Abram

Now Abram took his nephew Lot to the new land where God told him to go. Both Abram and Lot became wealthy and had many flocks, herds, tents and herdsmen. With time it became very crowded and their herdsmen began to fight with each other.   So Abram said to Lot, "Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers."Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me; if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left." Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere... So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the valley, and moved his tents as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the LORD... The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever. "I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can number the dust of the earth, then your descendants can also be numbered."...*   As the older family member Abram had the right to take the better looking land yet he gave up his right to Lot. This family problem gives us a very good insight into the character of Abram. Was Abram a greedy man? Was he only concerned about what he could get or have? No, Abram loved his nephew Lot. And in loving someone, you put their desires ahead of your own. Abram knew the golden rule that Jesus would give:   In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you...*   This is the way Abram treated Lot. God saw this character quality in Abram and He rewarded Abram. When we give to others, and put others ahead of ourselves someday God will reward us. Jesus said:   Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure-pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.*   The good news is God is generous to us and we should be generous to others. Genesis 13:8-10, 11-16 (NASB)

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