Thinking about one of my friends who has endured unimaginable loss, I told another friend, “He is blessing his congregation out of his own pain.” I can say the same about our other friend who lost his wife. They draw deeply from the well of God’s healing power and offer hope to others. In a way, these pastors are playing a priestly role, blessing others. Each of us has the power to bless or curse others. If we bless others when we are enduring difficulty, we unleash God’s power in our own lives and the lives of others.
The king of Salem’s bread and wine point us to another moment, when our King of Peace, Jesus took bread and cup, gave thanks, and gave it to his disciples. Why did Melchizedek bless Abram and the victorious army with bread and wine? Because he was priest of God most high. We have seen that God blessed Abram to make him a blessing. The priest of God most High will do the most High God’s bidding. God blesses us through people. He blessed Abram by blessing God. Then he thanked God for delivering enemies into Abram’s hand. The battle was the Lord’s so the victory was the Lord’s.
In response to this spiritual blessing, and gratitude to God, Abram gave a tithe of the spoils to God through Melchizedek. What is the right response when someone blesses us? We take the occasion to share the blessing. Because we have been blessed, we may bless God and bless others. Ever since I was a porter at an airport in my early teens, I have given God at least a tithe of the things he has given me. Through the church, he has blessed others through those gifts. We can never, ever outgive God.
