Monday, October 22, 2012

Genesis 13 - Mine, Mine, Mine

Affluence brings with it a whole host of temptations. Greed, jealousy, envy, strife and division. In the United States, we live in a prosperous nation. There are poor, but even after nearly a decade of economic turmoil, we still have more possessions and wealth than most nations. You would think that wealth would bring with it satisfaction and contentment, but as in the example of Abram and Lot, it does not.

Infighting had begun among the servants of Lot and Abram. Their herds, flocks and tents were more than the land could bear (verse 5). God had blessed both men with an abundance.

Abram was the one who had the promise of land and greatness. He could have likely said to Lot, take off and find a place for yourself. Instead he gives Lot first choice and says "you pick where you will go" (verses 8 - 9). And Lot choose the well watered plain of Jordan and selected the best for himself.

In Lot there was no humility, no honor for his Uncle Abram, no gratitude for all God had given him, no prayer for wisdom in dividing the land. He assumed he knew what was best for himself and went for it. Now before we condemn Lot, how many times in our own past have we selected the best for ourselves and didn't think twice? I know I have. When have we been blessed because of someone else's abundance or status and enjoyed the blessing without redirecting the honor and recognition to our benefactor? Within our own hearts is the propensity to be selfish; we do well to recognize it and repent.

Now look at Abram's attitude in this chapter. He doesn't have to give Lot anything but look at verse 4. We see Abram calling on the name of The Lord. He looks to God for direction and I believe God gives him an assurance that he should allow Lot to go.

Abram wasn't concerned if the best was taken because his faith was in God and not the abundance. In vers 14 after Lot had left God tells Abram to look all around him; that land would belong to him and his descendants and his offspring would be so numerous they would be like the dust of the land. (Before he had a single heir). So what did Abram do? He followed God's command to walk the borders of the land and he built an altar to God in recognition of his Sovereignty.

He believed God before the promises had come to pass and when confronted with a selfish heart that would take his possessions he let him have what he wanted and trusted God to keep him.

Our lives are not measured in the abundance of possessions but in the amount if our faith and trust in God alone to supply our needs.

Dear Heavenly Father, you have blessed us with great abundance both in possessions and opportunity. Help us to keep our hope fixed on you and to return to you for direction and to worship you in every circumstance. You alone deserve the glory. Help us not to cleave to recognition but to give you the honor for our blessings. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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