January 8

Genesis 13:8‑9
“And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdman; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left”— Genesis 13:8, 98And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. 9Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. (Genesis 13:8‑9).
ABRAHAM could afford to be generous with his earthly-minded nephew because his heart was set on that “city which hath foundations, whose Builder and Maker is God” (Heb. 11:1010For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:10)). Toward this he looked, and all earthly inheritance or temporal possessions seemed very insignificant in comparison with it.
Only as we see a better world above our heads, can we put this world beneath our feet. It was this which enabled Abraham to preserve the pilgrim character to the end and so to relinquish to Lot that which the younger man desired. Nothing so frees the soul from the bondage of covetousness as the knowledge of God and the appreciation of what He has prepared for those who love Him (1 Cor. 2:99But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Corinthians 2:9)). Abraham had a very real understanding of eternal verities and values, and so could appraise aright the passing things of time and sense.
“‘Tis the treasure I’ve found in His love
That has made me a pilgrim below;
And ‘tis there, when I reach Him above,
As I’m known, all His fullness I’ll know.
And Saviour, ‘tis Thee from on high
I await till the time Thou shalt come
To take him Thou hast led by Thine eye,
To Thyself in Thy heavenly Home.”
—J. N. Darby.