Abraham and Lot Parted: Abraham’s Generosity (Genesis 13:3-18)

When Abraham and his family came to the region around Bethel, friction erupted between Abraham’s herders and those of his nephew, Lot (Genesis 13:1-12). Abraham and Lot decided to part ways. Abraham took the risk of offering Lot first choice of the real estate. Lot’s eye fell to the east and the plain around the Jordan River, which he regarded as “like the garden of the Lord.” Lot chose this better portion for himself (Gen. 13:10). Abraham contented himself with the hills of Canaan. Abraham’s trust in God released him from the anxiety of looking out for himself. His generosity in offering Lot the first choice established trust between Lot and himself.

Generosity is a positive trait in both personal and business relationships. Perhaps nothing establishes trust and good relationships as solidly as generosity. Colleagues, customers, suppliers, even adversaries, respond strongly to generosity and remember it for a long time. When Zacchaeus the tax collector welcomed Jesus into his home and promised to give half of his possessions to the poor and to repay fourfold those he had cheated, Jesus called him a “son of Abraham” for his generosity and fruit of repentance (Luke 19:9). Zacchaeus was responding, of course, to the relational generosity of Jesus, who had unexpectedly, and uncharacteristically for the people of that time, opened his heart to a detested tax collector.