A Selfish Dreamer

Selfish Dreams Text: Genesis 13:6-18

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One day a child playing with a valuable vase got his hand stuck in it and couldn’t get it out. Before resorting to breaking the vase, his father said, “Son, relax, just open your hand and pull it out.” To their astonishment the little guy said, “I can’t. If I do I’ll drop my penny.”

(The difference in animals and people are humans including children, can let the penny go!)

Monkeys in Africa are caught by a trap that allows the monkey to grab the bait while his body is outside of the trap, but as he tries to take his hand out while smelling the food and wanting to eat it, he can’t because the bait won’t go through the trap; therefore, his instinct is to stay there and not let go while the trapper finally comes and captures the monkey easily.

Men and women with selfish dreams are a lot like that monkey they just won’t let go!

In Genesis 13:6-18 we read about a “God Dreaming man” verses “a Selfish Dreaming man.” 6). Now the land was not able to support them, that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together. 7 And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land.8 So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.”10 And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other. 12 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. 13 But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the LORD.14 And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; 15 for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. 16 And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. 17 Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.”18 Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the LORD.

A God dreaming man is always generous therefore, Abram gave his nephew the choice of the land he preferred!

Abram refused to obtain blessings outside of God’s blessings. Listen unto Genesis 14: 22-23 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’—

When you make a pledge unto God to place Him first, you set yourself in line-for the blessings of God!

Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Listen to the Message Bible Vs.19 You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.

Look at Genesis 13:8-9 again, So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.”

God dreaming men hate strife, but self-dreamers seem to enjoy living in an environment of strife.

Listen to Proverbs 20:3 It’s a mark of good character to avert quarrels, but fools love to pick fights.

Abram just wanted God; Abram just wanted to stay in peace! But Lot he was ready to pick a fight!