And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other (Genesis 13:10-11).
Abraham and Lot now face the opposite temptation from what they faced in chapter 12, when there was a famine in Canaan; now they experience the equally great challenge of prosperity in Canaan. Interestingly this narrative in Genesis 13 is the first mention of wealth in the Bible — and how instructive it is!
Wealth itself is not evil; what matters is how you handle it, especially in your heart.
Both Abraham and Lot possess great wealth, but they handle it differently — and that is what makes the great difference. There is a simple logistical problem because of the prosperity that both Abraham and Lot are experiencing, which is that the land simply can not provide for the burgeoning flocks of both men. Abraham therefore, in an attempt to avoid strife, graciously suggests that they separate, and offers Lot first pick of the surrounding area.
How easy it is to go through a Lot-like decision making process!
Verses 10-11, above, then describe Lot’s decision making process, and how he and Abraham end up separating from each other. And it should serve as a warning for every prosperous Christian. Lot scans the area and sees the well-watered Jordan Valley. In all of Lot’s calculations, there is no mention of any altar to the Lord or consideration of God’s provision or promises. Lot’s decision was purely pragmatic. He crunched the numbers, made a spreadsheet to consider all the data, and then made a rational decision.
Interestingly, Lot sees that the Jordan Valley is like the garden of Eden, “the garden of the Lord.” Through fiscally prudent decision making Lot hopes to basically make his way back into the Garden of Eden! But what Lot is forgetting is that what made the Garden of Eden paradise was not the plants, but the presence of God.
How easy it is to go through a Lot-like decision making process!
That college has a great reputation academically … though I haven’t been able to find a good church in the area. This girl is so pretty and funny and fun … though she doesn’t evidence an overriding desire to pursue Christ in her life. That job position is clearly a step up the career ladder … though it will mean less time with family and involvement in church.
We are to put Christ first, in everything, no matter what.
When we order our decisions according to Lot-like priorities, we are ignoring the fact that this is the exact opposite of the decision-making paradigm Jesus commands us to: “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).
We are to put Christ first, in everything, no matter what.
Whereas Lot walked by sight, Abraham instead walked by faith. And rather than losing everything he had, as Lot did, Abraham found great blessing in the way of the Lord — for himself, and for his family. While Lot was seeking the land first, and God second, Abraham was seeking God first — and so God also promises him the land! While Lot lost his children to the world, God promised to Abraham that his children would be as numerous as the dust of the earth.
Friends, in every choice you make, choose God! Nothing else matters. Everything else you need will be added to you, but what you always and eternally need is God.