# 109 Be Generous

The Book of Genesis Day 109 Ge 13:9-11, "Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left." 10 And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other. I want to spend a little more time on the generosity of Abram. It is a trait that followers of Christ would do well to cultivate and practice. I don’t think I have to tell you, that Abramic generosity flies in the face of our flesh. Don’t believe me? Break off about a third of a candy bar and offer the two pieces to a child. Inevitably the child will take the larger portion.In a sense that’s what Abram was doing for Lot. He was breaking it apart and allowing Lot to have his choice. Naturally Lot chooses the land more pleasing to his sight. Abram didn’t have to do this, but he did, because he was generous! Did you know that God rewards heartfelt generosity? Pr 11:25 says, “The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.” Remember Cornelius in the Book of Acts? We are told that he was a devout and God-fearing man who gave generously to those in need. “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. (Acts 10:1,2) One day an angel of the Lord visited Cornelius and said, ”Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.” (Acts 10:4) A memorial is a sweet aroma to God, it is an offering that remembers and marks the goodness of God to the one doing the offering, and God makes special note of it! He blessed the generosity of Cornelius by sending the saving gospel message to his house through the preaching of Peter, and the Holy Spirit was poured out on Cornelius and all who were in his house! Salvation came to many that day and it all started with the generosity of Cornelius! God also blessed the generosity of Abram and he prospered everywhere he went! As for Lot, well his choice of land didn’t turn out so well. As the Holy Spirit notes here in verse 10, Sodom and Gomorrah and all it’s sin and grief came with the package! Ultimately Lot ends up in a cave with nothing but his two daughters after narrowly escaping the destruction of these doomed cities. One of his daughters would bear Moab, the father of the Moabites and the other bearing Ben-Ammi, the father of the Amorites. These people groups would be a thorn in the side of God’s chosen people for a long, long, time. Which legacy would you rather have? The legacy of Abram or Lot? Children, let us imitate our father Abram, let us practice God-pleasing generosity at every opportunity! Pray: Lord we know, You love cheerful giving. Help us to freely give to others as You have freely given to us!