Genesis 14

Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people. Genesis 14:14-16 NKJV

Abram immediately tried to rescue his nephew when he heard that Lot had been captured.  It would have been much safer and easier for him not to get involved.  As Christians, we are called to reach out and help others, even when (or especially when) it is not easy to do so.  

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. Genesis 14:18 NKJV

Melchizedek means “king of righteousness” or “king of Salem (Jerusalem).” Was he a real king, a type (picture, example, or foreshadowing) of Christ, or was this Christ Himself?  Whoever he was, he was a priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram.  Abram gave him a tenth of everything, a “tithe,” just as God asks us to do today.  Is this tithe required in order to be a Christian?  No, but take a look at Malachi 3:10:  “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”  Trust God when He says this – He actually asks us to test Him! I know from personal experience that you will be amazed when you see what happens if you give generously with a cheerful heart.