The Last Place Prize

“Finally, Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us and our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives! 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 will go to the left.”

[Gen. 13:8-9 (NLT)]

At this time, Abraham (at that time Abram) and Lot were traveling the land together. When they got to Negev, they found that the land could not hold both of them and all their riches, there was not enough room. So to solve this conflict, Abraham made the proposal above.

What a truly awesome thing for Abraham to do! He just let Lot pick whatever land he wanted without trying to persuade him to take the lesser land.

The next time you go to a church dinner, take notice of the people in the very front and very back of the buffet line. You may notice that both of them are eager to be there. The one in front, to get the first pick of the food. And the one in back, who let’s everyone go before him/her, usually saying “Please go ahead of me sir/ma’am; I am in no hurry.”

Both people are rewarded in this situation. The person in front gets just the reward he/she sought after. While the person in back who lets everyone go before him/her not only gets more respect from other people, but God also sees his/her good deed, and HE REMEMBERS IT.

Which reward do you think is greater? Taking the first pick, which only lasts as long as you can make it. Or taking the last pick, which lasts much longer.

“But many who are the greatest now will be the least important then, and those who seem the least important now will be the greatest then.” [Mat. 19:30 (NLT)]

Christians, if you always PUT YOURSELF BEFORE EVERYONE ELSE, you are only LOWERING yourself in the eyes of God. But if you remember to put OTHERS BEFORE YOURSELF, then God will reward you for it, and he gives the best gifts.

So be flexible, let others go before you. Be patient when you feel someone’s wasting your time. Follow the Golden Rule and go the extra mile. FOR SOON IT WILL BE YOUR TURN TO SHINE!

May the Lord’s guidance be with you all