We Are Family
So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. Genesis 13:8
Lot thought he had it all figured out. Uncle Abram was a good guy but he was getting old. Business was booming, the money was pouring in, and Lot wasn’t going to let his Uncle ruin all that. So he drew up charts, plans, graphs and tapped away on his calculator. He’d take the best land and let his stocks and shares thrive, while Abram could have the second best land and put hope in that bizarre religion-thing of his. Simple – got it.
In fact, Genesis 13 shows Lot picking the area of ‘Sodom’ as his choice of farmland. Abram chose to build an altar to God as his first action. Same genes; different values. Lot saw it as a get-rich-quick scheme. But what ‘Sodom’ entailed was about as far from godly principles as was possible. Abram revealed his true colors by building himself a reminder of who God is. In effect, he says ‘my life’s wealth and security is dependent on God and nothing else’.
It’s hard when your values clash with your family’s. If you feel pressured into have to win-arguments-at-all-costs, then take a lesson from Abram and turn to God first. He has you and your family’s best interests at heart. In keeping eyes on Him and not winning petty faith debates, you’re letting Him steer your witness.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me “build an altar” where I am first so I am reminded that all I am and do is because of Your grace and mercy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Thank you for your encouraging words regarding Abram’s taking the high road and remembering who he was and Whose he was. My husband and I had been married 35 years, when four years ago he decided to initiate an affair with a much younger, married woman. The result was that our divorce was final three years ago this month, I had to start over, because he moved in with her, and now I am working on taking the high road with our two adult children and their spouses. My children choose to continue seeing their father but certainly do not approve his choices. But, as they say, he is their father. My sisters in Christ at my wonderful church uphold me in prayer as I work to battle loneliness. I keep an active life, but coming home to an empty apartment with no one to share the day’s events is sometimes very challenging. Our compassionate Lord is helping me adjust, little by little, day by day. He provides me with all that I need for the day, each and every day. I am grateful for the work he provides me to support myself, and I am thankful that He is my Rock and Strength, that He feeds me weekly through worship, His Word and His Sacrament. God bless you in all you do and for your encouraging words.