Grass Roots Rules About Looking For Greener Grass” A Simple Lesson About Contentment Series

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