The theme I’m leaning toward is compromise.
“Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold. Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 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. So Abram said to Lot, ‘Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company.’ Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.” (2,5-6,8-9a,12,13)
Compromise (the verb) has a three definitions:
1. settle a dispute by mutual concession
2. accept standards that are lower than is desirable
3. bring into disrepute or danger by indiscreet, foolish, or reckless behavior
1. Abram and Lot compromise (settle a dispute) by parting ways and taking separate lands so their herds have the resources they need. This was a good decision.
2. Abram compromises (accepts lower than desirable standards) by allowing Lot first pick of the lands to inhabit, and Lot takes the more fertile land.
3. Lot compromises (accepts low standards & foolishly endangers his family) by setting up camp next door to Sodom (and later inside of Sodom) – a wretched hive of scum and villainy (ie. a place filled with wickedness and evil).
The Bible is clear that there is good compromise (peacemaking & humility) and bad compromise (allowing substandard practices for moral & physical well-being). Examples on the good side include: Mat 5:9; Rom 12:18; Rom 12:10; Gal 5:13; and on the bad side Heb 10:26; Jam 4:17; Col 3:5; 1 Jn 2:15-16; Jam 4:4; Gal 5:9. Virtually every tool is amoral and can be used for good or evil (eg. a knife can be an aid or a weapon), and compromise isn’t much different.
So how do we discern how and when to use tools (such as compromise) for good instead of evil? I think Abram was on the right track: “From the Negev [Abram] went from place to place until he came to Bethel… where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the Lord… So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the Lord.” (v3,4,18 abr) It says that Abram built altars to the Lord and called on His name – he humbled himself, worshiped, prayed, and honored God. Lot, on the other hand, does not have any references of honoring God that I can find – in fact, he seems to morally compromise himself and his family by adopting some of Sodom’s culture.
My prayer for today is that I continue honoring, worshiping and spending time with the one true God of Abram. The more time I spend with Him, the more He will help me discern how to use tools (such as compromise) wisely, as Abram did, not poorly, as Lot did.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5)
~ Conqueror in Training