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One lesson we can learn from Abraham and Lot’s relationship is the proper view to have toward wealth. The antidote for greed and love of money is contentment. This may seem obvious, but if we simply can come to the place where we are satisfied with what we have, we will not have a constant urge to gain more wealth.
Another lesson we can learn from Abraham and Lot is how to deal with conflict. Abraham and Lot’s men fought because they had more flocks and herds than the land could support. Abraham’s solution was separation. It is easy to be critical of Abram and Lot. It seems like they should have been able to get along, and yet, Christian history is littered with examples of people who couldn’t get along. There are over 200 main denominations in the United States and many more smaller groups. Even within Mennonites, there are many different groups, varying from very conservative to quite liberal. There is a real tendency for all churches to get “comfortable” and to lose their first love. The issue is a mixture of inertia (objects at rest stay at rest) and lack of a personal relationship with God or the members. Men who are on fire for God chafe against this sort of situation and often end up leaving to start their own church. I suppose it feels easier to do that than to revive the church. The problem, of course, is that their own church is going to struggle with the same types of things that they left behind.
We can also learn a lesson from Lot’s choice. Abraham was willing to give up his rights and take whatever Lot did not want. Lot chose based on beauty, wealth, and ease. Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom. Lot’s choices slowly led to great loss. This is what happens when we ask the wrong questions, questions like: Is there anything wrong with it? Is there a verse in the Bible that specifically says not to do it? Is it financially beneficial to me, and will it make me more comfortable? Better questions look like this: Is this going to strengthen my relationship with God? Am I going to struggle to maintain my Christian testimony if I make this decision? Based on where I want to be in ten years, what decision should I make today? Based on where I want my children to be in ten years, what example should I be setting for them, and what decision should I make? Resolving conflict is not easy. It requires that we identify clearly the issues at hand, be willing to give up rights, value the important things, be willing to compromise, and accept others’ choices.