Have you ever heard the phrase, “The grass is greener on the other side of the fence?”
It’s tempting to think that other people’s circumstances are better than yours isn’t it? When I was growing up, I would often go to church camp. If you’ve ever had camp food you’ve learned that it “Ain’t Momma’s cooking.”
Being a little bit of a “rabble rouser” at the time, I would always want to get a chant going there. The chant would go like this: “We want something else, we want something else.”
That chant may have never really gotten to the volume that I wanted in the “mess hall” but it’s definitely made its way to the halls of our homes, schools, and even governmental halls of our nations capitol. It’s almost become the national anthem.
So what is your attitude about what you have? Do you want more, or are you content with what you have?
Transition:
When Abram left Haran, he left as a very wealthy man. In Genesis 12:5 we understand that Abram became accumulated much while in Haran and the Bible says:
“Abram took Saria his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they accumulated.... and they set out for Canaan.”
Yet, while in Egypt he had accumulated even more because Genesis 12: 20 says: “Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they escorted him away, with his wife and all that belonged to him.”
Then, chapter 13:2 confirms his wealth saying: “Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.”
As Abram left Egypt, he returned to the altar in Bethel and Ai and was finally at peace and content. He was happy with what He had, yet this is where Lot comes in. Lot, Abrams nephew had now been to Egypt, but Egypt was still in his heart. He wanted more, and a conflict arose.
Transitional Sentence: Through this conflict, we gather. three grassroots rules about wealth that will help us find contentment:
I. Rule #1- The Grass Is Always Greener Over The Septic Tank
vs. 5-7-“ Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks, herds, and tents.6 And the land could not sustain (both of) them while dwelling together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to remain together. 7 And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. Now the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land at that time.”
Explanation:
Years ago, Erma Bombeck humorously said: “The grass is always greener over the septic tank.” Yet, while she said that “tongue and cheek” it always rings true.
This was absolutely true in the case of Abram and Lot. God had promised to bless Abram and He was faithful to His Word. When God makes promises; He keeps them.
How many of you know this to be true in your life?
We can look at Abram and see God blessing Abram despite his disobedience.
1. When Abram was called to go to Canaan following God (the Heavenly Father) Abram
followed Terah and only went half-way to Canaan and to the town of Haran; yet God blessed
Abram there.
2. Then, Abram responded in fear instead of faith when a famine rose in the land and went to
Egypt. There he lied to the Pharaoh and told him that Sarai was his sister instead of his wife.
He made a mess and was ultimately driven from Egypt by Pharaoh’s men. He was escorted
(ran out) of town, yet he left with all his wealth.
In chapter 12, we read that Pharaoh had “treated Abram well for her (Sarai’s) sake, and gave him sheep and oxen and donkeys and male and female servants and female donkey’s and camels.”
Listen: Owning a camel alone back in those days was no small thing. It was a status symbol. It would be like owning a Bugatti Veyron. BTW- those are only 1.9 million dollars. It will go 0 to 60 in 2.3 seconds and has 1200 horsepower. (Well that might be a slight exaggeration but you get the picture)
The camel was big, brown, and cost a lot of bucks back then and Abram had several courtesies of a big fat lie he told Pharaoh.
Let me ask you: Does that bother you? Why would God bless a liar? Not to mention, one that did it out of fear instead of faith?
Furthermore, does anyone here know someone who isn’t living for the Lord that has no financial problems, is like Abram and is married to a trophy wife, and seems to never have any problems?
Whether man of woman, we often wonder why God blesses people who are out of the will of God.
The answer is actually found in the Bible. As a matter of fact, it comes off of Jesus’ lips as He says: “For He (God) makes his sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust!” Matthew 5:45
Listen: God’s approval has nothing to do with your credit approval. God’s blessings are showered down like rain on everyone in different measures. Health and Wealth preachers want you to believe that if you live for Jesus, you’ll be loaded; yet that’s not what the Bible teaches.
God rains on the just and unjust. Sometime you ungodly neighbor across the street may seem to get more “rain” from above than you; if so, don’t let that bother you, God hasn’t forgotten to bless you, he just has a different plan for you.
