Attached to God
The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself." But Abram said . . ., "I will take nothing."
GENESIS 14:21, 24
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Attached to God
Because Abraham is sure of the Lord's benevolence and certain that because of His blessing he would have more lands and wealth than the king of Sodom or anyone else could give him, he does the right thing when he declines this gift. "Do not," he says, "cause me this disgrace, and do not impose this ignominy on me, that you, the king of Sodom, made me rich, and that if Abraham had not had you, he would have nothing. Take your booty and go, but do not impair my glorying in the only God, the kindly one who gives promises. He is the Possessor of heaven and earth, while you are only the possessor of Sodom. I shall hold fast to that Giver, Blesser, and Savior." . . . Thus Abraham is described to us here as full of faith and of hope concerning eternal life. He makes use of this earthly victory as of a field or any other thing that serves only to exercise the body but does not give the heart cause for worry. His heart he keeps attached to the mercy of God and to the promise of the future Seed, in accordance with the statement of the psalm (62:10): "If riches increase, set not your heart on them." He has a wife, servants, and maids; but he has all these as though he did not have them. He is a true monk; for he truly despises the pleasures, glories, and riches of the world, and with his whole heart he is engaged in waiting for the promise concerning Christ.
GENESIS 14:21, 24
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Attached to God
Because Abraham is sure of the Lord's benevolence and certain that because of His blessing he would have more lands and wealth than the king of Sodom or anyone else could give him, he does the right thing when he declines this gift. "Do not," he says, "cause me this disgrace, and do not impose this ignominy on me, that you, the king of Sodom, made me rich, and that if Abraham had not had you, he would have nothing. Take your booty and go, but do not impair my glorying in the only God, the kindly one who gives promises. He is the Possessor of heaven and earth, while you are only the possessor of Sodom. I shall hold fast to that Giver, Blesser, and Savior." . . . Thus Abraham is described to us here as full of faith and of hope concerning eternal life. He makes use of this earthly victory as of a field or any other thing that serves only to exercise the body but does not give the heart cause for worry. His heart he keeps attached to the mercy of God and to the promise of the future Seed, in accordance with the statement of the psalm (62:10): "If riches increase, set not your heart on them." He has a wife, servants, and maids; but he has all these as though he did not have them. He is a true monk; for he truly despises the pleasures, glories, and riches of the world, and with his whole heart he is engaged in waiting for the promise concerning Christ.
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2026
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