Title I'll Give You
Contents
I will give you
Genesis 13:14-18
One of his grandson's tactics is, "When you are fast, like the wind, when you are slow, like a bush, when you invade, like a fire, when you are stationary, like a mountain. Also, do not know the secret like night, and when you strike, do it like thunder and lightning.”
We can all say that we live a life of war of competition and choice. It is that life restraint is so bleak and fierce enough to use the terrible word war. That is why it is a battlefield, not a market, and a war, not a competition. We cannot live our lives like this, and we must not unconditionally jump in for success.
What kind of wisdom do we need to survive in this reality today, and who would it be? If I were to testify about him, I would recommend Abraham without hesitation. I am not qualified to recommend Abraham, but I do recommend Abraham because there are verses in Genesis 13 that contain the text. What would be the reason for that?
First, because he didn't see it as a war in the competition in choice.
We think of it as too competitive in every way. So tired and easily exhausted. Even the co-workers of the faith see it as a competition, church growth as a competition, service as a competition, and blessing as a competition. So, I have thoughts like ‘I got it from that person, but why can’t I?’ ‘You gave it to that person, but why didn’t you give it to me?’ Abraham doesn't see it as a competition and recommends that you choose first. It's a great leeway. This isn't about losing, it's about winning. There is no problem if we say we will have it a second time. We all want to be the first, so we envy over irrational numbers and even go to war. We should not regard our opponent as a competitor in all areas related to us. Don't try to go to war with your opponent. Rather, it can be an easy victory when you think of it as exhaustion and choose the second one.
Second, he saw what was given to him with a religious eye.
Third, it is important to realize what has been given.
God said to Abraham, “Arise, walk through the land in length and breadth, and I will give it to you.” Even if you have what you have and what you lack, make it a reality with what you have now. It's not just an imagination, not a thought, it's not something that might exist, it's meant to go up and down, in all directions. That's right. What God has given us must be accepted and affirmed now, here and now. The grace that God has given should always be accepted as what is now given, and it should be accepted as the greatest grace. No matter how much grace you received yesterday, if the grace is not realized or maximized today, the grace you received from the Lord will decrease and easily disappear. Therefore, what has been given to me by God must now be expressed as a specific emotion, thanksgiving, and confession.
What is this story? It is always about being grateful and maximizing what you have now. Abraham has always been that way. So you are a winner.
In the end, this kind of life is the result of a ‘worshipful life’. Verse 18 says, “So Abram moved his tent and came to dwell in the oaks of Mamre in Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.” He has always lived a life of worship. This means that he did not always live his life for himself, but lived his life for God and according to God’s standard. This is what we can call gratitude for what is given, the realization of grace, and the maximization of grace.
All saints!
What has been given to us today? Do you feel resentful because you think it was given to you after someone else had it? Do you think it's okay? Never. There is my way of life without selfish competition and God's affirmation, and now there is God's blessing that satisfies grace. I hope that you will live the life of a blessed person with this kind of faith.