Abram Vs. Lot

I. EXORDIUM:

Do you have stepping stones?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To encourage everyone to follow Abram's attitude of prosperity rather than Lot's

IV. TEXT:

Genesis 13:10,14

Genesis 13:10 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the Lord or the beautiful land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)

Genesis 13:14 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

After Lot had gone, the Lord said to Abram, “Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west.

V. THESIS:

Easier said than done, but can be done. Follow and imitate Abram rather than Lot

VI. TITLE:

Abram Vs. Lot

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: Moses

B. Time: Uncertain

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Abram Vs Lot:

1. Abram's source of wealth is GOD, Lot's source is external. (Genesis 13:4)

a. Lot sees his uncle Abram erected an altar for GOD, and worshipped GOD in the altar but never bothered to imitate it.

Genesis 13:4 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

This was the same place where Abram had built the altar, and there he worshiped the Lord again.

2. Abram's sees things as GOD sees/commands, Lot sees things for himself (Genesis 13:14)

a. GOD Himself commanded Abram to look in every direction, not because of Abram's lust of the eyes to look for the wealth.

Genesis 13:14 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

After Lot had gone, the Lord said to Abram, “Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west.

3. Abram was blessed more after Lot left him, Lot was blessed because of Abram (Genesis 13:14-16)

a. "After Lot had gone," it takes Lot to leave Abram before Abram can hear more from GOD. Lot who is a pain in the neck for Abram, keeping Abram from being blessed, and sucking Abram as a parasite.

Genesis 13:14-16 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

After Lot had gone, the Lord said to Abram, “Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west.

I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession.

And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted!

4. Abram values Lot as relative, Lot sees Abram as stepping stone. (Genesis 13:8)

a. Abram called Lot "we are close relatives!" while there's no record in the Bible that Lot feels the same towards his uncle Abram.

Genesis 13:8 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Finally Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives!

b. Lot even sided with his staff/worker/employee rather than taking sides with his uncles Abram whom he got a debt of love because Lot is blessed because of his uncle Abram.

1) If only Lot disallowed his uncle Abram from leaving him, then he could get blessed more, because I believe there's nothing that can hinder GOD from blessing Abram even if Lot is with Abram, but because of pride Lot chose for himself to take side with his own herdsmen and leave the source of his blessings, his uncle Abram.

Genesis 13:8 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Finally Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives!

5. Abram listens to GOD, Lot listens to himself. (Genesis 13:14)

a. "the Lord said to Abram" Abram values GOD's voice rather than his greed calling out to him in opposite to Lot. (Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? - James 4:1-3 )

James 4:1-3 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?

You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.

And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

Genesis 13:14 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

After Lot had gone, the Lord said to Abram, “Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west.

Luke 12:15 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”