges our modern assumptions about money, possessions, and success, showing us that true blessing comes not from holding tight to what we have, but from recognizing th