SHORT TERM GAIN, LONG TERM PAIN

GENESIS 13:5-14

INTRODUCTION

Besides his father Terah and wife Sarai (Gen.11:31) Abraham took his Nephew Lot to Haran, where the family accumulated possessions and acquired servants (Gen.12:5). After the death of Terah in Haran, God called Abram to resume the journey to Canaan. During the famine in Canaan, he went to Egypt which resulted in even more wealth curtesy from Pharaoh who had eyes on Sarai (12:16, 13:2). Abraham was now very rich in gold, silver and livestock (13:2). But before long, a misunderstanding and a conflict arose between Abram and Lot’s herdsmen (Gen.13:7). This was a conflict over resources. With conflicts comes mistrust, misinformation and misunderstanding. Abram was the winner in the dispute. He allowed Lot to pick first the land of his choice. Abram had a value system superior to Lot’s. Abram trusted God as his guide, while Lot trusted his feeling to guide him. The key to joy is the contentment that Christ gives in any and every situation (Phil.4:12-13). Contentment is a safeguard against prosperity, temptation and strife.

Let us learn:-

I.  SHUN QUARRELSOME PRACTICES (Gen.13:5-9)

• The first mark of a contented man is a disinterest in and distaste of quarrelling.
• For Abram, quarrelling with anyone and especially a family member was unacceptable.
• Someone has said, “No matter how right you are, no matter how wrong the other people are, no matter how much evidence you have to prove it, you will never let them to agree with you by arguing them down.”
• Shunning quarrels is wise, classy and rewarding.
• Abram did not quarrel with Lot, but they had to separate because the herdsmen were fiercely loyal to their masters.
• The worst thing in a conflict is to involve other groups, incite them and inflame the issue.
• Abram said “for we are brothers”
• Quarrelling in the family whether, with a sibling, a child, a parent, an in-law or a relative makes losers of everyone. Goodwill is hard to win and easy to lose.

II.  SHUN QUESTIONABLE PLACES (13:10-13)

• The second mark of a contented person is an avoidance of questionable places.
• Lot was deceived by looks and feelings.
• In Hebrews 13:10, Lot “raised his eyes” “saw” “Chose” and “Journeyed”
• Lot went further and further and ended up in Sodom and Gomorrah- the place of the coming destruction.
• Lot was an extreme and reckless risk-taker.
• Lot wanted to see how far he can go without being burned.
• Lot’s philosophy was “How much sin can I get away with and still get to heaven?”
• Sodom and Gomorrah was a morally deceptive, spiritually bankrupt and physically dangerous place.
• Sodom and Gomorrah had less than 10 righteous people in the twin cities (Gen.18:32). Sodom was a wicked city (13:13; 18:20) it was a hotbed of war, politics and dissent (Gen.14:5, Gen.14:1, 14)

III.  SHUN QUICK PAYOFFS (13:14-18)

• Waiting for the fulfilment of God’s promise can be trying and tiresome.
• Patience and perseverance were required to overcome panic.
• God’s promises to Abram concerning land was secured during the time of Joshua (Josh.23:14). A delay of 600yrs.
• God’s promise to Abram concerning “All the people on earth will be blessed through Abram (Gen.12:3) was ultimately fulfilled 42yrs generation later in Jesus Christ (Matt.1:17) thousands of years later!!
• Lot was not the type of wait, he decided for quick payoffs.
• Lot chose the densely populated plains of the Jordan
• Lot chose urban life, not rural life.
• Lot chose the plains over the great trees of Mamre (v.18) Nature and space.
• He chose quick and short term gain, but he received long term pain. He lost his family, fame, wealth and wife too.

CONCLUSION

• God cares for His people, provides for their needs and keeps them from danger those who believe in Him and hold on to godly principles.
• Are you letting daily provisions (I Tim.6:8) Monthly pay (Lk.3:14) or changing circumstances (Phil.4:11) trouble you?
• Let God be your fixed possession (Heb.13:5) your continuous provision (Matt.6:33, Phil.4:13) and your everlasting portion (Isa.54)