Bible reading: Genesis 13, 14; Psalm 8
Title: My Need to Look out for My Interests
Read (verses for Meditation):
Genesis 13:10-11: 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.) 11 So
Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east.
Reflect:
Today’s reading tells us that Abram’s and Lot’s livestock
had grown so large that they could not co-exist together. So Abram proposed to
his nephew Lot that they would separate, one family moving to the left and the
other to the right. Abram offered his nephew Lot fist dips and generously told
his nephew that wherever he chose, Abram would go to the opposite end. This was
an unusual and very generous gesture as Abram was senior, being the uncle. It
was also unusual and disrespectful that Lot would accept such an offer. Perhaps
it was an offer he could not refuse even if it meant not deferring to his elder.
It was a huge sacrifice on Abram’s part as it could mean that his nephew could
pick the choicest land, and leave Abraham with leftovers. Which was exactly
what Lot did. “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”. It must have been very disappointing to Abram, who,
after offering his nephew first choice of the land, ended up with the
not-so-good parts.
But right after Lot had chosen his portion, the Lord called
Abram and told him that He was giving Abram the best. Abram was no loser for
what he had done. Ironically, the ‘best’ portions that Lot had chosen proved to
be huge trouble for him. It caused him first of all to be held hostage by enemy
troops. After Abram had rescued him, God declared that the land was so evil he
would destroy it. Lot’s best choice turned out to be a disaster.
Relate:
It hurts a lot when we are short-changed, or given the
smaller portion, or the short end of the stick. We feel indignant when what we
have been given smacks of injustice or even dishonesty. It is even worse when
such injustice happened when we were generous to others. Abram was generous to
Lot, who fully exploited his generosity and took the choicest land. Such
experiences make us want to never be generous again, or worse, to grasp and
fight for the best and the choicest for ourselves. Afterall, if we do not look
out for ourselves, who will look out for us? It stings to feel or look like a
loser.
God showed Abram that his generosity did not disadvantage
him at all. Afterall, everything belongs to God and it is God who distributes.
And God had saved the best for Abram even though Abram had allowed his nephew
to look for and choose the best for himself. In fact, Abram was far from
resentful of Lot. When Lot was captured, Abram spared no expense to save him
from the enemy. And even when he was offered a rich reward for what he had
done, he refused the reward. Abram had learned that it is God who rewards; and
Abram could afford to be generous without fearing that he would be
short-changed in the process.
Often we are told that it only makes sense to keep the best
for ourselves, whether personally, or at work, or ministry. But I learned an invaluable
lesson from Acts 13:1-3. The church at Antioch sent their two best missionary
pastors Paul and Barnabas out and did not keep them for themselves. It is alright to give our best assets to
others, because ultimately, it is God who distributes and he will not allow us
to be short-changed.
Rest
Father, help me to believe that regardless of what is given
to me by others, or what is taken from me by others, I will not be short-changed.
And that I can rest securely in You, knowing that it is you who gives. And
assure me then that I can be generous to others, because I will never come out
short. I pray in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Chiu Ming Li
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