Genesis 13:1-12 “And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai; Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the Lord. And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. And 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. 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. And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.”

Text Genesis 13:12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.”

When we come to Genesis 13 we introduces to two men that must choose “A Place to Settle.” At first glance, the choice seems to be insignificant: that is until you discover that where you settle determines prosperity or problems! If you know anything about the story of these two men; you know that Lot experienced problems and Abram enjoyed prosperity; all because of the place they settled. Within the text we notice the making of the choice. Lot declared his choice, “Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan” and Abram deferred his choice, “if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right.” Abram had crucified self and crowned the Sovereign; he would defer his choice to Jehovah. Problems always await the choices of self and prosperity is always associated with the choices of the Sovereign! You can never go wrong when you allow God to make the choice. Secondly, we notice the motive of the choice. Lot was interested in wealth, “well watered every where” and Abram was interested in worship, “Unto the place of the altar.” Lot was preoccupied with the temporal riches of this world. It appears that all of Lot’s choices were tainted by possessions, pride, and prestige; it was all about self. Abram was preoccupied with the prospects of heaven; “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10). Lastly, we notice the manifestation of the choice; “pitched his tent.” Lot pitched his tent toward sin and Abram pitched his tent toward sacrifice; one crucifies the Saviour and crowns self, the other crucifies self and crowns the Saviour; you can’t do both! When it comes to a place to settle, choose well; for the ramifications reach into eternity!