1/15 Genesis 14:22-23

22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have lifted my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich.'


The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah had been defeated and the cities ransacked by a group of foreign kings allied against them. Lot and his family were taken captive. Abram's men and his allies went after them and defeated the enemy in a night battle. They took back all the spoils that were taken from the city and rescued the people that were taken to be slaves, including Lot and his family.

When Abram returned, the king of Sodom asked for the people but told Abram to keep the goods. Abram refused the goods saying he had sworn to God Most High (El Elyon) to take nothing lest someone say that Sodom made him rich. God had blessed Abram. Abram did not want that testimony corrupted by the goods from a wicked city. He was jealously guarding the testimony of God in his life.

We can be tempted to corrupt the testimony of God in our life as well, by giving credit to our ability or our education or worse still, some thing that is evil such as a corrupt business. We should follow the example of this man of faith and keep the testimony of the blessings in our life pointing to God alone. All we have comes from Him.

Consider: Everything we have is a gift from the Most High God. All we accomplish is because of Him. All the good we do is because He made it possible. In everything good that we do, the honor should go to God alone.