Here’s the fact: Wealth may not be as big of a blessing as you think. In Abram and Lot’s situation; it created problems.
The Bible tells us that: “The land you not sustain them while dwelling together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to remain together. And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock...”
Herein we find that wealth is not all it’s cracked up to be.
Illustration: Winning the Lotter can be toxic
Maybe you’ve heard of Jack Whittaker? He’s known as the “Unluckiest Lottery Winner”- The Washington Post reported that he won the Powerball and blew through it in 4 years.
He also said he lost granddaughter and boyfriend to drug overdoses which he said their drug purchases began by them using his earnings. Someone robbed twice taking $745,000.00, one while he was sitting in his car. And his final statement was: “I do not like what I have become. I wish I would have torn up that ticket!”
Application:
This sounds a lot like what Jesus said in the gospel of Luke when he said: “A man’s life does not consist of what he has accumulated.” Luke 12:15
Listen: There is nothing wrong with having money and possessions; but don’t overvalue money.
A lot of people feel that Jesus was dirt poor, yet let me remind you after His birth, Magi came and he was given gold, frankincense and myrrh. Yet, before they came his parents were so poor that they could only give 2 pigeons as a sacrificial gift at the temple.
Joseph and Mary seem to be part of the lower economic class and that Jesus actually experienced poverty because He said: “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Many has nowhere to lay his head.” Matthew 8:20
It appears that Jesus rarely had a lot of material possessions because He:
a) Preached in borrowed boats.
b) Multiplied borrowed food.
c) Rode into Jerusalem on a borrowed colt.
d) Even had His Passover in a borrowed upper room.
e) Only to be buried in a borrowed tomb.
Yet, the reality is that during Jesus’ lifetime He experienced many different economic situations.
At age 12 it appears that Joseph and Mary’s financial situation had improved because they traveled to Jerusalem where Jesus disappeared in the temple. Traveling was seen as expensive and since it was only required by males; the fact that Mary attended is a sign that they had a little extra money for her journey as well.
Jesus led the disciples that actually required money to provide for the team and they had enough money for their travels and Judas was actually the treasurer. Yet, there were times when the coffer seemed have more than other times.
Yet, it is reported that Mary poured out expensive oil on Him in worship, and Luke reports that when Jesus was crucified the Roman soldiers actually gambled for the that He wore because it was valuable.
Jesus even said of Himself: “The Son of Man came eating and drinking.” Matthew 11:9
Therefore, it appears that Jesus had possessions sometimes, and did not other times just like you and me.
Here’s the reality: God is not against you owning possessions; He just doesn’t want possessions owning you. He wants you to be content with what you have.
Transitional Sentence: Through this conflict, we gather three grassroots rules about wealth that will help us find contentment:
II. Rule #2- The Grass is Greener Where It’s Watered
vs. 8- 9- “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; or if to the right, then I will go left.”
Explanation:
I read this: “Exercise may be able to add years to your life, but contentment can add life to your years.”
Abram was all about “adding life to his years.” Therefore, when the conflict rose over the possessions, Abram made a wise choice: “HE VALUED PEOPLE OVER POSSESSIONS.”
When they inspected the areas of Canaan, it was obvious that valley of the Jordan was the “choice land.” In verse 10 we read that it was “well-watered everywhere---like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar...” (vs. 10)
Yet, instead of insist on the finest areas of Canaan becoming his land; Abram stood down and yielded to Lot’s desires. He said in verse 9:
“Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me; if to the left then I will go right; or if to the right, I will go left.” Vs. 9
Abram knew that people matter more than possessions. The fact is: We may get what we want at times, but loose people out of our lives. Abram prioritized his love for Lot over his love for the land; He trusted God for blessings; not fertile, well-watered valleys.
Illustration: Chick-fila- Truett Cathy
I met Truett Cathy one time before his death and heard him speak. It was a true honor to meet and listen to a man who was literally grew up in poverty as his family moved to Atlanta after his Dad lost his job.
