Abundant Life

The Jordan is a small river.
But in ancient times it made a huge difference to an arid land: a steady supply of water, shade trees and verdant pasture land.

Five cities grew affluent across its plain. It was lush ‘like God’s garden' - the Garden of Eden.

This is a story about faith and economics; about natural resources and life choices.

Abraham’s young nephew Lot had an eye for agricultural potential and opportunity – and the Jordan plain caught his attention.


The herds of the two men had out-grown the capacity of their shared grazing lands in the Judean hills to the west. Their partnership was no longer sustainable, but Abraham did not simply send his nephew off to seek his fortune in the world. He generously gave him first choice in selecting his preferred gazing lands.

It’s not that Abraham was naturally affable. In fact, he seems to have been suspicious and wary by nature. But he was learning to trust God. Rejecting the 'ideology of scarcity' that governs most of us, Abraham looked to God to supply his needs. Confident that he lived under God’s good promise, he worked hard, but resisted the impulse to grasp the best for himself. He dared to be generous.

Lot, on the other hand, was swayed primarily by self-interest; he looked to ensure his material prosperity. He chose what appeared to be the prime real estate for grazing herds and bringing them to market.

On the surface there is nothing wrong with Lot’s dreams of affluence. The Jordan plain was ‘lush like God’s garden’– rich with God-given natural resources and potential. But that allusion to the Garden of Eden also hints at the spiritual temptation implicit in Lot’s dreams of success and the choice he faced.

Every gift life offers us and every choice we make, has implications. But Lot was oblivious to the toxic cultural pressures that awaited him in the cities of the richly-resourced, well-watered plain where he eventually lost his entire family. His choice was short-sighted and tragic.

Lot and Abraham exemplify divergent life pathways. One followed the way of radical trust in a Living God; the other was blind to spiritual factors and made his choice based on what appeared socially and financially advantageous. One inherited God’s blessing and a richly abundant life; the other became spiritually empty.

I wonder ... in my outlook on life, if I am more like Abraham or Lot?

And I wonder ... since I live in a lush, well-watered affluent region of the world, ... how can I leverage the privileges and opportunities I enjoy so others can experience God’s goodness as well? Any thoughts?