No Quarreling

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

NO QUARRELING

Gen 13:5-9

5 Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 6 But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. 7 And quarreling arose between Abram's herdsmen and the herdsmen of Lot. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time. 8 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. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Let's part company. If you go to the left, I'll go to the right; if you go to the right, I'll go to the left."

NIV

Both Abram and Lot had become wealthy men with large herds of cattle, flocks of sheep, goats, donkeys, male and female, and camels. They both had herdsmen, employees who watched over the livestock. We can imagine, as we are told, that the land could not support both of their herds. Arguing, maybe even fighting, broke out between the herdsmen of Abram and those of Lot. Abram demonstrated a life truth in this narrative of his and Lot's story. In essence, Abram said, "Let's not have any quarreling between us, brothers. " There should not be any quarreling among believers, for we all are brothers and sisters in the Lord. Abram, who was the senior member of the clan, instead of insisting things happen according to his plan or way, humbly allowed Lot to pick which direction he would take his herds, and Abram would go the other way. We wonder how many churches function in that manner. How many church boards, worship teams, and leadership teams function without someone wanting their way while another insists their way is better to the point where nothing gets done, except hard feelings. Look, if you want to go left, we will go right; in other words, someone has to be big enough, like Abram, to allow the other to make the choice. This could go past a point of no return if no one steps up with a suggestion or if everyone acts like Abram, just going along with whatever. Abram took the lead and gave Lot the choice. Lot did not make any suggestion for a solution; it was all Abram. This also shows that there needs to be a leader, but to lead with humility, not with an iron fist or as the decision-maker. However, we should all be on guard against quarreling,  as we look for solutions together, and honor one another in love.