Truett would try to help out by buying Coca-Cola and reselling it in the neighborhood, as well as sell newspapers and magazines for home delivery.
At 12 a man named Theo Abby took him to Sunday School and introduced Truett to Jesus. It is said that “His faith and his love for Jesus reached his very soul – and would guide him for the rest of his life.”
Because of Jesus’ value of people, he has put in the DNA of Chick-fil-a a statement that is repeated 100’s of times each day in his restaurants. Do you know what the statement is? (Of course you do) “My...........pleasure.” (Right?)
At the top of his core values is: “Be kind... treat people well” ... I will always remember what he said when I met him. He said: “The secret to my success is putting principles and people ahead of profits.”
Sounds like Bible doesn’t it? Do you know why? It sounds like Jesus.
Application:
Let me ask you are question: “How important are people to you?” How about a harder question: “Are you focusing on possessions and the bottom line more than the people God has put in your life?”
Imagine how many conflicts would be resolved if we simple “stood down” and avoided severing a relationship.
This was a great moment in Abram’s life, he was not only building his relationship with Lot; but was also building his relationship with God.
He trusted God to provide and trusted God to lead him to the place He wanted. He did not make the “land” decision based upon what he saw with his eyes; but with what God was putting in his heart.
Abram knew that God would secure a place for him on earth in the same way that God would secure a place for him in heaven.
Transitional Sentence: Through this conflict, we gather three grassroots rules about wealth that will help us find contentment:
III. Rule #3- If The Grass Looks Greener Elsewhere; It’s Probably Astroturf
vs. 10-13- “Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere --- this was this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the LORD like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. 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.
Explanation:
As the chapter finalizes we find Lot choosing by sight and Abram moving by faith.
Lot chose greener pastures, but were they? The lust and fertile valley caught his eye. Lot went down to Egypt and returned to Canaan, but Egypt never got out of Lot.
What appeared to be a “better situation” in the end would bring Lot into Sodom and Gomorrah.
Ultimately, this lush area that was watered well, would soon experience a different rain; a raining down of judgment, with fire and brimstone.
Do you want to see what that area looks like today? Here’s a picture of Sodom. Also, the sulfur brimstone balls are so numerous there, did you know you can buy them on eBay today for $22.00?
When you walk by sight, you can find yourself walking right into a mess can’t you? You can walk into something that brings heartache, pain, and death.
Lot took his people right into one of the most sinful places on the planet, where they would be introduced to evil, sexual sin, and ungodliness.
Verse 13 describes them saying: “Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the Lord.”
The grass might have looked green but it was only Astroturf.
In contrast, we find Abram doing something different: He is listening to God.
Do you know what this means? It means that Abraham had learned that the Lord had a plan for his life and he was trusting God to provide according to His will; not Abrams.
The little field trip to Egypt humbled Abram and reminded him to trust God’s ways instead of his own. Abraham was growing to trust God to provide. His trust was displayed by him building an altar to the Lord and trust God to make good on His promises.
In short: Abram was learning that the ultimate provision is not a piece of land; it was the person of God in his life.
Conclusion:
If you read the rest of the chapter we read: “Then Abram moved his tent and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre which are in Hebron and there he built an altar to the Lord.”
This would not be the last time Abram would build an altar. Years later he would build an altar on Mt. Moriah and lay his son Isaac on that altar. Yet, by the grace of God, the Lord would provide a ram in the thicket and His son would be spared death.
Yet, our Heavenly Father, who is our provider would be faced with a similar altar; an altar on the same mountain, with a different son; His only begotten. Jesus Christ.
There, on Calvary’s altar; Jehovah Jireh; our provider, would provide Jesus, Hisonly begotten Son, so He could become our Savior and Shepherd.
Today, if you know Him, you know Him as this:
“The Lord..... who is our Shepherd.... (with Him) we shall not want.... He makes us lie down by green pastures and leads us beside the still waters....He restores our soul...
The best grass is the grass Jesus has provided and leads you to. Will you follow His lead?
