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In the strife between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot, we see how pride was at the root of the conflict

"Word Pictures" for Our Imagination

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Tuesday, August 5th


Today's Daily Verse is found in Proverbs 13.10

"By pride and insolence comes only contention, but with the well-advised is skillful and godly Wisdom." Amplified version


Lot had no legal claim on any of the land...

Genesis 13

Abram and Lot Separate

13 So Abram left Egypt and traveled north into the Negev, along with his wife and Lot and all that they owned. 2 (Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.) 3 From the Negev, they continued traveling by stages toward Bethel, and they pitched their tents between Bethel and Ai, where they had camped before. 4 This was the same place where Abram had built the altar, and there he worshiped the Lord again.

5 Lot, who was traveling with Abram, had also become very wealthy with flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and many tents. 6 But the land could not support both Abram and Lot with all their flocks and herds living so close together. 7 So disputes broke out between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot.

Finally Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives! 9 The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left.”

10 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.) 11 Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley to the east of them. He went there with his flocks and servants and parted company with his uncle Abram. 12 So Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom and settled among the cities of the plain. 13 But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the Lord.

14 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. 15 I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession. 16 And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted! 17 Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you.”

18 So Abram moved his camp to Hebron and settled near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. There he built another altar to the Lord.


  • Abram uses wisdom to end the conflict
  • Lot had no legal claim to any of the land, so it was very generous and wise of Abram to offer Lot first choice...
  • Look at verses 14-18 of how GOD gave back to Abram

Pride causes strife. What causes "pride"?

The desire of pre-eminence

Matthew 20.21

“What is your request?” he asked. She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”

3 John 1.9

"I wrote to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, refuses to have anything to do with us."


Revolt from authority

Numbers 12.2

Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses

"They said, “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he spoken through us, too?” But the Lord heard them."


Having a party spirit, with the pride of knowledge and gifts...

1 Corinthians 3.3-4

"for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world? 4 When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world?

4.18 "8 Some of you have become arrogant, thinking I will not visit you again."


Pharisee and the Publican

the parable

Philippians 2.3

"Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves."


Wisdom "from above" quells contention...

James 3.17

"But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere."

compare to verse 14-16

"But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind."

Which wisdom do you want within your "spiritual heart"?

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Making Better Thought-Movies One Truth At A Time

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