DISSOLVING PARTNERSHIPS

"So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre
at Hebron, where he built an altar to the Lord." - Genesis 13:18

One day Abraham and his nephew Lot realized that the land they were
living on could no longer support both families and all their flocks. It
was decision time. They were going to have to split up. This meant
someone had to go a different direction. But who should get first choice
of the land? Obviously, Abraham was Lot's senior and by all rights
should have that choice. Abraham could have pulled rank on Lot since he
was the elder. This story is the model for splitting a business
partnership. However, few workplace believers are willing to follow
Abraham's example.
Abraham took a totally different approach to solving this problem. He
told Lot to choose which land he wanted. Imagine, Abraham could have
been dooming himself and his family if he was unable to find adequate
land and water for them. He gave up his rights in the matter, and Lot
took full advantage. "Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the
Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of
Egypt, toward Zoar" (Gen. 13:10). So Lot left and took up residence in
the valley later to be known as Sodom and Gomorrah. Sometimes what seems
good on the front end turns out to be disastrous later. Such would be
the case for Lot and his family.
As for Abraham, he made a choice. He decided to take life's high road-a
choice that didn't necessarily mean his life circumstances would benefit
him. He was willing to leave that outcome to God. He made the decision
based on an eternal measuring stick. Interestingly, the place where
Abraham moved was called Mamre. In Hebrew, the name Mamre means
"strength." How can choosing the weakest position become "strength"?
Jesus must have asked the same question of His Father when faced with
the proposition of going to the cross. How can the cross be a place of
strength? The devil thought he had won, but the cross is what freed the
captives for eternity. The Bible tells us that when we are weak, then we
are really strong. To willingly choose the way of the cross becomes our
strength.