Monday Reflection – July 12, 2021 No Need for Strife

Monday Reflection – July 12, 2021
No Need for Strife

Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herders and my herders; for we are kindred.” Genesis 13:8

In the context of today’s Watchword, Abram returns to the land promised to him. He returns from Egypt with great riches, yet with a lot of bad decisions regarding his relationship with God. Abram’s unbelief took him from his place of worship, led him into sin, and caused him to lead others into sin. It made him more confident in his ability to lie than in the protecting power of God. It even broke apart his family for a while. Thankfully, upon his return he went to the altar and called on the name of the Lord. Abram came back to Bethel, back with the tent and the altar, back doing what he should, returning to his First Love.

The riches they gained soon became a problem. A contention developed between the hired workers of Abram and Lot. This occurred because the land they occupied was not able to support them both, as their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together. How would they solve this strife? Abram could have opted to chase away Lot and tell him to find somewhere else to go. He could have told Lot to get rid of his possessions if he wanted to stay with them. But no! Abram took the higher road. He told Lot: “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herders and my herders; for we are kindred. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.”

What a man of God Abram was! God gave all the land to him, so it was pure generosity on Abram’s part that caused him to make this offer to Lot. This was not a cowardly act for Abram was able to fight when the occasion demanded it. He did not yield to Lot out of weakness, but out of love and trust in God. A few acres of grazing land did not seem worth fighting for to a man who lived with an eternal perspective. What a difference our lives can be when we live with an eternal perspective realizing that the material things of this world are temporary, transient and trivial. We must remember that we will die and leave them all behind, so there is no need living and forever chasing after power, prestige, fame and fortune. It makes us miserable and discontented and before long we become toxic and spread toxicity everywhere we go, negatively impacting others and our relationships with them.

Abram knew he could trust God. He gave Lot the offer because he learned God would provide for his needs, and he did not have to worry about being too generous. Abram knew whatever Lot chose God would make sure Abram prospered. Abram was allowing God to look out for his interests. Right or left, it didn’t matter to Abram, because God would be there. We are called to emulate Abram who fulfilled the New Testament principle of love: Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others (Philippians 2:4); Outdo one another in showing honour (Romans 12:10); If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all (Romans 12:18). We learn from Abram that the godly life demands that sometimes for peace sake we have to give up what we rightly deserve in honouring God’s name. Amen

Jermaine Gibson